Showgirl Story Time: Odd Gigs for Jubilee!
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ep 066 Showgirl Deconstructed: Why Showgirls was the worst movie ever made with Christopher Childers
This episode has been over a year in the making. I have been wanting to have this chat since I found out my friend Christopher Childers was in the movie Showgirls. In case you haven’t seen this movie, please know there are a few “spoilers” in this episode. And I will say that unless you …
ep 065 The enduring magic of being a wardrobe technician with Elaine Sargent
Today, I have the honor of sharing an interview with a woman who worked behind the scenes with Showgirls in most of Greg Thompson’s productions in Reno. Elaine Sargent used her degree in theatre to immerse herself in the glamour backstage as a wardrobe technician. I had a lot of fun talking with Elaine about …
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ep 064 Showgirl Deconstructed: Designing and Constructing Showgirl Costumes with Pete Menefee
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 …
ep 063 What went on in the Dressing Rooms?
Today I present to you a solo episode that touches on a very important topic in the Showgirl’s Life—community. Though we have shared some hilarious backstage stories in previous episodes, there was magic happening at a deeper level. This is how a dressing room community is built. I am sharing my views on what it …
ep 062 Showgirl Deconstructed: Art vs Selling Out featuring Andrew Branche
Hey hey! Are you ready to deconstruct the showgirl some more? Last month, in episode 060, we talked about physical requirements and expectations with Brenda Barrett. And in the first ever Showgirl Deconstructed ep 056 back in July, we talked about how there are no more showgirl shows with Alison Kravenko. In this episode we …
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ep 061 Born to be a performer featuring Tiffany Johnson
Tiffany Johnson was a tall nude in Donn Arden’s Jubilee! in 1999 and left just before I got into the show. She returned for 3 more years almost a decade later. She has had a long career with a variety of opportunities and achievements. One thing to note is that we grew up in the …
ep 061 Born to be a performer featuring Tiffany Johnson Read More »
ep 060 Showgirl Deconstructed: Physical Requirements and Other Expectations with encore guest Brenda Barrett
Today’s episode discusses one of the toughest parts of being a Showgirl that non-performers can’t wrap their heads around—physical requirements and expectations. Showgirls and Bluebell dancers have been held to high standards for decades due to standards set by Madame Bluebell and then perpetuated by “tastes” preferred by white men over the generations. Encore guest …
ep 059 Showgirls Road Trip 2021 recap with Sheri Lewis, part 2
Welcome to part 2 of the Showgirls Road Trip 2021. Earlier this summer, I went on a road trip with Sheri Lewis, host of Bluebells Forever podcast. Sheri and I got together recently to debrief about our wonderful adventure in Reno, Las Vegas and LA. It took awhile to recount all of our experiences that …
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ep 058 Showgirls Road Trip 2021 recap with Sheri Lewis, part 1
Welcome to part 1 of the Showgirls Road Trip 2021. Earlier this summer, I went on a road trip with Sheri Lewis, host of Bluebells Forever podcast. Sheri and I got together recently to debrief about our wonderful adventure in Reno, Las Vegas and LA. It took awhile to recount all of our experiences that …
ep 058 Showgirls Road Trip 2021 recap with Sheri Lewis, part 1 Read More »
ep 057 Donn Arden’s Jubilee! 40th Anniversary
Jubilee! Opening 40th Anniversary This episode 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! celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2021!! Happy Birthday Jubilee! (Please note, the audio contains mistakes of some of the dates and numbers, but …
ep 056 Showgirl Deconstructed: There are no more Showgirl shows featuring Alison Kravenko Johnson
What is a showgirl show? In this special episode, I brought back Alison Kravenko Johnson to deep dive about how there are no more Showgirl shows left. This new feature of Showgirls Life will happen once a month where I bring on an encore guest to discuss one specific topic in the Showgirl’s Life. This …
ep 055 Top ten things I learned from creating a podcast about Showgirls
Showgirl’s Life was started to document the lives of the people that embodied or supported the Showgirl. A lot of lessons have been learned along the way. I discuss a variety of topics relating to the work required to produce a podcast, shame, discrimination in entertainment, and what a Showgirl is and what she isn’t. …
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ep 054 The privilege of being a Showboy featuring Dave Margolis
Dave Margolis started his training late but was able to work hard enough to land a spot in the chorus boys line in Donn Arden’s Jubilee! Dave shares about his first audition with Michael Pratt, former assistant company manager in Jubilee!, what it was like being a Showboy and the privilege that it was. He …
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ep 053 Celebrating one year of podcasting Showgirl’s Life
It’s been a year of podcasting! Yay!! This episode is the replay of the 1st anniversary livestream recording, trimmed of the visual bits. But there is still a reason to listen. One lucky winner will receive the same prize pack that the live winners received. Make sure to get your trivia answers emailed to me …
ep 053 Celebrating one year of podcasting Showgirl’s Life Read More »
ep 052 How being a Bluebell dancer sparked the time in her life when she really started living featuring Brenda Barrett
Today’s episode features Brenda Barrett, a tall Bluebell dancer from the opening cast of Donn Arden’s Jubilee! She shares about her life as a dancer turned pilates instructor who has been working and living in Rome for the past 30 years. Topics discussed: opening Jubilee! in 1981, moving to Europe to pursue more dance opportunities, …
ep 051 The entrepreneurial women of dressing room 6 featuring Rita Pardue
Rita Pardue was hired for the girl’s singer line in the opening cast of Donn Arden’s Jubilee. She moved all the way across country from Boston to take the position after her cattle call audition for Fluff LeCoque. She shares her favorite experiences in Jubilee and how the two years she spent in the show …
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ep 050 What is a Showgirl?
This 50th episode of Showgirls Life is a collection of guests sharing their perspectives on what a Showgirl is and what she isn’t. Think you know what a Showgirl is? Definitely NOT like she was portrayed in Showgirls the movie. What a joke! On the other hand, the Showgirl is more than feathers and legs, …
ep 049 Being pegged as a future Bluebell dancer from the age of two years old featuring Suzanne Raines (Lunn)
Suzanne Raines (Lunn) went to Paris with Madame Bluebell, to perform as a Bluebell dancer in Allez Lido at the Lido de Paris at the age of 16. She did quite well there advancing to the dancing nude line until Miss Bluebell invited her to travel to Las Vegas to be part of the opening …
ep 48 The power of self advocacy as a Woman of Color in entertainment featuring Dollie Eaglin
Dollie Eaglin started dance at a late age, even though she was inspired by the dancing shows she saw on TV as a young girl in the South. In this episode we discuss her path to the Las Vegas shows Donn Arden’s Hallelujah Hollywood and Jubilee! And the impact being part of those casts had …
One heartbreaking truth: the Showgirl is missing from the city that made her famous
The first time I noticed the Showgirl is missing from Las Vegas In 2018, I took a road trip with my family to LA to visit Disneyland for the first time as a whole family since 2008. It was always a road trip, as it is (supposedly) cheaper and my dad is afraid to fly—never …
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Ep 047 How a 5’4” singer dancer came to be the Principal singer in Lido de Paris Allez Lido featuring Debra Lee Kristian, part 2
Debra Lee Kristian is back for part 2 where she shares more about life at the Lido de Paris at the Stardust Hotel when the mob ran it. She has a few stories of interactions with Frank Rosenthal and how upset she was at a nickname he gave her. We discuss the immensity of the …
ep 046 How a 5’4” singer dancer came to be the Principal singer in Lido de Paris Allez Lido featuring Debra Lee (Kristian) Fader, part 1
Debra Lee Kristian did not fit the standards that Donn Arden’s cast members were typically known for. She was quite short but was able to entertain Donn Arden enough to win the role as the Principal singer of Allez Lido, the final edition of the Lido de Paris at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, …
ep 045 A peek into three generations of women in show business and their family legacy
Showgirl’s Life podcast welcomes back three generations of Las Vegas performers Janet Kravenko, Alison Kravenko and Skyla Johnson for a group interview to talk about show business and their family legacy. As a special Mother’s Day tribute, the three generations share what life has been like being a mother and/or daughter in showbiz as Las …
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ep 044 Breaking color barriers in show business as a black male dancer featuring Marty Lewis
Breaking color barriers in show business as a black male dancer featuring Marty Lewis Marty Lewis, who was in both opening casts of Hello, Hollywood, Hello and Jubilee as a black male dancer, shares his story of being a black Showboy in Donn Arden’s MGM productions. We discuss the joys and privileges of being part …