With the the launch of the hi-tech Sphere and a multitude of modern new experiences in Las Vegas, it may seem that the classic “Las Vegas Residency” isn’t getting the attention it once did.
But the reality is, more major artists are performing in the city than ever before, each bringing in tens of millions of dollars in ticket sales – even without the bells and whistles of a giant LED screen. And together, they are holding up a tradition that goes back some 80 years.
A residency differs from a tour in that the artist remains contracted for multiple shows at the same venue – sometimes over many years. In Las Vegas, where the concept originated, these shows were generally fronted by artists who would tour to much larger venues, with much larger productions. In Vegas, however, they would play lounges and theatres – a more intimate setting without the bells and whistles that an arena may warrant.
Pianist, singer and actor Liberace is given the honour of having helmed the first residency in 1944, and through the 50s and 60s, performers like Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett, and Frank Sinatra with The Rat Pack cemented it as a Las Vegas tradition.
These shows weren’t about spectacle in the modern sense – something those who are seeing a performance at the Sphere may expect – it was about a big name artist, performing original music and covers, often with a big band, creating a show in a relatively intimate setting that isn’t available anywhere else in the world.
Over the decades that would follow, the city would have many ups and downs, and for quite a while there the artists the city would attract for residencies were generally seen as being in the “twilight” stages of their career. Artists that could gain a crowd in Vegas, but were no longer finding success on the road.
All this changed when the Colosseum Theatre opened in 2003, a 4,300 capacity venue at Caesar’s Palace that helped bring big names back to the city. Much of this credit is given to Celine Dion, who opened the venue and arguably kickstarted the modern residency, especially in terms of showing how lucrative it can be. Her 1,141 shows at The Colosseum that followed brought in some US$650 Million over 16 years, and remains the longest running residency at the venue.
Elton John, Bette Midler and Cher are among the other classic acts who have enjoyed residencies at the venue over the years. Rod Stewart is another to have lent his craft to the Colosseum stage, with his long running residency “The Hits”, that first debuted on 2011, and will finally wrap up on 7 August 2024. Talk about the end of a era.
And now, seeing the creative freedom they can be permitted, and the money that can be made, it’s not just the legends that are calling Vegas home. Modern pop icons are descending in the city in a way that hasn’t been seen since the 1950s.
Spurred no doubt through her own friendship and collaboration with the late, great Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga is one modern artist who is keeping the tradition alive for a new generation. Her Jazz & Piano residency at the Dolby Live Theatre has had eight runs since it debuted in 2019, with the final performance taking place tomorrow night. And she clearly took notes from Bennett on how to deliver a memorable Vegas residency, that pays homage to all that came before her.
In the show, as writer Hollis Brunt articulated in their review earlier this week, Gaga’s reverence for this era of entertainment delivered a production designed to take its audience back in time.
The show mixes new versions of her own music with Jazz standards, leaning heavily on the latter and the bravado of the accompanying big band. From the simple but beautiful set design, to the music choices and audience interaction, Gaga was able to show us what a show led by Presley or Bennett might have once looked like. And there’s a magic in that – something she also highlighted through a series of videos that played during the costume changes. Frankly, it’s a show that makes me want to come back to the city more often to see what other residencies are in town.
Lady Gaga’s performances of Jazz & Piano (as well as her earlier Pop residency Enigma) have taken place in the Dolby Live Theatre at Park MGM, which opened in December 2016 – almost a year and a half before the Park MGM opened itself, taking over the former Monte Carlo. The theatre has a capacity of 5,200 for residency shows, making it the second largest theatre on the Las Vegas Strip*.
With Gaga’s residency coming to an end this week, the venue is booked well into the new year.
Mariah Carey‘s Celebration of Mimi will be returning for its second leg, with the iconic pop artist set to perform eight shows between 26th July 2024 and 10th August 2024. While it doesn’t boast a big band orchestra (in fact, few new shows do, which is what made Gaga’s show so special), it’s a spectacle that has been created exclusively for the Vegas venue.
Bruno Mars will also be returning on 20th August, and he apparently channels quite a bit of Elvis in his production – performing with his band in front of his name in massive letters. Maroon 5 also have an ongoing residency with their next performances on 27th September 2024.
And then there’s Adele, whose “Weekends With Adele” residency will wrap up later this year at the Colosseum Theatre, with ten shows remaining to 23rd November 2024. Her next performance is on 25 October 2024. Country star Garth Brooks is also performing at the venue, with five dates left of his ongoing residency “Plus ONE”, set to wrap up on 13th July.
While it took me 16 years of visiting the city to finally catch a true residency in Vegas, Gaga’s set showed me just how special these shows can be. What magic it must have been to see some of those shows in the early times of Vegas entertainment history. I’m thankful to have been given a taste of it, and while Gaga went above and beyond to transport us back in time, there’s no shortage of upcoming residencies that are carrying on the legacy of the Las Vegas Residency.
No trip to Vegas would be complete without including one on your itinerary.
For tickets to Lady Gaga’s final shows at Dolby Live on July 5th and 6th, head HERE. For more about the Dolby Live Theatre, and the other shows on their way, head to their official website.
The author attended Lady Gaga on 2nd July 2024 as a guest of Las Vegas Tourism. While in Las Vegas, we stayed at Circa Resort and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas.
*Bakkt Theatre at Planet Hollywood is the largest on the Strip with 7,000 seats. While the Sphere boasts some 18,600 seats, it’s classified as an “arena” rather than a “theatre”, and also sits just off the Strip.
