Mr. Las Vegas in a small room: Wayne Newton's Up Close & Personal mixes songs, stories and decades of Vegas history in Bugsy's Cabaret, now the Wayne Newton Theater, at Flamingo.
Wayne Newton has been performing in Las Vegas since the late 1950s, which is why the nickname Mr. Las Vegas has stuck. His current show, Wayne: Up Close & Personal, plays Bugsy's Cabaret at Flamingo Las Vegas, renamed the Wayne Newton Theater for his nights. As with any long-running residency, dates are announced in blocks, so check the calendar before you plan around it.
As the title suggests, this is not a big Las Vegas spectacle. It is an intimate, conversational evening built around the stories only Newton can tell, from the old Strip of the Rat Pack era, Elvis and the headliner lounges to more than six decades of fame. The stories are mixed with songs from his career, including the signature numbers the audience is waiting for.
Newton himself has said that younger audiences, especially younger men, have started coming to the show to see what Las Vegas used to be like. That is the best way to think about it: a living link to a version of the city that has mostly been demolished.
Bugsy's Cabaret is small, with a semi-circular layout, so there are no remote seats and the show feels personal. Be realistic about expectations. Newton is a veteran performer late in his career, and the evening is weighted towards storytelling and atmosphere more than vocal power. Fans who come for the history and the anecdotes leave happy. Anyone expecting a full-throttle concert should look at Donny Osmond at Harrah's instead.
Prices sit at the higher end for a small-room show, especially for front seats, which reflects his status rather than production size. The audience is mostly adults, but the show is clean and suitable for older children with an interest in music history. It is a natural fit for couples, Las Vegas history fans and anyone ticking off a bucket-list name. Pair it with a walk through the Flamingo's wildlife habitat, a nod to the resort's own Bugsy Siegel origins.
What to expect
The experience
An intimate evening of songs and stories from Newton's six-plus decades in Las Vegas. It is conversational and personal rather than a production spectacle, and the anecdotes are the heart of it.
Best time
Early evening, which leaves time for a late drink; dates are released in blocks.
How long
About 90 minutes.
Tips
Mostly adults, many of whom saw him decades ago, plus a growing number of younger visitors curious about old Las Vegas. Clean content, suitable for older kids with an interest in music history. Few performers still working can tell first-hand stories of the Strip's classic era. This is as much living history as a concert, which is the main reason to go. Bugsy's Cabaret at Flamingo, branded the Wayne Newton Theater on his nights, is a small semi-circular room where every seat is close to the stage. Shows are usually at 7pm on selected nights each week. Dates are released in blocks, so check the calendar. Come for stories and atmosphere. If you want a high-energy concert, Donny Osmond at Harrah's is the better fit.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Las Vegas history fans and bucket-listers who want to see Mr. Las Vegas in person.
- Families
- Clean content, suitable for older kids with an interest in music history.
- Couples
- A classic, old-school date night. Have dinner at the Flamingo, then the 7pm show leaves time for a late drink.
- Pair with
- X Burlesque plays the same room at 10pm on many nights for a very different second act, or Piff at the Flamingo Showroom.
- Time needed
- About 90 minutes.
Good questions
Where does Wayne Newton perform in Las Vegas?+
At Flamingo Las Vegas, in Bugsy's Cabaret, branded the Wayne Newton Theater for his show, Wayne: Up Close & Personal.
When does Wayne Newton perform?+
Shows are usually at 7pm on selected nights each week. Dates are released in blocks, so check the calendar.
What is the show like?+
An intimate mix of songs and stories from his decades in Las Vegas. It is personal and conversational rather than a big production.
How long has Wayne Newton been performing in Las Vegas?+
Since the late 1950s, more than 65 years, which is why he is known as Mr. Las Vegas.
Is it suitable for children?+
The content is clean, but the show is aimed at adults and music-history fans. Older children interested in classic entertainment can enjoy it.
