From Diana Ross to Amy Schumer, this Atlantic City hotel strives to attract top-notch entertainment

For more than a century, Atlantic City has brought extraordinary talent to its shores. In the 1920s, it was a place where Broadway shows could test their shows against the influx of tourists. In the 1920s and 1930s, these shows featured then-unknown minor characters such as Mary Pickford, James Cagney, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and Ethel Barrymore. Besides the boardwalk and beach, it’s a great place to hear legendary jazz artists like Count Basie and Duke Ellington.

A nightclub mecca for decades, including Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Madonna All of them have played in Atlantic City. In the 1950s, a talented pianist named Eunice Kathleen Waymon reinvented herself here as a singer, changing her name to Nina Simone ), wowed audiences, and signed with a record label to produce her debut album.

Ocean Casino Resort is helping to continue this tradition of fine entertainment. Over the summer, Amy Schumer performed at the resort’s Ovation Hall. Diana Ross performed her classics there last fall, including “Love You Can’t Hurry,” “Love the Kids,” “Baby Love,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and Billy Holiday’s “Don’t Explain.” Beyoncé, Eagles, The Black Keys, Barry Manilow, Maroon 5, Nickelback, Poison and Def Leppard have also performed at the state-of-the-art venue featuring Atlantic City’s only skybox.

Kelly Burke, senior vice president of resort marketing, said: Ocean Casino Resort Committed to top-notch entertainment in its event spaces, from Ovation Hall to outdoor HQ2 Day and Nightclub to nightlife venues including Nola’s Bar & Lounge.

“Ocean stays on top of current entertainment trends, always hosting the hottest and most relevant musicians and celebrities in the news today, as well as some of the most popular musicians of the past few years,” Burke said. “Ocean recently celebrated the first birthday of Nola’s Bar & Lounge, also known as ‘The Toms’, with an exclusive party hosted by Vanderpump Rules’ Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz. Other recent celebrity acts include Tiesto, Nelly, Steve Aoki, Meek Mill, etc.”

The Ocean Casino Resort is set on 20 acres and is the northernmost casino on Atlantic City’s boardwalk. This sleek 61-story skyscraper is also the tallest building in the city. There are also restaurants like Amada, American Cut, Dolce Mare and Serendipity3. Last year, the resort invested $85 million in development and launched The Gallery Bar, Book & Games, a dedicated space offering a unique sports betting experience.

When booking entertainment, Burke shared that resorts look for shows and performances with universal appeal. “We worked hard to create a year-round entertainment calendar that appeals to everyone from all walks of life. Whether it’s British pop icon Duran Duran (December 30, 2022), Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Elvis Costello (December 2023) March 25), Bronx Stories Written and performed by Chazz Palminteri (April 1, 2023) or blues legend Buddy Guy (June 16, 2023),” says Burke.

Are there any performances that really make her stand out? “Ocean Casino Resort has a lot of great shows, but one of my personal favorites is Diana Ross at Ovation Hall,” Burke said. “Watching an iconic superstar in a venue with one of the best acoustics in the area made for such a magical evening. It will be one I will always remember.”