Jubilee!

Viva Vegas showgirls

By Caroline Fontein

Feathers, sequins and showgirls converge in an extravagant spectacular called Jubilee at Bally’s. The show was created by Donn Arden, who originally brought his show “Lido de Paris” to Vegas in 1959 as one of the first topless shows in town.

Since Jubilee’s debut in 1981, the show has been wowing audiences with its statuesque, high-kicking, showgirls and dazzling costumes designed by Pete Menefee and Bob Mackie, the same creator behind Cher’s exquisite wardrobe.

Each of the 1,000 different costumes is more amazing than the next as an almost infinite number of women, both topless and covered, file on and off the stage all dripping in silver plated Swarovski crystal rhinestones paired with feather head pieces and other shimmering accents.

If you are hoping to see the show and bring your family along there is one non-topless show that performs every Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

Apart from rhinestones the girl’s costumes come in an array of different colors from hot pink and orange to red and black and later emerald and lavender, each shade more stunning than the next.

Accompanying the showgirls are studly show boys whose outfits range from sparkling tuxedos to little more than bedazzled codpieces, sometimes paired with spandex leggings depending on the dance number. There is eye candy for everyone in this show.

Apart from the performers, the stage is equally amazing through its miraculous transformation into 17 different sets throughout the show. Moving lifts enable the showgirls to rise from the floor or descend from hanging platforms in the ceiling.

Women in red and black sparkling gowns come on stage for a number with the men where they sing, “lady in red, fellas go crazy for a lady in red.” Next the women sing, “I want a diamond ring, bracelets, everything.” It is a fun, upbeat and playful number.

Rejean St. Jules, an international juggling sensation, is the first of several specialty acts to perform that are sprinkled throughout the show. He starts by juggling silver pins that appear to be almost weightless as he effortlessly tosses them above his head, between his legs and around his body.

For the  Samson and Delilah number, the stage is transformed into a scene reminiscent of ancient Arabia with hanging red drapes and a multi-level set with stone archways. The women wear a collage of different costumes that all look like variations of what you might imagine a belly dancer would wear, with a lot of gold accents and sheer flowing fabric. Their headpieces are embellished black and gold ornamented wigs. The men wear gold embellished codpieces that leave little to the imagination.

Duo Design, an award-winning strength and hand balancing act from Poland, are the next in the series of specialty performers to appear. They demonstrate incredible strength and agility as they move into different and astonishing poses.

Next, the tale of the Titanic is depicted. As the whistle blows for departure women in flapper-inspired costumes dance on stage in front of what looks like the outside of the ship. Then the scene changes to reveal the inside of the luxurious Titanic where men and women enjoy themselves at a ball dressed in glamorous evening gowns and tuxedos. One of the women passengers makes her way to the lower deck as the stage again transforms into the steam room where men labor over hot coals. When the iceberg hits, a fire sparks in the steam room before over 3,000 gallons of water floods across the stage.

Vitali Tomanov, an aerialist, appears on stage for a number where he soars above the audience before gracefully twisting and turning in mid-air via a red silk curtain.

For the finale, the stage becomes a wide staircase for the parade of different and extravagantly dressed showgirls to strut their stuff in the most elaborate of all the costumes in the show. Men in sparkling jackets also take the stage for an over-the-top song and dance number where they sing “It’s a Hollywood Jubilee!”

Showgirls first put Vegas on the map as the entertainment capital of the world, and today they continue to reign as one of the most popular shows on the Strip. See where it all started at Jubilee!