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Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace continues to update its vintage vegas experience

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(From left) Thomas John (Courtesy), Wayne Newton (Erik Kabik/Special to the Weekly) and Dionne Warwick (Charles Sykes/AP) are three of the acts booked for Cleopatra’s Barge

There’s a stylistic trend running through some of Las Vegas’ most notable new venues, from NoMad Restaurant and Bar to Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio to Sara’s and Mr. Coco at the Palms. The design, tone and programming of those spaces is decidedly vintage, aiming for a feeling from 40 or 50 years ago—even if few visitors are old enough to accurately recall that Vegas. It’s just a vibe.

Meanwhile, the one classic Vegas venue that was around back then—and still looks and feels the way it always has—is more active than ever. You’ll feel like you’ve time-traveled to 1970s Vegas when you visit Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace, but there’s far more happening there than the standard lounge entertainment for which it first became known.

“It definitely has that vintage Vegas vibe,” says Damian Costa, vice president of entertainment operations for Caesars Entertainment. His team has been consistently experimenting with the Barge and adding upgrades for the past two years. “If you look across town, it’s definitely unique, and our programming can be a little more fun as a result of that. We [want] to put people in an environment with entertainment value that feels themed, but not overly [so].”

The current lineup boast two longtime Strip headliners who have performed in much larger, always-ticketed Las Vegas venues throughout their storied careers: Wayne Newton (Monday-Wednesday at 8 p.m.) and Dionne Warwick (Thursday-Sunday through March 1 at 8 p.m. ). There’s a pop music legend performing every night for fewer than 200 people at Caesars.

“You go see these artists and feel the energy in that room and you couldn’t ask for anything more,” Costa says. “The Barge is special in that you are with your artist. You’re there. There’s no separation.”

Last year’s addition of one of the highest-resolution LED screens as a backdrop to the stage has allowed those headliners to amp up that energy, and the venue updated its sound system, too.

The newest act is celebrity psychic medium Thomas John, whose show runs Thursday through Monday at 3 or 6 p.m. and brings a very different type of audience interaction. It’s not the first nonmusic show to take a run at the Barge; 2018’s Renegades featured stories and Q&A sessions with sports figures like Jose Canseco and Terrell Owens. Other limited installations have included Paul Shaffer, Blues Traveler, Puddles Pity Party and CeeLo Green, and a recent one-off paired native musicians Franky Perez and Frankie Sidoris with a new rock and soul band.

“All of them [did] something bigger and different [here],” Costa says. “Once upon a time, somebody said we [couldn’t] fit more than a four- or five-piece band on that stage. Now we have 16. Part of the fun is pushing that envelope, saying, ‘Let’s have fun and figure out what’s next.’”

That big band is David Perrico’s Pop Strings Orchestra, which connects the dots back to the Barge’s long lounge legacy Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m. Most of the venue’s shows are ticketed these days, but that one’s free and wildly popular. Look no further for your vintage Vegas vibes.

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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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