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, …
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 …
ep 045 A peek into three generations of women in show business and their family legacy Read More »
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 of the casts of Showgirl production shows, where entertainment has gone today and reminisced …
Patti Jo Amerein (Cooper) began her stage career in the production of City Lites at the Flamingo Hotel. She was urged to audition for Donn Arden’s Jubilee! When the first contract change came up and was immediately hired as a Tall Nude. Patti Jo shares her experiences navigating her performing career through the 80s and …
ep 043 From Showgirl to Farm Girl featuring Patti Jo Amerein (Cooper) Read More »
Hello there! I’m excited to share this video about a special circumstance that allowed me to choreograph and perform a solo in Jubilee at a moment’s notice! Watch the video to find out what happened and how it went! Thanks for watching! ? Athena Links mentioned: Subscribe to my weekly email and get a set …
Showgirl Story Time: That one time I did an improv solo in Jubilee Read More »
Joe Macchiaverna started off opening Hello Hollywood Hello as a singer and then continued on to be part of the opening cast of Jubilee! As a chorus singer and eventually worked his way to Principal in Jubilee and then the Folies Bergere at the Tropicana. Joe comes from old school Vegas roots in the entertainment …
Female leaders in Showbiz who worked in a time of cultural and societal oppression featuring Su Kim Chung Su Kim Chung, head of the Special Collections at the UNLV library joins us again to chat about the matriarchs in the Showgirl’s life, Madame Bluebell and Fluff LeCoque. We discuss generational differences for women in society …
Skyla Johnson, currently performing in Las Vegas at the Luxor in Fantasy, shares how her showbiz lineage has shaped her as a performer and woman. We discuss her audition for the show, the differences between classic Las Vegas Showgirls and the current performers on “The Strip” as well as lessons she has learned from her …
Janet Kravenko was hired by Madame Bluebell at the age of 17 to join her touring company in 1957. She was traveling around Europe with seven other girls performing in the prestigious troupe while absorbing the experience of a lifetime as a professional dancer. She was asked to join the group of sixteen girls that …
It’s been 16 years since I left the Jubilee! I tend to reminisce even more about the show around the 2nd week of March, as that was about the time I last performed on that stage. So I thought it would be fun to share about the silly farewell tradition that Jubilee had for performers …
Alison Kravenko was destined to be a Showgirl. It is part of her family legacy. Her mother was one of the original Bluebells to come across the pond to perform in the Lido de Paris at the Stardust hotel back in 1958. Once Alison focused her sights on dancing and trained to be a ballerina, …
Today’s episode features Amelia Bruff, former Bluebell dancer, magic assistant, line captain and swing from Donn Arden’s Jubilee. Amelia, or Millie as she was known to cast and crew, spent a total of 14 years on the Jubilee stage. During two separate experiences in the show, she shares how different each time was in shaping …
ep 036 How being a Showgirl strengthens work ethic, confidence featuring Amelia Bruff Read More »
This is the final episode of a seven-part series in which I feature guests who are all People of Color who performed in Hallelujah Hollywood!, Jubilee!, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello! between 1973-2016. To culminate this series, I bring together the most impactful stories, previously unpublished, from the guests in this series and a few more …
This is part six of a seven-part series in which I feature guests who are all People of Color who performed in Hallelujah Hollywood!, Jubilee!, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello! between 1973-2016. Andrew Branche, former principal dancer in Jubilee, began his career as a dancer in his late teens. Inspired by a touring cast of Cats, …
ep 034 Diversifying the Narrative: part 6 featuring Andrew Branche Read More »
This is part five of a seven-part series in which I feature guests who are all People of Color who performed in Hallelujah Hollywood!, Jubilee!, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello! between 1973-2016. Victor Littles was a dancer in the line formerly known as the “Ebony Guys” in Jubilee. He started his dance training late, but was …
ep 033 Diversifying the Narrative: part 5 featuring Victor Littles Read More »
This is part four of a seven-part series in which I feature guests who are all People of Color who performed in Hallelujah Hollywood!, Jubilee!, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello! between 1973-2016. Gayve Littles started much later than usual for a female dancer at the age of 18. With the help of her brother, and some …
ep 032 Diversifying the Narrative: part 4 featuring Gayve Littles Read More »
This is part three of a seven-part series in which I feature guests who are all People of Color who performed in Hallelujah Hollywood!, Jubilee!, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello! between 1973-2016. Anthony Brown started his Las Vegas entertainer journey in Reno performing in Hello, Hollywood, Hello!. After one short contract, he joined the Ebony Guys …
ep 031 Diversifying the Narrative: part 3 featuring Anthony Brown Read More »
This is part two of a seven-part series in which I feature guests who are all People of Color who performed in Hallelujah Hollywood!, Jubilee!, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello! between 1973-2016. Jakki Ford picks up from last week and shares her thoughts on joy and diversity. We chat about her introduction to the “Ebony line” …
ep 030 Diversifying the Narrative part 2 featuring Jakki Ford Read More »
This is part one of a seven-part series in which I feature guests who are all People of Color who performed in Hallelujah Hollywood!, Jubilee!, and/or Hello, Hollywood, Hello! between 1973-2016. I begin this journey by talking about my own experience with diversity growing up, moving into the world of entertainment in the ballet company …
ep 029 Diversifying the Narrative part 1 featuring Jakki Ford Read More »
From dressing Mitzi Gaynor on tour straight out of fashion design school to designing for film and fashion, Karan Feder’s path led her to her position curating the costume and textiles collection at the Nevada State Museum Las Vegas where she helps preserve this unique time in Las Vegas history for generations to come. We …
Today’s episode is all about AUDITIONS! Listen in to hear about my experiences with auditions from my very first ballet audition when I was 12 years old until my final audition as Principal in Jubilee! eighteen years later. I discuss what went down in a showgirl show audition, what dancers went through during the process …
Scott Barnard went from taking classes in a small village in New York to a full scholarship to train with Gus Giordano in Chicago. After a year of training, he went to Las Vegas, where the tall dancers went, to audition for Jubilee. We discuss the elementary school bullying that almost prevented his dance career, …
ep 026 Occupational hazards of dancing in a topless show featuring Scott Barnard Read More »
Alan Clancy came to Las Vegas in his early twenties after traveling the world as an acrobat from the age of 17, and then performing in Fredrick Apcar’s Casino de Paris production in Sydney, Australia. Blown away by the lights and lifestyle of the entertainment industry, he settled there and performed in many of the …
ep 025 Las Vegas really was the wild wild West featuring Alan Clancy Read More »
Today’s very special guest, Sal Angelica, shares about his journey from Brooklyn to the stages of Las Vegas and beyond over his 35+ year career as a dancer and adagio partner. From working with Donn Arden in Sky High in the Latin Quarter as his first professional dancing job to his dream job of performing …
This episode features former Las Vegas Showgirl turned Pilates instructor, Janet Sawczuk-Chapman. From her first professional dancing job in Japan to jobs on the Las Vegas strip, she shares about the decade she spent on the Jubilee Theatre stage. We discuss the highlights of being a Showgirl and some of the more difficult aspects of …
ep 023 Long legs, feathery costumes and weight notices featuring Janet Sawczuk-Chapman Read More »
