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i'PZAZZ' MAN \ Arden Adds Up To 'Mr. Showbiz Plus' By BARNEY GLAZER To showbiz mathematicians, Down Arden adds up as a highly | organized mind, unusual taste, extended creativity and a driving energy to work in his chosen metier. On abacus or computer, the answer is always the same for the man who currently stages and directs today's greatest trilogy of revues the Lido in Paris, PZAZZ! '68" in tie Las Vegas Desert Inn, and the lido de Parisi n the Las Vegas Stardust Hotel. With huge spectaculairs running simultaneously on three stages, Donn Arden has to reduce to the common denominator of being showbusier than any other stage director today. His achievements have garnered honors including the Grand Prix in France, the Golden Runway and Silver Masque awards in Italy and the National Dance Educators award in the U.S. Arden is a perfectionist. He despises sloppy work. He has auditioned 5,000 gals, maintaining his selection standards higher than a micro-skirt's hemline, In the field of dance, he knows what he's doing. As a youngster, he developed a fine technique in ballet, acrobatics and the modern and jazz dance idiom. Arden's fascination for the theatre soon extended beyond individual performance. Before he was 20, he assumed charge of a 16-girl line at the Missouri Theatre, St. Louis, and staged its shows. He toured with Fanchdon & Marco, designed costumes and painted scenery. He worked the burlesque circuit with Ada Leonard, Gypsy Rose Lee and Ann Corio. In 1933, he staged the Mounds Country Club shows in St. Louis. Sophie Tucker fem- ceed those productions. During this stage of his career, Arden developed his flair for creating exciting panoramas. He had begun using stair- oases with lines of girls, lavish costumes, music, movement, and more girls. Following World War II, the Lido in Paris invited Donn to choregraph, stage and direct its famed show. To this day, he has produced the fabulous Jp-j ble, a mecoa for every show- minded tourist. During the 1951 Lido staging, a talented newcomer assisted the director. Her name: Gwen Verdon. Asked why he is inactive on television, Arden stated, "The tiny screen is helpless to compete with a huge spectacular or ?╟÷__ a stage of 100 performers. Am extravaganza must be seen live. The viewer must feel that he is part of the action." Donn makes it a point during rehearsals to know everyone by first name dancers, show girls, stagehands, musicians. When he criticizes, nobody grouches. He's always fair. Los Angeles, Calif I Italo Americano ^?╟≤W.4,6n. 200 free) ^tiien i P. Est. 1888 At the Desert Inn in the Crystal Room "Pzazz '68", opened Friday night, a dazzling new revue created, staged! and directed by Donn Arden and Produced by Frank Sennes With ^ five topnotch headliners and a cast of 70 dancers, singers and showgirls, This is without a dqubt one of the most Exciting Lavish - Extravaganza ever to be presented in Las Vegas, its the greatest! -Top acts include Snyder Brothers, who offer comedy, dancing, and the most exciting music. The great and " most unique juggler Rudy Cardenas; fBambi McCormick a beautiful young singer with anj extraordinarily lovely voice; The Agostinos, acrobatic - adagio team; and trapeze performer Galla Shawn. Lavish production numbers feature a Hollywood "High Camp" in mad-minimod manner; a tribute to the glory of the Fred Astaire era; a salute to motion pictures: then there is a wild boom town scene, complete with the frenzy of bringing in a gusher and the burning of an oil well. The finale is a Foreign Legion setting, glorifying the "Beau Geste" epics. "PZAZZ", means the most of everything, and believe me, this fabulous production rates as many stars as they give in the movies' for the best pictures. From the great opening to the resplendent closing the audience sat electrified1 as they were watching one of the greatest shows ever produced anywhere. The most exotic and costly costumes were designed by Bill Cafnbell and? they will dazzle your eyes, they're just magni- ficient! Production design and art direction by Harvely Warren. Music for "Pzazz, '68" is origi nal, written^ specially for the revue by Jim Harbert with lyrics by Leonard Adelson Musical accompaniment by- Carlton Hayes and his orchestra. The brilliant lighting and fantastic beauty plus the most dazzleing costumes and gorgeous girls spells "PZAZZ! 68" THE GREATEST!!!