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FEATURES Jennifer Joseph Sings Out in WHEN AWARD-WINNING CREATOR, DIRECTOR AND CHORE- ographer Jerry Jackson was asked to oversee the new edition of the ?╟úFolies Bergere,?╟Ñ he tapped into his vast experience and came up with the brilliant ?╟úThe Best of the Folies Bergere . ; . Sexier Than Ever.?╟Ñ With Jackson?╟╓s reputation for excellence and appreciation of tal- ent, he was able to select from the very finest performers in the busi- ness. When he hired singer Jennifer Joseph, he hit the jackpot. Born in Los Angeles, Joseph ?╟úgrew up in a really bad neigh- borhood-?╟÷we?╟╓re talking a terrible influence. ?╟úMy mom saw it, and that was one of the .reasons why they wanted to move out of California,?╟Ñ Joseph said. So, when she was 13, she moved to Las Vegas with her family. Joseph grew up listening to her mom?╟╓s broad taste inr music and, after singing around the house for years, ended up joining the school choir in the 10th grade. At that time, she was self-conscious about her weight and very shy , which prevented her from Singing solos and caused her to drop out of theater. However, after graduating from high school, she went to college for a while and began earning tuition money winning karaoke con- tests. By the time she was 19* Joseph was hired to sing in a local band called Diamondhead Then, on a whim, she auditioned for the Miss Las Vegas con- test and surprised herself by winning the title in 1993. From there, Joseph went on to sing with another local band until the beginning of 1994, when she was hired by producer Greg Thompson to appear in ?╟úDream Girls.?╟Ñ The job soon meant Joseph would move to Tokyo, where she lived for four months while per- forming at the Tokyo Hilton. She was thrilled. In July 1994, back in the States, Joseph joined ?╟úLegends in Con- cert?╟Ñ as a singer-dancer and traveled around the country and to Indonesia for more than a year. Then, some friends with the Miss Nevada-Miss American pageant organization called her and urged her to compete one last time. She did and she was crowned Miss Nevada 1995-96. In August 1995, Joseph went on to finish in 15th place, out of 50, in the Miss America pageant, and she'received the talent award. Her big thrill was singing ?╟úI Am Chang- ing?╟Ñ from ?╟úDream Girls,?╟Ñ in the Convention Center, in addition to presenting her platform of building self-esteem in America?╟╓s youth. Pretty heady stuff for a previously overweight, shy kid who had run with the wrong crowd. After the pageant, Joseph returned to work for Greg Thompson Productions until March, when she landed the job at the Tropicana. v -^T?╟╓d been working for this for years. What a gift,?╟Ñ Joseph said with a smile. She concurs with her fellow ?╟úFolies?╟Ñ cast members in her admiration for Jackson. ?╟úHe?╟╓s so talented. What a visionary he is. He designed everything, all of the costumes, and he decorated the set. He?╟╓s just amazing.?╟Ñ Joseph also applauds Jackson?╟╓s musical acumen and all-encompassing range of expertise. :>:1:?╟úWe have a great cast with such tal- ented people. Our girls are beautiful, our guys are good looking, our dancers are acrobats and our adagio team is absolutely superb. Ron DeCar, the other singer in the show, is great to work with. I couldn?╟╓t ask for anything better,?╟Ñ Joseph said. Joseph plans to continue her college education in the fall. She dedicates a large portion of each day working with a nonprofit program that helps youngsters get and stay on the right path. Her earlier work with the Boys and Girls Clubs, and her current efforts are an important part of her life, as is singing in the ?╟úFolies Bergere.?╟Ñ ?╟úI get to do what I love and get paid for it,?╟Ñ Joseph said, ?╟úThe show is doing great. It?╟╓s wonderful.?╟Ñ RUNNING WITH A NEW CROWD ?╟÷ Jennifer Joseph, center, shines in voice in the Tropi- cana?╟╓s dazzling production of the ?╟úFolies Bergere?╟Ñ ?╟úThe Best of the Folies Bergere?╟Ñ ?√ß Where*Tropicana ?√ß When ?╟≤ Fri.-Wed. ?√ß Information ?╟≤ 739-2411 54 August 3,1997/SHOWBIZ