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Join Athena Patacsil, former principal dancer in Donn Arden’s Jubilee!, as she preserves the history of the Showgirl and the Showgirl production shows through interviews and oral histories. The closing of the last Showgirl spectacular of its kind, Jubilee! in 2016 and a global Bluebell dancer reunion in 2019 were the impetus to create a show where former dancers, Showgirls, crew members and historians share what life was really like during their time as cast and crew of those stage spectacles. Topics ranging from what it's like to be a Showgirl, performer life, getting paid to do what you love, confidence, discipline, resilience, femininity, sensuality, Showgirl history, life after dance, and preserving the history of the Showgirl and the shows she performed in will leave you in awe of the lives and purpose of all the people that were part of this unique genre of entertainment history.
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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 actr...
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 o...
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 de...
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 Lov...
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 se...
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 joi...
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...
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 Coll...
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 Colle...
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...
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 w...
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. Let’s keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes page and...
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! Let’s keep the conversation going! Join the conversation on the show notes pag...
It’s been a year of podcasting! Yay!! This episode is the replay of the 1st anniversary livestream recording, trimmed of the visual bits. Drawing date has passed. Thanks for listening!! 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! 😍 Support the show Love listening to this show? Show your love by becoming a member or buying merch. Members get exclusive videos and photos sent...
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 th...
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...
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! 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 yo...
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. L...
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 ...
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! Photos of Debra are available on the show notes page here along with links to videos of her singing in Allez Lido. Let’s k...
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