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12 OAILY NEWS, Saturday, December 14, 1985 asino stage rivals Vegas * ^ A show that?╟╓s claimed to rival Cats ^ in ingenuity and the ^ Folies Bcrgere in spectacle and color is }$> now in is final weeks of rehearsal at Conrad ** International Hotel-2^ Jupiters Casino International showroom. 3^ The show is Starz and was conceived, written, choreographed and dir-^ ected by one of the big names in world showbiz, w American Jerry Jackson. ~ This nimble-of-foot, 2^ sharp as a tack, packed with imagination direc-)?·?√? tor couldn?╟╓t dance a step until he was 18 because ^ of a foot deformity. ^ ?╟úIt was dancing ther-apy recommended by doctors wich straight-^ ened it out,?╟Ñ he said. yL Starz producer is Jim McDonald of Delicado )f Productions and set designer is American 7^ Charles Lisanby. The many talented Jerry Jackson launched Starz ^ at a special press ^ conference yesterday. ************ ?╟úStarz is not a variety show, but a series of unrelated acts based around space travel and time,?╟Ñ he said. ?╟úNeither is it a ?╟╓breast and feather?╟╓ show in the folies tradition ?╟÷ it?╟╓s full of song, dancing, music and abounds with talent, most of it Australian,?╟Ñ he said. He explained that the show opens with a screen appearing illuminated by 1300 lights. A spaceship appears on stage and the adventure begins as it blasts off travelling back through the decades. It lands in Venezia in 1762 and transports the audience to the grand ballroop of the Doge?╟╓s palace, St Mark?╟╓s Square and a climax of doves and fireworks. Starz then takes off to outback Australia and the music of Click Go the Shears and Irish jigs. Then it?╟╓s off to New York in the 1930s, on to Spain in 1880 with the stage transformed into one gigantic Spanish ? α * * * * * * ? α shawl. The Paris at Night scene features a specialty of Jerry Jackson, the can-can. The final scenes of Starz are Australian from 1965-1985. ?╟úThese were the years when Australia produced wonderful music which was performed around the world and we?╟╓ll feature lots of it,?╟Ñ he said. ?╟úWe?╟╓ll have 30.000 lights on stage in red, white and blue and the cast will wear costumes in red white and blue stripes,?╟╓?╟╓ he said. The final song production in Starz is sure to pull at the heartstrings of the audience, I Still Call Australia Home. Jerry Jackson said more than 100 people are involved in the production. ?╟úI can?╟╓t praise the Australian talent we?╟╓ve found, too highly,?╟╓?╟╓ he said. ?╟úWe did have some initial problems in locating acrobats but we searched around Australia and the team we?╟╓ve got are first class. We?╟╓re also ustn^ local talent in the show/?╟╓ he said. ?╟úWe?╟╓ve got a wonderful stage to work on at the International Show- by Yvonne McLean room. I?╟╓m delighted with it. We?╟╓ve got 50 fly-lines for our scenery, marvellous effects and a top lighting system,?╟Ñ Jerry said. The Starz orchestra will be conducted by Doug Surman. Jerry Jackson comes to the International Showroom with the highest reputation as a director, choreographer and writer. He?╟╓s the mastermind behind the Las Vegas Folies Bergere and is now in his 16th production of that extravaganza. Jerry has been staging revues, television spectaculars and Broadway musicals and star acts since 1966. Conrad International Hotel-Jupitcrs Casino director of public relations, Barbara Harper has worked in her career with some of the most successful world artists and shows brought to Australia. ?╟úRehearsals for this show, Starz, eclipse them all, staging music and effects and the talent arc the finest I've seen. The production teamwork is exciting,?╟╓?╟╓ she said. ?╟≤ AT a preview of Conrad International Hotel-Jupiters first stage show, Starz cast member April Columbo models one of the glamorous gowns ?╟÷ in spectacular red.