ent001704-012

This item has not been digitized in its entirety. The original item is available for research and handling at the UNLV University Libraries. Additional digitization is available upon request. Please contact Special Collections to request additional digitization or with any questions regarding access at special.collections@unlv.edu. yr UP FRONT Friday, July 11,1997/Las Vegas Review*Journal/3J New 'Jubilee!' opening appears to have a multitude of showgirls By Michael PasKevtch Review-Journal ?╟úI thought it looked tired and dated ... the company didn?╟╓t look like they were having a good time onstage. ?╟úTo me, it was boring.?╟Ñ Other than that, all was well with Bally?╟╓s ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ when Joel Fischman took his first look at the long-running (and rundown) production show spectacle some five years ago. And while a bit of criticism rarely leads to major changes, Fischman?╟╓s negative first look at ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ carried plenty of weight. He had just been named the resort?╟╓s vice president of entertainment after similar duties at Bally?╟╓s in Atlantic City, N.J. ?╟úMy first assignment was to evaluate the show and decide whether to keep it or let it go,?╟Ñ he remembers. Yes, other options were discussed, but Fischman, noting the ?╟útimeless?╟Ñ nature of attractive bodies entertaining on a grand scale, decided to try to keep the show afloat. More than $5.6 million has gone into the recent remodeling of ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ ?╟÷ a figure that includes $2.6 million spent on a complete overhaul of the Jubilee Theater. The room appointed in shades of red now offers theater-style seating, drink holders and a small pit area near the stage where a lone row of booths and in-line tables recall the days when customers tipped their way for better seating. That leaves $3 million, most all of which went into an elaborate 16-minute opening number called ?╟úShowtime!?╟Ñ that puts a renewed emphasis on one of Las Vegas?╟╓ global calling cards ?╟÷ beautiful women wearing sequins, feathers, beads, baubles and little else. ?╟úIt?╟╓s a lot more sensual,?╟Ñ says Fischman, who believes that showgirls are anything but passd. . ?╟úI think what?╟╓s passe about showgirls is the connotation that goes with it because of (misleading) movies like ?╟ Showgirls.?╟╓ What we really wanted to do is show the beautification of women, and what we?╟╓ve done with the new opening has made that vision come true,?╟Ñ And as visions go, the new opening is an eyefiil as the majority of the cast of smiling performers drop in from the ceiling, ascend from elevators, ..... - ?╟≤ ?╟≤ - ?√ßUplift If H:.- , -1 *' ' j i'lSSlifi * ili?╜r.. ittiiigy ill!! i__M Ralph Fountain/Review-Journal The revamped ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ features an elaborate 16-minute opening number called ?╟úShowtime!?╟Ñ scamper down from side stages or simply stride onto the stage from the wings. ?╟úWe wanted hundreds, hundreds of girls,?╟Ñ notes Fischman, explaining the use of a rear-stage massive mirror that multiplies the hard-body count. ?╟úIt?╟╓s a grand opening and half the stage is lighted in pink, half is orange and the showgirls are in black. It looks like a brand-new show, and it?╟╓s 16 years old.?╟Ñ Based on a number by Jerry Herman called, what else, ?╟úHundreds of Girls,?╟Ñ the flashy new opening features 74 of the cast members in extravagant new costumes by designer Peter Menefee. Hundreds of pounds of ostrich feathers and countless sequins were used to create the unusual headdresses and stylish costumes. Menefee spent nearly two years working on designs for the opening, which he terms a celebration of the Las Vegas showgirl. He opted for ?╟úa more traditional look for the showgirls ... more sophisticated, long gloves and jewelry, more like grown-up women than you see in most shows.?╟Ñ Menefee?╟╓s work was crucial to the revamped show, as were the efforts of a central trio that included Fischman, Bally?╟╓s entertainment director Peter Aaron-son and company manager Fluff LeCoque. The latter two were named associate producers to Fischgian?╟╓s executive producer role. ?╟úShe was the key decision maker because she understands what the overall concept of what a Vegas show should be,?╟Ñ Fischman says of LeCoque?╟╓s efforts. Of course, countless others played major roles in bringing ?╟úShowtime!?╟Ñ to life, including Paul Mann who added new music and rerecorded the entire soundtrack with a synthesizer-free 30-piece orchestra. New background vocal tracks were recorded ?╟÷- the show?╟╓s singing principals continue to sing live ?╟÷ and the showroom?╟╓s sound system has been upgraded to lend a ?╟úsurround sound?╟Ñ feel. Tom Hansen, twice nominated for Emmy Awards and with Las Preview What: "Jubilee!" When: 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 8 and 11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday except Friday Where: Jubilee Theater, Bally's, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South Tickets: $49.50-566 Vegas credentials ranging from ?╟úLido de Paris?╟Ñ to ?╟úKeep Smiling America,?╟Ñ supplied the new choreography. Emmy Awardwinning lighting designer Marilyn Lowey, who has lighted everything from rock concerts to Broadway plays, is responsible for the show?╟╓s new hues. ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ opened in 1981 as a prime example of late producer Donn Arden?╟╓s flair for over-the-top spectacle, running for 14,390 shows until it went dark on May 27 for the monthlong Please see ?╟ JUBILEEI76 HOT TICKETS Wm lllll m HF' f.v I! itpf: VgpAGE PEOPLE Disco stars to boogie at Aladdin JfSfGet ready to dance the night away with the Village People, 8 yield Sue Robinson and the Trathihps When they perform at 8 pMJ July 26 at the Aladdin B Theatre ter the Performing Arts, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. a South-5'/> gf| The Village Pedpterburst onto the disco scene, in the late ?╟╓70s with such hits as ?╟úMacho Man,?╟Ñ ?╟úYMCA" and in the ^ Navy." J Best known tor her hit Turn the Beat Around,?╟╓?╟╓ Robinson -tk began her career on Broadway In ?╟úHair." Next came a leading role intbe Broadway!; production of?╟úSoon,?╟╓' also starring Nell Carter, Peter Alien and Richard Gere. She was then invited to join tbe Broadway cast of ?╟úJesus Christ Superstar." ?√ß 6 ?╟╓ Robinson received a ?║?√ß ?║ -Grammy nominationfor Bestjgi Female Vocalist in 1976 tor the single Turn the Beat Amdfte!S\! TbeTramrtips featuring Eari Young wilt start a ?╟úDisco tnfemo?╟Ñ when they perteoj%\ | jj Onginaify haiitpg, from U l j Philadelphia, Young, Ron Baker and Norman Harris formed the Tramrops in 1972. From that time forward, their unusual blend of pulsating beats, catchy melodies and voodi! o mn >r??s nbods .'.I lie ' essence of a style that grew to define an era, - ?! Tickets for the ?╟úMacho, Mania" tour are $25 arid are on sale at the Aladdin box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. To ?√ßMi H 474*4000. lillltBtSil ?√ß ?½M?║?½1?║I I | ffm wmm mmam WM4. WSmKSKi in* H ?√ß