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FEATURES nuns on hie sikp /i Hv Hilary L. Green V>/N APRIL IS, MIL OI.ILS Bcrgerc.'the longest-running production show in Las Vegas, debuts ?╟úThc'Bcst of the holies Before ... Sexier than (vver.?╟Ñ It was in IW that impresario Lou Walters, Barbara?╟╓s Jail, arranged'for the Paris-horn ?╟úholies Bergere?╟Ñ to jam! in Las Vegas. Over the past 38 years, many performers have been in ami out of the show. which has been a spring- board for many entertaitiers, like Lanee Burton. Me cherishes fond memdries of his nine-sear stint, almost growing up onstage at the ?╟úholies.?╟Ñ ! The: "holies Bergere?╟Ñ has?√ß succeeded in maintaining its reputation for featur- ing tail, statuesque showgirls, an old- fashioned storybook theme and niusie- hall format,The famous ?╟úCan Can" seg- ment is still an audience favorite.; Award-whuiing choreographer Jerry Jackson became the director of the ?╟úholies Bergere?╟Ñ in 1075 and he is large- / ly responsible for the new show.j He is choreographer'and costume designer of the slum, plus he wrote and helped to produce special music for the ?╟úholies.?╟Ñ Jackson manages to pack even' more into his schedule: ?╟úI have the I Sand Castle in (itiani. which is quite ;ij large theater, There?╟╓s no gambling and no hotel, it?╟╓s just a theater. Prom the success of that shoss. they're building a jlarge, mullimillion dollar theater in Saipiui for me to put a slum into. I * s c also had the Princess Casino in Hreeporl, i|i the Bahamas, for 13 years.?╟Ñ Originally from Oklahoma. Ja:kson has accumulated an ama/ing list oli cred- its. including staging the 80th anniver- sary of ?╟úCasino tie Paris?╟Ñ in Paris and choreographing the 100th anniversary of the ?╟úholies Bergere.?╟Ñ in Paris in I%7. ?╟úI was always fascinated, as a Child, by movie musicals. I svas born with a foot deformity, which I had ?╟╓til I svas IS years old, I wore built-up shoes and braces, that sort of thing. But,of course, you always want the thing that yoq don't have, and I always wanted to dance. ?╟úSo, I left Oklahoma when I svas IS, went to California,* started study- ing dancing and had a natural ability for it. I svas in my first inovie three months later.?╟Ñ Jackson svas in the modern dance department at UCLA while he svas get- ting his master's degree in art. He also served as an assistant professor in the music department. After college, he svas I Ted Astai re's ass i st a til e lioreog- rapher. He svas also a regular dancer on the ?╟úDanny Kaye Shosv,?╟Ñ part- nered dancers like Cyd Charisse on various television specials and in movies and spent lime as a professional photogra- pher for Saks h i ft h Avenue. ?╟úI've always been inter- ested in creativity, and tume. writing a piece of music or choreographing a dance, the principles of creating are all the same but the tools are different. I'm not very interested in the business of shosv business. I'm T very interested in the creative process,?╟Ñ said Jackson. In handling so many aspects of the new ?╟úholies Bergere." Jackson is able to draw from his wealth of experience. Mis focus on ?╟úThe Best of Indies Bergere ... Sexier than Bver?╟Ñ is to bring the essence of theater into the production and to increase the presence of the glamorous shosvgirl. In addition to three existing, successful seg- ments of the show, Jackson has added a few numbers from the IlJ75 edition ol* the ?╟úHolies.?╟Ñ He has created 12 new . segments and a finale that contains around 10 numbers. It's a fast-paced pro- duction, needless to , say, involving a fabu- * huts cast clad in mag- nificent costumes. The ?╟úholies Bergere?╟Ñ just gels better and better Sand is an absolute must-see, nra1 Mmmi < ?╟úThe Best of the Folies Bergere?╟Ñ ?√ß Where ?╟≤Tropicana m When ?╟≤ Fri.-Wed. ?╟≤ J* ?√ß Information ?╟≤ 739-2411 at r\, h/l 0* 64 April 20, 1997/SHOWBIZ