The lights go down at Encore Theater, a man in a plain shirt walks to the microphone, and the act stays clean from start to finish. That's the whole trick. It has made Nate Bargatze the top-earning comedian in the world. He plays five shows at Wynn Las Vegas between December 9 and 12, with two on the Saturday, all of them during National Finals Rodeo week.
The show: Nate Bargatze Live at Encore
Nate Bargatze is calling this run Nate Bargatze Live, an all-new show. His style is slow and deadpan, a Tennessee voice that sounds like it's apologizing for the punchline before it arrives, and the stories mostly come from family life and small humiliations. He has played dozens of sold-out shows at Encore Theater over the years, so this is a room he knows.
Where: Encore Theater, Wynn Las Vegas, north Strip. When: December 9, 10 and 11, plus two shows on Saturday, December 12. Ages: 12 and up. Best for: mixed groups, couples and anyone who wants comedy they could bring their parents to.
Why he's the biggest name in stand-up right now
The numbers explain why a run like this sells out. His Big Dumb Eyes World Tour sold more than two million tickets, and he set the record for the highest one-year gross by any comedy performer. He's a Grammy winner and a New York Times No. 1 bestselling author. He hosted the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on CBS, which drew the event's best ratings in four years, starred in the family comedy The Breadwinner, and hosts The Greatest Average American, the ABC and Hulu game show he co-created. Plenty of credits. Same quiet voice.
Picking your night
Wednesday to Friday each have one show. Saturday doubles up. The later of the two suits a group that wants dinner first. The run lines up with the rodeo's final four nights at the Thomas & Mack Center, and December 12 is also UFC 335 at T-Mobile Arena, so the city is busy. Our NFR concerts guide covers the rest of that week night by night, and our December comedy guide has the other stand-up headliners.
