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! 😍
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Showgirl Deconstructed: Why Showgirls was the worst movie ever made with Christopher Childers
The enduring magic of being a wardrobe technician with Elaine Sargent
What went on in the dressing rooms?
Showgirl Deconstructed: Art vs Selling Out featuring Andrew Branche
Born to be a performer featuring Tiffany Johnson
Showgirl Deconstructed: Physical Requirements and Other Expectations with encore guest Brenda Barrett
Showgirls Road Trip 2021 recap with Sheri Lewis, part 2
Showgirls Road Trip 2021 recap with Sheri Lewis, part 1
Donn Arden’s Jubilee! 40th Anniversary
Showgirl Deconstructed: There are no more Showgirl shows featuring Alison Kravenko
Ten things I learned from creating a podcast about Showgirls
The privilege of being a Showboy featuring Dave Margolis
Showgirls Life 1 Year Anniversary Celebration
How being a Bluebell dancer sparked the time in her life when she really started living featuring Brenda Barrett
The entrepreneurial women of dressing room 6 featuring Rita Pardue
What is a Showgirl?
Being pegged as a future Bluebell dancer from the age of two years old featuring Suzanne Raines (Lunn)
The power of self advocacy as a Woman of Color in entertainment featuring Dollie Eaglin
How a 5’4” singer dancer came to be the Principal singer in Lido de Paris Allez Lido featuring Debra Lee Kristian, part 2
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