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 other words, the show was quite expensive for its time.
Those are the facts. Just a bunch of numbers researched and spouted off. But this episode is really about the people. The people that actually got to experience this masterpiece being created. I hope you enjoy these snippets of all the opening cast and crew members that I have had the privilege to speak with about their share in the creation of the Showgirl spectacular, Jubilee! Enjoy!
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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