Showgirl’s Life Podcast

This episode has been over a year in the making. I have been wanting to have this chat since I found out my friend Christopher Childers was in the movie Showgirls. In case you haven't seen this movie, please know there are a few “spoilers” in this episode. And I will say that unless you really want to watch a highly misogynistic portrayal of strippers and dancers that is fueled by patriarchal standards, you may not even want to waste your time. The movie is highly offensive and ruined an actresses career. Her career took the fall, not the male who directed it. Need I say more?Christopher was one of the dancers in the movie. I didn't know he had any connection with the movie, which is a horrible depiction of what life is like for a Las Vegas production show dancer, until our chat for episode 13 last summer. He agreed to come back and talk about his experience acting in the movie as well as how the movie has affected him 25 years later. We had so much fun during this chat. Enjoy!!Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Today, I have the honor of sharing an interview with a woman who worked behind the scenes with Showgirls in most of Greg Thompson's productions in Reno. Elaine Sargent used her degree in theatre to immerse herself in the glamour backstage as a wardrobe technician. I had a lot of fun talking with Elaine about costumes, Showgirls, what they are and are not, and of course, why they went away. If you are a fan of Reno, make sure to listen as Elaine shares lots of insights into the good old days of Reno! Enjoy!Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Hey hey! Are you ready to deconstruct the showgirl some more? In these special episodes, we have talked about how there are no more showgirl shows with Alison Kravenko in ep 056, physical requirements and expectations with Brenda Barrett in episode 60, and Art vs. selling out with Andrew Branche in ep 062.Today, we continue the deconstruction of the Showgirl and dive into my favorite subject, costumes! And of course, I couldn't have found a better guest than the master of Showgirl costume design, Pete Menefee! Emmy award winning designer, Pete Menefee, started his career in entertainment as a dancer. After 12 years of using his body as his medium, he transitioned in the role of sketch artist and then costume designer. He has worked on the Showgirl spectaculars Donn Arden's Hello Hollywood, Hello and Jubilee! He has also spent many years working in Hollywood for some of the industry's biggest names, Anne Margaret, Shirley MacLaine and Juliet Prowse to name a few. He has also worked as a designer for the Radio City Rockettes and countless ice shows with his incredible talent. Pete and I deep dive about the Showgirl costumes he designed for Jubilee! talking about the materials choices, how many artisans worked on a single costume and how he feels about his costume designs being tampered with. He shares a special story at the end that I was privileged to hear in person this past summer when I met Pete for lunch with my friend Sheri Lewis, host of Bluebells Forever podcast, in his backyard oasis in the Hollywood Hills. Enjoy this episode about the incredible costumes that made the Showgirl even more dazzling to watch!Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Today I present to you a solo episode that touches on a very important topic in the Showgirl's Life. Community. Though we have shared some hilarious backstage stories in previous episodes, there was magic happening at a deeper level. I am sharing my views on what it was like in the dressing rooms and the beautiful relationships that developed from those naked times. I am also excited to announce my partnership with The Origin Company. Created by Kate Northrup, the author of Money, A Love Story and Do Less, she has created a community for women to change the way they work. If you are curious to learn about this community, take the free online workshop outlined below. The Productivity Myth: 3 Easy Tactics to Focus On The Right Things and Get Better Business Results Without Burning OutCurious what a real sisterhood looks like? Want to see how to smash the productivity myth? Register for a workshop and learn how you can change the way you work and experience more connection and joy in your life. Register now!  Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Hey hey! Are you ready to deconstruct the showgirl some more? Last month, in episode 060, we talked about physical requirements and expectations with Brenda Barrett. And in the first ever Showgirl Deconstructed episode 056 back in July, we talked about how there are no more showgirl shows with Alison Kravenko. In this episode we will be discussing the difference between art versus selling out in the dance world. We went all over the place with this one. Talking about what it means to sell out as a dancer, what we think selling out is really about, differences in values as performers, how taking all your lessons as a dancer and using them as a performer makes performing in production shows art, the thrill of being recognized as a dancer on the street just by your walk, and so much more!!I am so pleased to bring you this conversation with my former dance partner, Andrew Branche. This topic is so dear to our hearts as we both started off loving ballet and joined concert companies and then made our way to production shows, where we truly blossomed into beautiful performers and artists. Enjoy!Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Tiffany Johnson was a tall nude in Donn Arden's Jubilee! in 1999 and left just before I got into the show. She returned for 3 more years almost a decade later. She has had a long career with a variety of opportunities and achievements. One thing to note is that we grew up in the same city and saw each other at all the dance competitions. The last time I saw her before I got into the show in 2000 was in Las Vegas at a Nationals competition in 1994, which was the year that she turned pro by joining the Nuggets dance team. As a woman of color, Tiffany has experienced the usual treatment in regards to race while working in the entertainment industry. Add to that the fact that she is 6'1” and you get a bit of an idea of how life as a dancer has been for her. Listen in to hear her thoughts on racism in entertainment, being a Las Vegas Showgirl and how she changed certain standards for the women of color that came after her time in Jubilee! Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Today's episode discusses one of the toughest parts of being a Showgirl that non-performers can't wrap their heads around—physical requirements and expectations. Showgirls and Bluebell dancers have been held to high standards for decades due to standards set by Madame Bluebell and then perpetuated by “tastes” preferred by white men over the generations. Encore guest Brenda Barrett, former Bluebell dancer, and I deep dive on this topic today, and share more about our experiences as dancers and the physical requirements and limitations of being dancers in the professional dance world. She has some beautiful advice at the end for all dancers. Enjoy!Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Welcome to part 2 of the Showgirls Road Trip 2021. Earlier this summer, I went on a road trip with Sheri Lewis, host of Bluebells Forever podcast. Sheri and I got together recently to debrief about our wonderful adventure in Reno, Las Vegas and LA. It took awhile to recount all of our experiences that we enjoyed that week so I decided to break it up into two episodes because it was A LOT. Enjoy this second part!I promised links in the episode, so here they all are!!UNLV Library Special Collections Digital Archives ASMR swing video Showgirls Road Trip (SRT) 2021 SouvenirsLet's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Welcome to part 1 of the Showgirls Road Trip 2021. Earlier this summer, I went on a road trip with Sheri Lewis, host of Bluebells Forever podcast. Sheri and I got together recently to debrief about our wonderful adventure in Reno, Las Vegas and LA. It took awhile to recount all of our experiences that we enjoyed that week so I decided to break it up into two episodes because it was A LOT. Enjoy this first part!I promised links in the episode, so here they all are!!UNLV Library Special Collections Digital Archives Support the show! ⇩⇩⇩Become a memberOne-time donationsMerch!To sign up for Sparkly Sundays and get a weekly email filled with inspiration, Showgirl history and updates about Showgirl's Life, click here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Hello! I am so excited to bring this episode to you. This one has been in the making for over a year, as I have been collecting guests' stories about their part in the opening of Donn Arden's Jubilee! Which is celebrating its 40th anniversary today!! Happy Birthday Jubilee!Donn Arden's Jubilee! Opened on July, 31, 1981 with a cast of 150 singers and dancers, a stage crew and wardrobe department of almost 100 people and an 18-piece orchestra. At a total cost of $10M. About $29.8M in 2021. In other words, the show was quite expensive for its time. Those are the facts. Just a bunch of numbers researched and spouted off. But this episode is really about the people. The people that actually got to experience this masterpiece being created. I hope you enjoy these snippets of all the opening cast and crew members that I have had the privilege to speak with about their share in the creation of the Showgirl spectacular, Jubilee! Enjoy!Become a memberOne-time donationsMerch!To sign up for Sparkly Sundays and get a weekly email filled with inspiration, Showgirl history and updates about Showgirl's Life, click here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

What is a showgirl show? In this special episode, I brought back Alison Kravenko Johnson to deep dive about how there are no more Showgirl shows left. This new feature of Showgirls Life will happen once a month where I bring on an encore guest to discuss one specific topic in the Showgirl's Life. This month, Alison and I had a conversation about what a Showgirl show is, why it went away, what Showgirls whom were at the beginning of their careers are doing now and more about why the Showgirl went away. Fascinating conversation about our thoughts and feelings about all of the above. Enjoy!Become a memberOne-time donationsMerch!To sign up for Sparkly Sundays and get a weekly email filled with inspiration, Showgirl history and updates about Showgirl's Life, click here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Showgirl's Life was started to document the lives of the people that embodied or supported the Showgirl. A lot of lessons have been learned along the way. I discuss a variety of topics relating to the work required to produce a podcast, shame, discrimination in entertainment, and what a Showgirl is and what she isn't. Tune in to hear my confession about being a Showgirl and the future of Showgirl's Life. Become a memberOne-time donationsMerch!To sign up for Sparkly Sundays and get a weekly email filled with inspiration, Showgirl history and updates about Showgirl's Life, click here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Dave Margolis started his training late but was able to work hard enough to land a spot in the chorus boys line in Jubilee! Dave shares about his first audition with Michael Pratt, former assistant company manager in Jubilee!, what it was like being a Showboy and the privilege that it was. He also gives his professional opinion about the anxiety dreams that former cast members call the Jubilee! Dreams. Enjoy! Show your support for the show:Become a memberOne-time donationBuy MerchTo sign up for Sparkly Sundays and get a weekly email filled with inspiration, Showgirl history and updates about Showgirl's Life, click here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

It's been a year of podcasting! Yay!! This episode is the replay of the 1st anniversary livestream recording, trimmed of the visual bits. But there is still a reason to listen. One lucky winner will receive the same prize pack that the live winners received. Make sure to get your trivia answers emailed to me by 8pm Mountain on July 15th, when I will draw the winner of the last prize pack. Prize pack includes:Showgirls Life t-shirt4 pack of Showgirls Road Trip souvenir button pinsFeather fascinator hand-crafted by meShowgirls Life magnetShowgirls Life stickers and pins3 month membership to Showgirls Life, Rhinestone levelLots of fun stuff! Listen to the episode to hear the questions and email your answers to hello@Showgirls.life by July 15th, 8pm Mountain time. Become a member: https://www.showgirls.life/members-area-gateway/One-time donations: https://www.showgirls.life/donations/donation-form/Merch! https://www.showgirls.life/product-category/sparkle/To sign up for Sparkly Sundays and get a weekly email filled with inspiration, Showgirl history and updates about Showgirl's Life, click here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

Today's episode features Brenda Barrett, a tall bluebell dancer from the opening cast of Donn Arden's Jubilee! She shares about her life as a dancer turned pilates instructor who has been working and living in Rome for the past 30 years. Topics discussed: opening Jubilee! in 1981, moving to Europe to pursue more dance opportunities, auditioning and performing in Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal music video, the impact of going to live theatre, the manipulation of energy as a performer and the essence of the Showgirl. Enjoy!To sign up for Sparkly Sundays and get a weekly email filled with inspiration, Showgirl history and updates about Showgirl's Life, click here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you! 

Rita Pardue was hired for the girl's singer line in the opening cast of Donn Arden's Jubilee. She moved all the way across country from Boston to take the position after her cattle call audition for Fluff LeCoque. She shares her favorite experiences in Jubilee and how the two years she spent in the show helped launch her into a successful broadcasting career. To sign up for Sparkly Sundays and get a weekly email filled with inspiration, Showgirl history and updates about Showgirl's Life, click here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what you enjoyed about this episode. I look forward to connecting with you!

This 50th episode of the Showgirl's Life is a collection of guests sharing their perspectives on what a Showgirl is and what she isn't. Think you know what a Showgirl is? It's definitely not like it was portrayed in Showgirls the movie (what a joke!) Listen in to hear about how the Showgirl is more than feathers and legs. Enjoy!Sign up for the 1st anniversary virtual live recording happening on Friday, June 18th here.  You will be signed up for the Sparkly Sunday emails hitting your inbox with Showgirl inspiration, history and updates about Showgirl's Life. Just want to see the video of my living room performance? Head over here.Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what your definition of a Showgirl is. I look forward to connecting with you! 

Suzanne Raines (Lunn) went to Paris with Madame Bluebell, to perform as a Bluebell dancer in Allez Lido at the Lido de Paris at the age of 16. She did quite well there advancing to the dancing nude line until Miss Bluebell invited her to travel to Las Vegas to be part of the opening cast of Donn Arden's Jubilee! She was asked to be a line captain to the tall nudes when she arrived. She remained in the show for eight years until she became pregnant with her daughter and retired from dancing. Listen in to hear more about her life as a Showgirl. Enjoy!Sign up for the 1st anniversary virtual live recording happening on Friday, June 18th here. Photos of Suzanne are available on the show notes page. Let's keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you! 

Dollie Eaglin started dance at a late age, even though she was inspired by the dancing shows she saw on TV as a young girl in the South. In this episode we discuss her path to the Las Vegas shows Donn Arden’s Hallelujah Hollywood and Jubilee! And the impact being part of those casts had on her in all of her pursuits since. Topics of racial discrimination, being a woman and being a teacher also come up as we talk about the how being in those shows shaped her as an artist and choreographer. As part of the opening cast of Jubilee!, a few fun anecdotes have been saved for the 40th anniversary episode releasing on July 31, 2021. She has had an interesting path so far. Enjoy!Sign up for the 1st anniversary virtual live recording happening on Friday, June 18th here. Photos of Dollie are available on the show notes page here. Let’s keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you! 

Debra Lee Kristian is back for part 2 where she shares more about life at the Lido de Paris at the Stardust Hotel when the mob ran it. She has a few stories of interactions with Frank Rosenthal and how upset she was at a nickname he gave her. We discuss the immensity of the Donn Arden productions he was famous for producing and what it was like working for the Mob. Enjoy!Sign up for the 1st anniversary virtual live recording happening on Friday, June 18th here. Photos of Debra are available on the show notes page here along with links to videos of her singing in Allez Lido.Let’s keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you! 

Debra Lee Kristian did not fit the standards that Donn Arden’s cast members were typically known for. She was quite short but was able to entertain Donn Arden enough to win the role as the Principal singer of Allez Lido, the final edition of the Lido de Paris at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Listen in to part one of her interview to learn how she got into dancing and singing, her first audition for Donn Arden, even though she was too short, and the stage spectacular that she had landed her principal role in. Enjoy!!Sign up for the 1st anniversary virtual live recording happening on Friday, June 18th here. Photos of Debra are available on the show notes page along with links to videos of her singing in Allez Lido.Let’s keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Showgirl’s Life podcast welcomes back Janet Kravenko, Alison Kravenko and Skyla Johnson for a group interview to talk about show business and their family legacy. As a special Mother’s Day tribute, the three share what life has been like being a mother and/or daughter in showbiz and some of the lessons they have learned. We discuss fears of the business, challenges being a mother and a performer, and the state of the dance world today with the advent of social media in the mix of an already difficult business. Enjoy!Want to be part of the LIVE recording of the 1st anniversary episode? Register here!Let’s keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Marty Lewis, who was in both opening casts of Hello, Hollywood, Hello and Jubilee as a black male dancer, shares his story of being a black Showboy in Donn Arden’s MGM productions. We discuss the joys and privileges of being part of the casts of Showgirl production shows, where entertainment has gone today and reminisced about many of the opportunities that were available to dancers in the 70s and 80s in America. He shares his perspectives on working as a choreographer and dancer around the world and how much the world of entertainment has changed in the last 40 years. Enjoy!Check out the show notes here with photos of Marty’s show days.Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here.Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public.  Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Patti Jo Amerein (Cooper) began her stage career in the production of City Lites at the Flamingo Hotel. She was urged to audition for Donn Arden’s Jubilee! When the first contract change came up and was immediately hired as a Tall Nude. Patti Jo shares her experiences navigating her performing career through the 80s and 90s and then transitioning to motherhood and then making another transition into farm life. We discuss her celebrity encounters, the skillsets that performers acquired while performing in such awesome spectacles and the 180º turn to her current life on a farm. Enjoy!Check out the show notes here with photos of Patti Jo’s show days.Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here. If you are interested in joining the alter ego challenge, click here to register!Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Joe Macchieverna started off opening Hello Hollywood Hello as a singer and then continued on to be part of the opening cast of Jubilee! As a chorus singer and eventually worked his way to Principal in Jubilee and then the Folies Bergere at the Tropicana. Joe comes from old school Vegas roots in the entertainment industry and shares his perspective of what life was like in Vegas in the late 70s early 80s. We discuss the impact of being an entertainer has had on his life even now while he continues to work outside of the entertainment industry. Enjoy!Check out the show notes here with photos of Joe’s show days and links to some of the videos referenced in the interview. Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here.If you are interested in joining the alter ego challenge, click here to register!Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Su Kim Chung, head of the Special Collections at the UNLV library joins us again to chat about the matriarchs in the Showgirl’s life, Madame Bluebell and Fluff LeCoque. We discuss generational differences for women in society regarding money, property and work. We also discussed some books for the more academic approach to the history of women. More topics around how these two women impacted so many women in their lives include nurturing their community, mentorship and female relationships. Check out the show notes here with links to some of the UNLV archives referenced in the interview. Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here.Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Skyla Johnson, currently performing in Las Vegas at the Luxor in Fantasy, shares how her showbiz lineage has shaped her as a performer and woman. We discuss her audition for the show, the differences between classic Las Vegas Showgirls and the current performers on “The Strip” as well as lessons she has learned from her family about Show business. She carries on the legacy of her family as the “new” Showgirl while still performing nightly. This is the fourth episode of the first show family on the podcast. Previously, her mother, Alison Kravenko and grandmother, Janet Kravenko, shared their histories on the show. Enjoy!Check out the show notes here with photos of Skyla. Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here.If you are interested in joining the alter ego challenge, click here to register!Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Janet Kravenko was hired by Madame Bluebell at the age of 17 to join her touring company in 1957. She was traveling around Europe with seven other girls performing in the prestigious troupe while absorbing the experience of a lifetime as a professional dancer. She was asked to join the group of sixteen girls that were traveling to Las Vegas to open the 2nd edition of the Lido de Paris, Ce Cést L´amour, at the Stardust Hotel, directed by Donn Arden, and moved to Las Vegas in 1959. We discuss what it was like being a woman living the life of a performer during those years as well as how much it has changed to be a woman in this country. She also shares about the high standards the Bluebells were held to and how, due to popular belief, they were not to “mingle” with casino guests. Enjoy!Check out the show notes here with photos of Janet as a Bluebell. Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here. If you want to sign up for my weekly emails where I share what's going on in my sparkly world, click here!Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Part two with Alison Kravenko is here! Last episode, we learned how Alison was born to be a Showgirl because of her family legacy and its ties to the Bluebell dancers. This episode Alison and I dive more in depth to costumes, details about Jubilee and the revamps of the opening and finale and her life after the show. Check out the show notes here with a video of Alison on Donahue Las Vegas.Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here.Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Alison Kravenko was destined to be a Showgirl. It is part of her family legacy. Her mother was one of the original Bluebells to come across the pond to perform in the Lido de Paris at the Stardust hotel back in 1958. Once Alison focused her sights on dancing and trained to be a ballerina, it was just a short time before she had her chance to audition for Donn Arden and was cast in the opening cast of Jubilee! We discuss her path from high school drill team to Bluebell dancer and beyond in this first part of two episodes featuring Alison. Check out the show notes here with photos of Alison in Jubilee and a couple of the sketches of the hats we discussed, plus a video of Alison and her mom being interviewed by Donahue.Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here.Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

Today’s episode features Amelia Bruff, former Bluebell dancer, magic assistant, line captain and swing from Donn Arden’s Jubilee. Amelia, or Millie as she was known to cast and crew, spent a total of 14 years on the Jubilee stage. During two separate experiences in the show, she shares how different each time was in shaping her confidence, work ethic and stepping into being a woman. We discuss the differences between real showgirls and the “showgirls” that walk along the streets of Vegas posing for pictures with tourists. And how the high standards we were held to as the “real deal” on the Vegas stages helped cultivate an inner strength and pride in ourselves and everything we do. Amelia has so much wisdom to share about what it took to be a Showgirl. Enjoy!Check out the show notes here with a link to bonus photos of Millie in Jubilee.Want to become a Patron and hear those bonus stories? Check out the real behind the scenes of my sparkly world here.Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this episode was. I look forward to connecting with you!

This is the final episode of a seven part series in which I feature guests that are all People of Color that performed in Hallelujah Hollywood, Jubilee, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello between 1973-2016. To culminate this series, I bring together the most impactful stories, previously unpublished, from the guests in this series and a few more from other guest’s conversations. We talk about racial discrimination in entertainment in the 50s and 60s, Hollywood casting in the 70s, casting for LA music videos in the 80s, racial discrimination in Europe in the 80s, how sticking with the “status quo” was important to the show’s standards, embracing the history of the “Ebony line” and appreciating the People of Color that paved the way for the younger generations of Jubilee dancers. This episode features Pete Menefee, Jakki Ford, Victor Littles, Anthony Brown, Gayve Littles, Frieda Bronfin, Eileen Ryans Scott and Andrew Branche as they share their experiences of racial discrimination in the entertainment industry.Check out the show notes here with a link to the original article referenced about the original Ebony line captain, LaVerne Ligon. Let’s keep the conversation going! Over on Patreon, this episode page is now public. Join the conversation and share what your favorite moment in this series was. I look forward to connecting with you!

This is part six of a seven part series in which I feature guests that are all People of Color that performed in Hallelujah Hollywood, Jubilee, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello between 1973-2016. Andrew Branche, former principal dancer in Jubilee, began his career as a dancer in his late teens. Inspired by a touring cast of Cats, specifically, Mr. Mistoffelees, Andrew was smitten and began his journey to Showboy in Jubilee. Training with Garold Gardner in Vegas and then moving to New York to continue his training, he danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey and Rod Rodgers, and ultimately ended back in his hometown of Las Vegas to audition for Jubilee. Once he was part of the cast, his sights were set on Principal and our partnership began. Andrew shares how much love and respect he had for the show and his role in helping the history continue with the younger generations of performers. We also discuss our favorite onstage moments as partners, both instances, not safe for work! Ah! The occupational hazards of dancing in a topless show. Enjoy!I would love to hear your favorite part of this interview. Head over to Patreon to join the discussion!

This is part five of a seven part series in which I feature guests that are all People of Color that performed in Hallelujah Hollywood, Jubilee, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello between 1973-2016. Victor Littles was a dancer in the line formerly known as the “Ebony Guys” in Jubilee. He started his dance training late, but was able to work as a professional dancer with the help of mentors like Winston Hemsley and Tricia Lee, guiding him along the way. We discuss his life after dance and how he transitioned into the world of education obtaining his doctorate and his foray into politics. And of course, we discussed his experience being a Man on Color in a show and how systematic racism affected his experience. I would love to hear your favorite part of this interview. Head over to Patreon to join the discussion!

This is part four of a seven part series in which I feature guests that are all People of Color that performed in Hallelujah Hollywood, Jubilee, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello between 1973-2016. Gayve Littles started much later than usual for a female dancer at the age of 18. With the help of her brother, and some legendary teachers such as Winston Hemsley and Rich Rizzo, she was able to learn enough to get herself into Donn Arden’s Showgirl spectacular, Jubilee! We discuss her issues with unable to learn the choreography quick enough, her weight notices for being too skinny and being let go and then coming back two years later, as well as her move into being a line captain of the line 4 girls, formerly known as the Ebony line. She remembers those twelve years as a Showgirl as being the best years of her life. Enjoy this story as another Person of Color shares her experience in one of the largest stage shows in history! I would love to hear what your favorite part of this episode was! Share your thoughts over on the public Patreon page here. To join the conversation about this episode and previous ones, head over to Patreon to share your favorite part of each episode. Can't wait to chat with you!

This is part three of a seven part series in which I feature guests that are all People of Color that performed in Hallelujah Hollywood, Jubilee, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello between 1973-2016. Anthony Brown started his Las Vegas entertainer journey in Reno performing in Hello, Hollywood, Hello. After one short contract, he joined the Ebony Guys and Gals line in Jubilee. He pursued different careers from police officer to professional fighter and kept his night job performing in Jubilee nightly. Pushing to break the color barrier with the show, he became the first Black Samson in Jubilee and later first black principal dancer. Anthony has many fun stories to share about his twenty three years in the show. Enjoy!

This is part two of a seven part series in which I feature guests that are all People of Color that performed in Hallelujah Hollywood, Jubilee, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello between 1973-2016. Jakki Ford picks up from last week and shares her thoughts on joy and diversity. We chat about her introduction to the “Ebony line” in Hallelujah Hollywood, and her feelings about the segregation and integration in later years. Also discussed are hit Broadway shows that are leaning into more diversity and the impact the arts and performers have in this world. Enjoy!

Today’s episode kicks off a 7 part series in which I feature guests that are all People of Color that performed in Hallelujah Hollywood, Jubilee, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello between 1973-2016. I begin this journey talking about my own experience with diversity growing up, moving into the world of entertainment in the ballet company and then the Jubilee company, by the year 2000. I then bring in Jakki Ford to share her thoughts on diversity and the future of this country. She will return next week with a full episode sharing more of her stories from the Ebony line in both Hallelujah Hollywood and Jubilee. Enjoy!

From dressing Mitzi Gaynor on tour straight out of fashion design school to designing for film and fashion, Karan Feder’s path led her to her position curating the costume and textiles collection at the Nevada State Museum Las Vegas where she helps preserve this unique time in Las Vegas history for generations to come. We discuss the importance of the initial construction of garments, how costumes can experience a “second life” once they have been retired from stage, and the challenges faced to curate such a unique time in Las Vegas history. Enjoy!

Today’s episode is all about AUDITIONS! Listen in to hear about my experiences with auditions from my very first ballet audition when I was 12 years old until my final audition as Principal in Jubilee! eighteen years later. I discuss what went down in a showgirl show audition, what dancers went through during the process of auditions and the lessons I learned years after I left the stage. I also added my favorite audition stories from past guests about embarrassing moments, how determination can get you the job and cattle calls. Enjoy!

Scott Barnard went from taking classes in a small village in New York to a full scholarship to train with Gus Giordano in Chicago. After a year of training, he went to Las Vegas, where the tall dancers went, to audition for Jubilee. We discuss the elementary school bullying that almost prevented his dance career, his fourteen years in Jubilee and all the adventures he experienced in between. Listen in to hear about his path to principal and how his confidence grew over the years once he stepped into his true self and chose dancing over what others thought of him. Enjoy!

Alan Clancy came to Las Vegas in his early twenties after traveling the world as an acrobat from the age of 17, and then performing in Fredrick Apcar’s Casino de Paris production in Sydney, Australia. Blown away by the lights and lifestyle of the entertainment industry, he settled there and performed in many of the big Showgirl productions on the strip including Les Folies Bergere and Hallelujah Hollywood. He was instrumental in the creation of Nevada Dance Theater under the direction of Vassili Sulich. His path of lighting up stages all of his life has led him through many different experiences over the years. Listen now to enjoy his long and varied career!

Today’s very special guest, Sal Angelica, shares about his journey from Brooklyn to the stages of Las Vegas and beyond over his 35+ year career as a dancer and adagio partner. From working with Donn Arden in Sky High in the Latin Quarter as his first professional dancing job to his dream job of performing with Juliet Prowse, Sal shares some fun stories. His part of the showgirl legacy lives on in his scrapbooks archiving all of his adventures as a dancer performing and traveling the world between 1959-1990. Enjoy this history-filled episode!

This episode features former Las Vegas Showgirl turned Pilates instructor, Janet Sawczuk-Chapman. From her first professional dancing job in Japan to jobs on the Las Vegas strip, she shares about the decade she spent on the Jubilee Theatre stage. We discuss the highlights of being a Showgirl and some of the more difficult aspects of the job like weight notices. Her attitude about weight notices was mind-blowing. Have a listen to find out more about her life as a Showgirl.

This episode features the multi-talented star, Jakki Ford sharing her story about how she got started in the performing arts and how she has worked as a model, dancer and actress. We discuss how she sang and danced in all three of Donn Arden’s MGM productions and continues to sing and record albums to this day. Also discussed was her difficulty as a woman of color in the entertainment industry when it was a less diverse community than today. A very full episode featuring her highs and lows as a performing artist, enjoy!

Today, November 21st, marks the 40th anniversary of the devastating fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada that killed 85 people and injured several hundreds more. This episode features survivors from the fire that were working on the opening of Donn Arden’s Jubilee! One member of the crew perished in the fire. Hear the stories from Pete Menefee, Diana Eden and Jakki Ford about the tragic day and the impact on their lives.

This episode features excerpts from previous guests discussing the subject of being a topless dancer and the shame (or not) surrounding it. Each guest has unique perspectives and experiences about their time being a Showgirl or topless dancer and how it has shaped their life since. We also have a couple of men that worked with the Showgirls discussing their views on the subject. In this episode, I share my experience as a topless dancer and some of the shame that I still am unraveling to this day.

She’s back! The host of Bluebells Forever Podcast, Sheri Lewis, takes the hot seat again to share her own experience as a Showgirl in Hello, Hollywood, Hello and beyond. We discuss her experience of accepting a “nude” dancer contract and being disowned by her parents and the shaming some Showgirls went through from family, friends and communities. While her dancing career was short compared to some, she lived incredible experiences getting to travel the world while doing something she loved. Enjoy!

Donna London, former head of wardrobe of Jubilee shares her story of unexpectedly joining the circus and then moving to Las Vegas and joining the wardrobe crew of Jubilee in the winter of 1981. She shares about her time as a wardrobe technician and then moving up to management during her 33 1/2 years with the show. We also discuss the challenges she faced with maintaining costumes and discontinued supplies and the closing of the show. If you love the Jubilee costumes, this is an episode to learn more about how she managed to keep them looking spectacular for nearly four decades.

This episode features broadway dancer turned costume designer, Diana Eden. We discuss her brief, but important role in the creation of Jubilee as the assistant to Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee. She was the creator and keeper of the famed "Costume Bibles" that were used to help rebuild the costumes after the tragic MGM fire in 1980. Her work later in film as a costume designer leads to a discussion about character development and the co-creative experience of working with actors in their roles. Enjoy!

What happens when you put Showgirl hats and jewelry on a chef and an entrepreneur? Surprising results! These two women, bravely attended a Feathery Revelry and got to experience the magic of the Art of the Showgirl. In this very special episode, they share how they felt before, during and after the event as well as how it impacted their lives and businesses. Listen in to hear how these two self-proclaimed tomboys played dress up with Athena and transformed into glamorous, confident Showgirls.