In retrospect, it’s sort of amazing that Diana Ross never had a Las Vegas residency before her nine-show run beginning April 1. Not that Ross hasn’t been a presence in Vegas: Her final performance with the Supremes in 1970 was at the former Frontier Hotel in Vegas, and her first Vegas performance as a solo artist came in 1972 at Caesars Palace. Since then, the legendary R&B diva has played Las Vegas regularly; she even performed at the opening of the Thomas & Mack Center in 1983, alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
That Rat Pack connection is just one of the reasons it makes sense for Ross to bring her show to The Venetian, in the theater that was recently home to mini-residencies from Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The Essential Diana Ross: Some Memories Never Fade is billed as “a special set of hits from the iconic star’s career, spanning over five decades,” and that gives Ross plenty to choose from. She gave a sneak preview to the Las Vegas Sun, promising Supremes hits “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love” and solo chart-toppers “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out,” but that still leaves dozens of other possibilities for the set list. A career-spanning revue from a music legend, complete with dazzling costumes and top-notch production, should fit in perfectly on the Strip, and we can only hope that Ross ends up returning for more.
The Venetian, 8 p.m. April 1, 3-4, 7-8, 10-11, 15 & 17-18, $59.50-$150 plus tax and fee. 702.414.9000
