RuPaul is one of the most famous drag queens in the world. He first rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s with hits like “Supermodel (You Better Work)” and through his television show RuPaul’s Drag Race. Recently, RuPaul has expanded his performances by securing residencies in major cities like Las Vegas. A residency allows an artist to establish a long-term performance schedule in one location, similar to how Las Vegas has residencies for singers like Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and more. Fans are eager to know – does RuPaul in fact have his own Las Vegas residency at this time?
RuPaul’s Career Highlights
RuPaul Andre Charles was born in 1960. He moved to Atlanta as a teenager and became involved with the city’s underground drag scene. In the 1980s and 1990s, RuPaul broke into mainstream fame. Some highlights:
- He released his debut album “Supermodel of the World” in 1993, which included his hit song “Supermodel (You Better Work).”
- He became the first drag queen supermodel by booking major modeling campaigns.
- He landed his own talk show called “The RuPaul Show” which aired for 100 episodes from 1996-1998.
- He has released 14 studio albums total, most recently “Mamaru” in 2018.
- He created and hosted the reality competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2009, which is still running and has inspired several spin-off shows.
RuPaul is considered one of the most influential drag queens in history. He also made history for being featured in ad campaigns for major brands like MAC Cosmetics as an openly gay man. However, much of RuPaul’s entertainment career has involved television shows, movies, music, and modeling. Starring in a Las Vegas residency would be a new endeavor for the legendary artist.
Overview of Residencies in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is well-known for hosting long-term residencies for A-list music artists. Some notable aspects:
- Residencies involve performers doing sporadic shows over weeks, months, or years in Las Vegas hotels.
- Celine Dion helped start the residency trend in 2003 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, where she performed for five years.
- Jennifer Lopez currently has her residency “JLO: All I Have” at The Colosseum at Planet Hollywood.
- Britney Spears’ residency “Britney: Piece of Me” ran for four years at Planet Hollywood and reportedly earned over $400 million in ticket sales.
- Stars like Mariah Carey, Elton John, Rod Stewart, and more have become synonymous with their Vegas residencies.
- Residency shows appeal to Vegas tourists and allow performers to settle in one place instead of touring worldwide.
RuPaul having his own long-term Las Vegas residency would make a lot of sense given his star power and the success of Drag Race. Fans are eager to see the legendary queen join the ranks of other major divas with Vegas residencies.
Does RuPaul Have a Current Las Vegas Residency?
As of now, RuPaul does not have his own Las Vegas residency. He has not announced any long-term Las Vegas show commitment on the scale of other major headliners.
However, that doesn’t mean RuPaul has never appeared on stage in Las Vegas. In 2021, RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! premiered at the Flamingo Las Vegas. This was a drag queen variety show featuring queens from the reality competition series. RuPaul made special appearances as the host at select dates during the run. But the show concluded in 2022.
There are also RuPaul’s Drag Race-themed slot machines at Las Vegas casinos. RuPaul has made promotional appearances related to those branded slot machines on casino floors in recent years. But he has not headlined a solo concert residency in a Las Vegas theater.
Would RuPaul Consider a Vegas Residency?
While RuPaul does not currently have a residency, it seems possible he would consider headlining a Vegas show in the future. Some reasons why:
- RuPaul has talked about his love of Las Vegas in interviews. He sees the city as the entertainment capital of the world.
- RuPaul is at the peak of his career lately with Drag Race’s popularity. He has plenty of hits to draw from for a Vegas show.
- As RuPaul expands his business ventures, a Vegas residency could be lucrative given the city’s tourism.
- RuPaul could do a show featuring other Drag Race talent to represent the brand on a larger scale, similar to the Drag Race Live! show.
- Vegas would give RuPaul a fixed location versus touring non-stop.
The biggest sign RuPaul may consider a Vegas residency is that he has talked about the idea in interviews before. While not confirming any concrete plans, he has expressed it’s something he’d envision for his future. If presented with the right offer, it seems RuPaul would likely embrace the chance to establish himself in Las Vegas like other icons have before him.
Potential Venues for a RuPaul Residency
If RuPaul were to secure a Las Vegas residency, there are several venues on the Strip that could potentially host his show:
Venue | Capacity | Notable Residents |
---|---|---|
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace | 4,300 | Celine Dion, Elton John, Rod Stewart |
Park Theater at Park MGM | 5,200 | Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Janet Jackson |
Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood | 7,000 | Jennifer Lopez, Lionel Richie, Gwen Stefani |
Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas | 1,800 | Janet Jackson |
The Theater at Resorts World | 5,000 | Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood |
RuPaul would need a large theater with around 5,000 seats to accommodate his fans. The Theater at Resorts World could be a great option as a modern, state-of-the-art venue with the capacity required.
Interest From Las Vegas Hotels
Even without a residency, RuPaul Charles and RuPaul’s Drag Race have formed partnerships with major Las Vegas hotels for promotions:
- Flamingo Las Vegas – Hosted RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! show in 2021-2022.
- The LINQ Promenade – Featured a pop-up RuPaul’s Drag Race wig shop in 2021.
- Sahara Las Vegas – Displayed a 20-foot RuPaul statute for Pride 2021.
- The Cromwell – Has RuPaul’s Drag Race-themed slot machines on casino floor.
These collaborations show Vegas hotels see the popularity of RuPaul’s brand and want to leverage it to attract LGBTQ visitors. Their eagerness to partner on small-scale projects indicates they may be open to booking RuPaul for a major residency theater engagement. RuPaul likely would have strong interest from The Strip’s top properties.
What RuPaul’s Vegas Show Could Look Like
If RuPaul launched a Las Vegas residency, what could fans expect from the production?
- RuPaul’s famous runway walks and extravagant costumes.
- Performances of his classic dance/house tracks.
- Remixes and mashups of his music over the decades.
- Special guest appearances by former Drag Race contestants.
- Performances by his Kitty Girls dance group.
- Comedic banter, stories, and Q&As with the audience.
- Spectacular sets, visuals, and lighting fitting of a Vegas show.
- A parade of jaw-dropping fashion and wig reveals.
RuPaul certainly has a deep discography and endless fierce fashion to choose from for a glamorous production. As one of the world’s most famous drag personalities, RuPaul would bring plenty of star power and theatrics to liven up the Las Vegas stage.
Conclusion
In summary, RuPaul Charles does not currently have his own Las Vegas residency. However, given his long career, the popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and his public affinity for Las Vegas, it seems likely he will announce a Vegas concert engagement at some point in the future. Fans are eager to see RuPaul follow in the footsteps of other divas by establishing his own show on the Las Vegas Strip. When RuPaul does finally secure a Sin City residency, audiences can expect an extravaganza performance highlighting his signature charm, talent, and style. RuPaul in Las Vegas is sure to be a show-stopping spectacular.