Venetians Kevin Gruber and Kylie Minogue appear after the official announcement of Minogue’s show at the new Voltaire nightclub in Pendry, West Hollywood on Thursday, July 27, 2023. (John Katsilometes/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @JohnnyKats
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUL 27: Kylie Minogue attends Iconic Resort Fall 2023 “Voltaire” Arrival Announcement at Lis Bar at Venetian Resort Las Vegas on July 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Venetian Resort Las Vegas)
Kylie Minogue poses for photographers as she arrives for the Elvis premiere at the 75th International Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Kylie Minogue poses for portrait photos of Elvis at the 75th International Film Festival in Cannes, south of France on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
LOS ANGELES – Kylie Minogue visited Las Vegas personally and mentally.
She learned a lot during a reconnaissance mission in May 2022. Minogue watched Lady Gaga’s Jazz + Piano show and Anderson Paak-Bruno Mars’ production of Silk Sonic, both on Park MGM’s Dolby Live. He also attended a performance by John Legend at the then Zappos Theater (now the Bakkt Theatre).
“I’ve seen three different shows in two different rooms,” Minogue said as she announced her residency at The Venetian’s Voltaire nightclub from Nov. 3. “The show I saw had a lot of rows of seats facing the stage. I think Voltaire will be more organic, more fluid.”
Minogue said the performers interacted with the audience, including herself, at these performances.
“I felt close to them even though I didn’t know all the songs,” Minogue said during an interview at the Pendry West Hollywood Hotel. “I had a great night. It was a confirmation that if someone comes to my show and doesn’t know my catalogue, they can still be entertained.”
Minogue used images of Las Vegas on her 2005 Showgirl Tour and on Aphrodite: Les Folies six years later.
“With Showgirls, I was saying a lot, ‘This has to be in Vegas!’ Minogue said. “And Aphrodite was a set of fonts and everything on top. Voltaire will not be like these shows, but it will be an experience, it will be an event.”
Voltaire bills itself as a 1,000-seat “modernized” nightclub in the former Opaline Theatre, across from the Summit Showroom (as well as Starbucks).
Minogue will perform on weekends. Tickets go on sale August 9 at voltairelv.com for $200 to $300 and $2,200 for shows, clubs and rooms booked through Ticketmaster’s new experience platform.
Derek MacLaine, an Emmy and Tony award-winning production designer for Moulin Rouge, this year’s Academy Awards and this year’s gala, is designing the decor for the show.
“I wanted it to be like an escape from the casino atmosphere. Something like another world. An intimate, exciting and hospitable world,” says McLane.
Rob Sinclair, Emmy award-winning lighting and production designer, creates the atmospheric effects of the show. Sinclair has a long list of superstar collaborators including Madonna, Queen + Adam Lambert, David Byrne and Adele.
Minogue, 55, became world famous with “The Loco-Motion” in 1988. She’s having a great time walking around her Las Vegas residence with Padam Padam. The dance hit was Minogue’s first top ten single on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart since the chart’s inception in 2013.
Developing the Minogue show and redesigning the theater were top priorities for resort executive director Michael Gruber. The former CEO of Caesars Entertainment is Chief Content Officer and Director of Entertainment at Venetian/Palazzo.
Rock of Ages and Blue Man performed at the nightclub. Headliners such as Steely Dan and Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band also performed. Venetian presents the show, with its CEO Michael Gruber running production in Las Vegas.
The Voltaire concept will include DJs, cabaret and burlesque.
“Everything about Kylie reflects the essence of Voltaire. His music is fun. His spirit is absolutely infectious. And he’s at the peak of his career, which makes this moment really special for the fans as they interact in such an intimate setting,” Gruber said.
For his part, The Venetian Resort President and CEO Patrick Nichols said, “Voltaire will spearhead a renaissance of high-end nightlife, offering guests an unexpected night out as well as the chance to see some of their favorite artists in an intimate setting.”
The hotel foresees international business with this connection. Minogue is a huge star in her native Australia, where she is the country’s best-selling artist.
“Padam Padam” has become the anthem of LGBT culture, performed at gay pride parades around the world. Minogue has long been a darling of the LGBT community.