New Kids on the Block Share Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of Their Las Vegas Residency (Exclusive)

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17-07-2025

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New Kids on the Block unveil behind-the-scenes footage from their Las Vegas residency, 'The Right Stuff,' featuring aerial stunts, reimagined hits and new stage effects
The boyband reveals how they tailored their immersive concert specifically for Las Vegas, blending nostalgia with spectacle
NKOTB completed the first leg of their residency in early July and have upcoming dates in November 2025 and February 2026The New Kids on the Block kicked off the first leg of their Las Vegas residency in June — and are now taking fans backstage to see how their high-flying production came together.
In a video short shared exclusively with PEOPLE, bandmates Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight reveal how they balanced building a new show that elevated their performance while staying true to their style.
"I think probably the biggest creative decision is walking the tight rope of bringing New Kids to Vegas and bringing Vegas to the New Kids, and not going too far in either direction," said Donnie of staging "The Right Stuff" residency, named after their 1988 hit song. "It takes us outside of our comfort zone a little but having fun and being creative is also part of our comfort zone. It's just, you know, putting it together."
The show, which returns to the Dolby Live at Park MGM on Nov. 1, includes a 30-song setlist of hits, deep cuts and reimagined fan favorites.
While nostalgia plays a large part — they open the concert emerging from a life-size Boston subway train and roll into the encore in a replica of the convertible featured in their 1988 video for "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" — the band leans into modern showmanship with immersive stage productions, aerial elements and sexy Rat Pack-inspired sets.
"We've been doing them songs a long time," said Danny. "They're always my favorites but now they're even more my favorites because they've been, like, reproduced and remixed."
The behind-the-scenes video includes clips of the members during early dance rehearsals ("[There's] a lot of new choreography," said Danny), wardrobe fittings, creative storyboarding and practices on the moving stage sidewalk and flying trapeze sets.
In one of the most elaborate stunts of the night, the singers are lifted high up into the air in individually illuminated boxes to sing face-to-face with guests in the upper balcony levels.
"I am definitely afraid of heights," Jonathan said. "If I was coming to the show and was way up there and then all of a sudden there's a bunch of New Kids in my face, I would be so happy. So I will take my fear and know that it's bringing happiness."
Said Jordan: "We wanted to give them surprises that, you know, they haven't seen before but also keep it tight enough for the regular just Las Vegas person that's just in town to go to see a show."
The band emphasizes that intimate connection is important amidst the spectacle — whether it's with their fanbase of devoted Blockheads or simply curious Las Vegas visitors.
"The entire show is going to be unique, I think, to our fans because we are crafting it specifically for Vegas and having things that, in many ways, we can only do in Vegas and are inspired by Vegas," said Donnie. "And on the other hand it's going to be a first look for some people who aren't fans who maybe are in Vegas and say, 'Let's see a show.'"
NKOTB completed the first leg of their residency in early July, and have second and third blocks scheduled in November 2025 and February 2026, with eight shows scheduled for each session.
"At the end of the day, it's just the five of us on the stage. We love each other, we care about each other, we love what we do, we keep showing up," said Joey. "We want to put on a spectacle."
Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com/NKOTBVEGAS or with special ticket and hotel packages through MGM Resorts.
Read the original article on People