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Jerry Seinfeld returns to the Colosseum this weekend.
Monday, April 10, 2023 | 2 a.m.
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is best known for the monumental musical residencies that put the 20-year-old venue on the map in Las Vegas, from Celine Dion, Elton John and Cher to the more modern Mariah Carey, Adele, and next month’s blockbuster arrival, Garth Brooks.
But comedy stars have played an important role there as well, with famous and familiar names like Chris Rock, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Jeff Dunham, and Sebastian Maniscalco headlining at the Colosseum through the years. And the man who is likely the 4,100-seat theater’s best-known and most frequent stand-up performer returns this week, for the first time since 2019.
Jerry Seinfeld will take the stage at the Colosseum April 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. with tickets available via Ticketmaster. The 68-year-old actor, writer and producer behind one of the most popular TV shows of all time will return to the Strip later this year with performances also scheduled for June 9 and 10, and July 28 and 29.
Seinfeld was a Colosseum regular for three or four weekends a year prior to the pandemic and he’s the last big name to come back at that venue. He’s been busy already this month with shows at the Beacon Theatre in New York and the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts in California, and after his Vegas visit, he’ll move on to Jacksonville, Buffalo and Atlantic City.
His last Netflix project, 2020’s “23 Hours to Kill,” earned an Emmy nomination, and he’s currently working a film titled “Unfrosted,” directing and starring in the comedy flick about competing food companies trying to invent the Pop-Tart. The movie is stocked with big names including Hugh Grant, Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer and Jim Gaffigan.
“As one of our longest-running headliners, we are excited Jerry Seinfeld will be returning to his Las Vegas home at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace” said Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment at Caesars Entertainment. “Jerry’s award-winning humor has made him one of comedy’s biggest stars, and we look forward to seeing him back with our guests again in April and throughout the summer.”
This comedy comeback comes at a time when stand-up is surging in Las Vegas and in media in general. Specials and shows on Netflix and other streaming channels have flooded the market with comedy content, and on and off the Strip, in major rooms like the Colosseum down to intimate and traditional comedy clubs, this style of performance is flourishing.
Comedians have long found a welcoming place to perform in Las Vegas but the Strip’s larger venues haven’t always been the right fit. That has changed in recent years. In November, Jo Koy became the first comedian to headline at T-Mobile Arena, and Bert Kreischer’s Fully Loaded Comedy Festival featuring a half-dozen performers touches down at T-Mobile on July 12.
Bill Burr, a recent regular at the 3,000-seat Chelsea room at the Cosmopolitan, moves on up to Dolby Live at Park MGM on May 5 and 6 — the room where Bruno Mars, Usher and Maroon 5 rule with concert residencies. Comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham has taken his act to the recently renamed Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood, and he’ll perform again there on May 28. The Straight Jokes No Chaser Comedy Tour with Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Mike Epps and others takes over MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 27.
And though he doesn’t have Vegas dates currently on the calendar, Kevin Hart has recently established a comedy residency at the new Resorts World Theatre, and it sounds like he won’t be the only comedian to share the space with music superstars Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry and illusionist David Blaine.
“We want that [venue] to evolve and put a more robust comedy lineup in there,” said Bobby Reynolds, senior vice president of AEG Presents, which books and operates Resorts World Theatre. “Kevin loves it there because the property is great and really embraces all the [brands] he touches. And we enjoy experimenting in that room. We’ve got a long way to go there because it’s such a great venue and we’re looking forward to being there a long time and booking that room.”
