Dita Von Teese may not be able to raise the Titanic, but she comes close. Widely regarded as the reigning international queen of burlesque, Von Teese is preparing to pay the ultimate tribute to showgirl heritage when Dita Las Vegas: A Jubilant Revue makes its debut at Jubilee Theater inside Horseshoe Las Vegas. Jubilee!, as long-time Sin City aficionados know, was the long-running musical featuring topless showgirls that closed before Bally’s transformed into Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Von Teese would have liked to have been a showgirl, but she fell a few inches short of being considered statuesque. Instead, she drew on her appreciation of the golden age of Hollywood and classic glamour to create a persona that lent itself well to the burgeoning burlesque industry of the ’90s. Von Teese became the face of neo-burlesque and its first icon, eventually developing touring shows such as her most recent extravaganza.
For her first Vegas residency, she draws on the legacy of Jubilee! in terms of presentation and style as well as actual set pieces and costumes. The show’s centerpiece of a sinking Titanic did not make it into Dita Las Vegas, but large-scale martini glasses culled from her past revues will be onstage. Singing, dancing, rhinestones and feathers will be in abundance.
The genius of designers Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee will be on full display as well. Costumes that were worn by cast members of Jubilee! will glitter again at Dita Las Vegas, although it’s likely that Von Teese’s shoes will remain the exclusive domain of Christian Louboutin.
It’s a dream come true for Von Teese, as well as people with memories of Jubilee!, who hoped the show would live on in some sort of revised fashion. After some years of dormancy, the showgirl revue has been revived and is in the capable hands of Von Teese and her creative team.
Once a fan of showgirl culture who saw Jubilee! from the audience, Von Teese is now center stage.
Horseshoe Las Vegas, ticketmaster.com
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