For Katy Perry, pop music’s reigning Queen of Camp, “Waking Up in Vegas” has become much more than a hit song and set list staple. Perry is and will always be a California gurl, but her Las Vegas residency places her on a stage that’s likely not far from where her aunt once kicked up her heels as a showgirl at the Stardust Resort and Casino. That property was imploded in 2007, making way for new beginnings and the explosive success of Perry’s residency, Play.
By the end of its inaugural run that launched Dec. 29, 2021, Play grossed nearly $7 million with at least 32,000 Perry fans making the pilgrimage to her royal court. Inspired by childhood memories of television and film comedies such as Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Perry and her production team let their imaginations run wild. They were so flushed with excitement that they even created an oversized commode with a talking inhabitant.
Perry balances the fun onstage with the seriousness of being in top condition physically and mentally to make Play look as effortlessly fun to present as it is demanding to perform. Perry became a mom during the pandemic, making her well-being a priority to balance work and family life. She even launched a nonalcoholic drink, De Soi, with a friend who also experienced a recent pregnancy and is making it available at Play for the sober-curious.
Her performance is intoxicating all on its own. Fans who attended Play last year witnessed Perry descend from the ceiling and placed in a bed by a giant hand to sing “E.T.” Styling by RuPaul collaborator Zaldy included colorfully gaudy ’60s-inspired outfits, a crystal dress embellished by strategically placed beer cans, a mushroom cap and a baby doll dress.
The latter was worn during “Dark Horse” as Perry sat astride a wooden steed. She went full-on showgirl for “Teenage Dream” with the aid of designer Johnny Wujek and crystal studder Disco Daddy, who helped her bedazzle and beguile audiences with a form-fitting yellow-gold-and-silver gown accessorized with gloves and a feather boa.
While costume changes were frequent, the arrangement of “Waking Up in Vegas” received a makeover as well. The song is jazzed up as if it were played by lounge musicians in the golden age of the Strip. The feel is as real as the live band that includes bassist Kyle Whalum. His father is GRAMMY-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum, most familiar to pop music audiences for his solo on Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
Houston was paid tribute to during many of the show’s encores throughout last year with a rendition of “The Greatest Love of All.” The career-spanning sets included “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Roar” and “Firework,” all realized live in a way only an entertainer with showgirl roots, dedication and discipline, and a neo-kitschy personal style can.
What changes are in store for this year’s shows will be revealed when Perry returns to the stage the evening after Valentine’s Day, but KatyCats superfans can count on making unforgettable memories during a new Vegas golden age.
Resorts World Las Vegas, Feb. 15, 17-18 and 22, axs.com
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