i'm not big on Trip Reports but i wanted to post our experience with Wayne Newtons new show Up Close and Personal. i had purchased two VIP tickets to Wayne's June 15th show (it was our 25th anniversary) We arrived a bit early and it turned out we were the first in the VIP line! Once the curtains opened we were escorted to our seats...front and center. I was so excited (i've seen Wayne mannnnny times). Wayne told stories about back in the day, Rat Pack, Robert Goulet etc. Before we were seated someone came around and handed out blank cards so that we could ask Wayne Questions during the show. His wife was his guest and read questions from the audience. She read him mine too. I asked how many times he had performed Danke Schoen. (she said my name too) he said 'not as many as i would have liked'. Apparently the song was offered to Bobby Darin first and Bobby passed it along to Wayne. The guy who wrote the song didn't want Wayne to sing it. Bobby Darin said if you don't let him sing it, i'll never sing another song for you. And that's how Wayne got the song! Anyway, he sang a couple of songs, but his voice has seen better days. But honestly it didn't matter. The storytelling made the show. Afterwards the VIP's got to do a meet and greet with Wayne. He was so nice and congratulated us on 25 years and said if he knew during the show, he'd have sung a song for us. Of all the times i've seen Wayne, this was most definitely my favorite!
A special anniversary and memorable show - what a great evening that must have been! Thanks for sharing your experience, always enjoyed his shows, and it's nice to read that he was so personable - not many of the old timers left.
Some pics (my first time trying to load pics here) i didn't take as many as i usually do since it was a small intimate setting and i didn't want to be 'that person'
its a great show and wayne is really nice, no need to get there early its a very small room, had a blast.i loke the bobby darin story the best
Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds wonderful. We saw him once, in 2004 when we took my mother to Las Vegas and she chose his show. He is an amazing talent. Glad you celebrated your 25th anniversary in such a special way.
Sounds like an interesting show. My Wayne experience was about 38 years ago, we were in Reno with my Mom and Dad and my Mom was all about seeing Wayne Newton. I was like...really?? I thought to myself, this is going to be like sitting thru a Lawrence Welk show. Boy was I wrong....he played every instrument in the book and his singing was fabulous. I can still remember the show today like it was yesterday. Guys in that era were true "entertainers"...they didn't have all the computerized lights, sound systems and fireworks that entertainers have now to help them put on a show.