One of the most recent returning shows on the Las Vegas Strip is also one of its longest running productions. Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show, voted All-Time Best Tribute Show by the readers of Las Vegas Weekly (a sister publication of Las Vegas Magazine) last year, made its triumphant return to the Legends in Concert Theater at the Tropicana over Memorial Day Weekend, another solid signal that live entertainment is back in Las Vegas. It’s been a regular stop for Prince fans for more than two decades, and the show’s creator, star and co-producer Jason Tenner is beyond excited to get back to the business of rock and roll.
Purple Reign has reached Vegas institution status. By my count you’re about 25 years into this, right?
I started out in 1997, so yeah, about a quarter century. I’ve got a couple gray hairs popping in here and there. But I feel lucky. I feel blessed. I’ve worked hard, I don’t cancel shows, I show up every day and give it everything and all the guys I’ve got with me feel the same way. We all want to be as badass as we can be. It is a long time, and so many different eras. We started out at this college club across from UNLV called Tom & Jerry’s, with dollar beer pitcher night, so you can imagine how that went. Those were pretty wild times.
You moved the show from Westgate to Tropicana in 2017. How did it change and evolve at its new home?
Being back on the Strip was a very cool thing. We also took on (producing) partners in Red Mercury at that time, and that’s been a really good relationship. We already had the bigger stage set and all the props, so we took all that with us, and before the pandemic started we had added a second cast. So there was another guy doing Prince a couple nights a week, and we would tour the show as well.
What’s it like sharing that great, classic theater with another phenomenal tribute show, Legends in Concert?
I think it’s a great pairing and sometimes people come to see both shows. That’s just a really great show and they’ve been around even longer than I have.
What kind of changes have you made to Purple Reign for its comeback?
There are so many great Prince songs and I always like to put some of the b-sides in, and the band knows all the major b-sides and of course all the hits. And there’s some new Prince music coming out, so that’s something we’ll add and learn if those new songs catch on. But I like to do “She’s Always In My Hair,” “Erotic City,” “If I Was Your Girlfriend” and (deep cuts) like those, so it’s not just all “1999” and “Little Red Corvette.” We’re adding new clothes and costumes, too, and I’ll probably change my wig style up a bit.
Did all the downtime from the pandemic change your perspective on Prince’s music or allow you to dig into that material in a different way?
Actually, I didn’t listen to Prince or play Prince. I wrote a couple of new songs and released one in October and one in March, and I have my warehouse studio, so I’ve been making music and music videos and just working on projects. I stayed far away from the Prince universe and it was kind of a relief not to think about it, and now going back, there’s a renewed energy and everyone is so totally hyped to do it again. Stepping away from it cleared my mind.
You played some shows in California and Florida. How did it feel to be back onstage after such a long time away?
It felt a little foreign, to be honest. I got winded and I never used to get winded before. It was strange but still super fun. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, to sing and dance and do something with music, and my band is all players. Everyone is so excited. When you’re an artist or a performer, it becomes part of your identity and I’m sure there are a lot of vocations where that’s the case, but it’s so strong for entertainers.
Tropicana Las Vegas, ticketmaster.com
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