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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Occupational hazards of dancing in a topless show featuring Scott Barnard
Las Vegas really was the wild wild West featuring Alan Clancy
The joy of being asked by producers to work for them without an audition featuring Sal Angelica
Long legs, feathery costumes and weight notices featuring Janet Sawczuk-Chapman
We started breaking that color barrier featuring Jakki Ford
MGM Grand fire and the impact on the opening of Jubilee! featuring Pete Menefee, Diana Eden and Jakki Ford
The hidden stories of shame about being a topless dancer
Now stick that giant headpiece on and go featuring Bluebells Forever Host Sheri Lewis
I really felt right at home featuring Donna London
We all played dress up featuring costume designer Diana Eden
Feathery Revelry: Glamorous Dress up experience in Showgirl Costumes
We were there for the opening featuring Bluebell dancer Anne Marie O'Connor
The Showgirl gave me confidence featuring Su Kim Chung
Hanging out in the Showgirls dressing room featuring Christopher Childers
Command that stage with a walk featuring Anna Cooke
Sparkle Darlings featuring Elana Braianis-McKinley
You have to be this tall to ride this ride featuring Sheri Lewis
Better than corporations and Cirque featuring Frieda Bronfin
Chassé, push and smile featuring Rosemary "Rosebud" Tall DeHart
You can never go back featuring Randall Patterson
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