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w. 7 IK)i;vi r i>i i n>i:i><??n riii:si 11; lor Ihe Tropicana must have had 20/20 vision. It is conveniently located on whal mnsl he one of Ihe most sought-alter loin corners in Las Vegas, across from Ihe ?╟úLolie.s" I anions slalucs<|iie showgirls. Janu lornell is one o( these beautiful, lalenled pcrlormcrs who is hard at work making "The Best of ihe holies Bergerc" exac tly xvhal Ihe title slates. Slie has been in .Ihe easl lor two years and credits chore- ographer Jerry Jackson with Ihe concept F E A T U R E S r The/Best By HilaryGfleen ?╟≤ ?╟≤ ???╟≤ ?╟≤ m W ?╜ # w^m % ?╟úF0LIES?╟ÑVrADITI0N ?╟÷ and the caM take a new 5 turn in Las Vegas?╟╓ o longest-running pro- duction shovX aSw It: M(iM Cirand, New York-New York and Lxcalibur and a shorl jog Irom (lie Monle t 'arlo and I uxor. Il was that same vision that resulted in bringing Ihe spectacular ?╟ Tolies Bergerc" over Irom Paris in I9.V). No! surprisingly, ?╟úholies Bergerc' is ihe lougesh running production show in Las Vegas and a "mnsl-see fc>r visili>rs. Rehearsals are under way lor a new edition ol live "holies Beige re.....Ihe Besl ol Ihe holies Bergerc" opens April IS. featuring superb new pro- duction numbers, gorgeous eosllimes and more o! whal has made Ihe of ineluding his showgirls in more of Ihe show's sei|iienees. paving tribute to women while also paying tribute lo ihe age old Iradilion of the music hall. ?╟úIlis oreheslration of musie has been superb," I brne 11 said. ?╟úThere are some ele ganl pieces as we|l as fun, up lo dale pieces all Ihe way up lo the '90s. lie still goes through Ihe Iribule lo all ihe different eras of musie w hile glorifying Ihe woman." lornell was born and raised in Las Vegas and, in I9S8, was crowned Miss Nevada, going on lo compete in Ihe Miss USA Pageant. She was also successful in a similar pageant for Univision. live Spanish speaking .television network that broadcasts in the United Slates and throughoul Ihe Latin American countries. Tornclhs mother was a showgirl in her native Cuba and later in Las Vegas. She encouraged her daughter lo explore her performing lalcnL while continuing her education. Tornell speaks four languages and is majoring in languages al UNLV. She always knew that she would go into show business. When she was a small child she loved lo look al photographs of her molher in glamorous costumes work- ing alongside some of Ihe biggest names in Ihe business Tornell has modeled, played Ihe role of Cleopatra al Caesars Palace and (raveled on behalf of ihe hotel. She spent lime in I.os Angeles doing commercials and then came home lo Las Vegas to audit ion for ihe ?╟ Tolies Bergerc. Needless lo say. she was offered Ihe job. Pulling a new show together is a major 'undertaking. l;or lornell, it means daily rehearsals with (he other showgirls lo get (he choreography, exits and entrances down, and Ihcn with the rest ol Ihe east as Ihe product ion is pul together. 11 means gelling used to new costumes and new shoes anil il means memorizing Ihe show during live day and then performing Ihe existing show every evening. Rnlertainment director Clinny Murphy keeps the whole' thing moving, including letting everyone know' when rehearsals are scheduled and if I here are any changes in Ihe show. As choreographer, Jackson wears many Ivals in preparing Ihe new' edition of the show I le has a real eye for sets, eoslumes and overall produelion. ile decides on Ihe music, its tempo and whal works and doesn't work. Company manager Laura Lee is at every rehearsal and must learn everyone?╟╓s step, their look, even the wave ol a hand. She is Ihe person who will leach new' per- lormers ihe show when Ihe nerd arises. There's a \veallh of talent in Ihe* cast and crew of ?╟úThe Best of the Tolies Bergerc,?╟Ñ a show that is being billed as ?╟úsexier Ilian ever.?╟Ñ Once you see il, you'll understand why this outstanding show is Ihe longest-running production show in Las Vegas. ?╟úThe Best of Folies Bergere?╟Ñ ?√ß Where ?╟≤Troplcana ?√ß When ?╟≤ Opens April 18 ?√ß Information ?╟≤ 739-2411 68 April 13, 1997/SHOWBIZ