Everything old is new again in this glamorous exploration of elegant burlesque...
UPDATE 5/30/24 - DITA LAS VEGAS will have its final performance on June 15, 2024. Rumors of a relocation to VOLTAIRE at Venetian have so far proven to be unfounded.
This year, Sin City welcomed two female pop-culture icons to the Strip. The first was Erika Jayne's BET IT ALL ON BLONDE (review here). Then came DITA LAS VEGAS, a "jubilant revue" starring burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese. To this writer's surprise, both hit it out of the ballpark.
Shows built around a celebrity sometimes forget that the name on the marquee is the reason that ticket buyers show up. 98 Degrees singer learned Jeff Timmons that the hard way when his male revue MEN OF THE STRIP barely featured the former boy-bander. A revised version launched two years later, and the chiseled hunk was front, center, and shirtless, as he should have been all along.
'BLONDE' proudly flaunts the sex...and excess...of its leading lady. And DITA LAS VEGAS does the same with its star. Known for her refined elegance, slow-burning sensuality, and retro-cool stylings, Ms. Von Teese has single-handedly educated today's audiences on the look and feel of classic burlesque.
Since the early 1990s, the fifty-one-year-old vedette has worked tirelessly to revive the popularity of vaudeville's slightly naughty cousin. A dancer, model, author, and sometime singer, the Michigan native has published two books on the history of her craft. Her popularity has led to clothing lines, fragrances, product endorsements, and guest appearances in live and broadcast productions.
The entrepreneur/entertainer cites legends like Marlene Deitrich, Betty Grable, Mae West, and Carmen Miranda as inspirations. A classically-trained ballet dancer, Ms. Von Teese maintains a distinctive appearance that includes bright red lipstick, darkened eyebrows, corsets, and hairstyles that harken back to Hollywood's Golden Era.
When it was announced that Von Teese would be taking over the JUBILEE! Showroom, along with costumes and props from that long-running production, some purists cried "Blasphemy!". Their concern was understandable, considering the potential to bastardize a historical production. But the concern was unfounded.
[embed]https://youtu.be/Cko3-h7gBnw?si=F2RfAPHx7utPcCst[/embed]
Video by VegasPublicity.com via YouTube
From the opening "Viva Las Vegas" number, you'll be transported to an era that never was, one where turn-of-the-century glamour shares space with modern sensibilities. The entire cast enters from three sides and above, filling the theater with dazzling orange/pink feathered costumes from JUBILEE! It's a veritable showgirl/showboy showcase, with gorgeous bodies in every direction. Lights, music, and dazzle....the beauty of vintage Sin City in all its campy glory.
Most of the individual sequences are classic numbers created by Ms. Von Teese. Fans will recognize set pieces involving carousel horses, a giant make-up compact, an oyster shell, a birdcage, and a large red filigree heart. According to D.L.V. dancer Tarrell Ervin (Le Reve), DITA LAS VEGAS is the first time they've been performed by cast members instead of Dita herself.
That's not to say that the star is sidelined. She's front and center, most notably during her signature Martini Glass number and during a pink-soaked western piece. That's when Von Teese sends pulses soaring while riding a mechanical bull. She's surrounded by muscular cowboys who mirror her slow sensual movements when not playing with their ropes.
Along with vintage costumes, DITA LAS VEGAS utilizes lifts, pods, turntables, and sections of the theater that haven't been seen in decades. Some required careful, expensive restoration, another reason for JUBILEE! purists to smile. Classic burlesque tunes like "The Stripper" and "Entry of the Gladiators" are included on the soundtrack, along with newly-recorded material. Modern touches include dancers of size, a Tom of Finland fetish sequence, and the most sizzling tango you may ever see.
Cast photo by Amber Snow (center) via social media
Von Teese has assembled a top-level cast that includes Wyatt Hopkins (Le Reve), Amber Snow (The Beatles LOVE), Adam Moss (Vegas! The Show), and Quinton Lopez (Atomic Saloon Show). Additional numbers feature frequent Von Teese collaborator Dirty Martini, and a stunningly outrageous "Liberace" performed by the scorching Jett Adore, aka "The No-Pantser Romancer".
If there's one caveat to DITA LAS VEGAS, it's that you'll learn almost nothing about its titular star. Aside from some brief recorded narration and an opening video package, Von Teese doesn't address the audience. Nor does she sing or provide a connective monologue. So what you're left with is a nonstop parade of dazzling imagery, minus the details and depth that could significantly increase her fan base.
As for the fans, they showed up en masse to last Saturday's 9 pm performance at Horseshoe Casino Hotel. Dressed to the nines and exuding extreme levels of elegance, they flocked to the merchandise shop post-performance to add to their Von Teese collection and pose for photos. I've been told by cast members that they're thrilled to see so many guests arriving in their best outfits. All the better to pay homage to the reigning Queen of Burlesque.
DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue performs December 28th through the 31st, then returns on February 15th, 2024. Tickets start at $59 (plus taxes/fees) and can be ordered here (VEGAS 411 recommends splurging for seats in the front half of the theater). The show is for adult audiences only.
UPDATE 5/30/24 - DITA LAS VEGAS will have its final performance on June 15, 2024. Rumors of a relocation to VOLTAIRE at Venetian have so far proven to be unfounded.
This year, Sin City welcomed two female pop-culture icons to the Strip. The first was Erika Jayne's BET IT ALL ON BLONDE (review here). Then came DITA LAS VEGAS, a "jubilant revue" starring burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese. To this writer's surprise, both hit it out of the ballpark.
Shows built around a celebrity sometimes forget that the name on the marquee is the reason that ticket buyers show up. 98 Degrees singer learned Jeff Timmons that the hard way when his male revue MEN OF THE STRIP barely featured the former boy-bander. A revised version launched two years later, and the chiseled hunk was front, center, and shirtless, as he should have been all along.
'BLONDE' proudly flaunts the sex...and excess...of its leading lady. And DITA LAS VEGAS does the same with its star. Known for her refined elegance, slow-burning sensuality, and retro-cool stylings, Ms. Von Teese has single-handedly educated today's audiences on the look and feel of classic burlesque.
Since the early 1990s, the fifty-one-year-old vedette has worked tirelessly to revive the popularity of vaudeville's slightly naughty cousin. A dancer, model, author, and sometime singer, the Michigan native has published two books on the history of her craft. Her popularity has led to clothing lines, fragrances, product endorsements, and guest appearances in live and broadcast productions.
The entrepreneur/entertainer cites legends like Marlene Deitrich, Betty Grable, Mae West, and Carmen Miranda as inspirations. A classically-trained ballet dancer, Ms. Von Teese maintains a distinctive appearance that includes bright red lipstick, darkened eyebrows, corsets, and hairstyles that harken back to Hollywood's Golden Era.
When it was announced that Von Teese would be taking over the JUBILEE! Showroom, along with costumes and props from that long-running production, some purists cried "Blasphemy!". Their concern was understandable, considering the potential to bastardize a historical production. But the concern was unfounded.
[embed]https://youtu.be/Cko3-h7gBnw?si=F2RfAPHx7utPcCst[/embed]
Video by VegasPublicity.com via YouTube
From the opening "Viva Las Vegas" number, you'll be transported to an era that never was, one where turn-of-the-century glamour shares space with modern sensibilities. The entire cast enters from three sides and above, filling the theater with dazzling orange/pink feathered costumes from JUBILEE! It's a veritable showgirl/showboy showcase, with gorgeous bodies in every direction. Lights, music, and dazzle....the beauty of vintage Sin City in all its campy glory.
Most of the individual sequences are classic numbers created by Ms. Von Teese. Fans will recognize set pieces involving carousel horses, a giant make-up compact, an oyster shell, a birdcage, and a large red filigree heart. According to D.L.V. dancer Tarrell Ervin (Le Reve), DITA LAS VEGAS is the first time they've been performed by cast members instead of Dita herself.
That's not to say that the star is sidelined. She's front and center, most notably during her signature Martini Glass number and during a pink-soaked western piece. That's when Von Teese sends pulses soaring while riding a mechanical bull. She's surrounded by muscular cowboys who mirror her slow sensual movements when not playing with their ropes.
Along with vintage costumes, DITA LAS VEGAS utilizes lifts, pods, turntables, and sections of the theater that haven't been seen in decades. Some required careful, expensive restoration, another reason for JUBILEE! purists to smile. Classic burlesque tunes like "The Stripper" and "Entry of the Gladiators" are included on the soundtrack, along with newly-recorded material. Modern touches include dancers of size, a Tom of Finland fetish sequence, and the most sizzling tango you may ever see.
Cast photo by Amber Snow (center) via social media
Von Teese has assembled a top-level cast that includes Wyatt Hopkins (Le Reve), Amber Snow (The Beatles LOVE), Adam Moss (Vegas! The Show), and Quinton Lopez (Atomic Saloon Show). Additional numbers feature frequent Von Teese collaborator Dirty Martini, and a stunningly outrageous "Liberace" performed by the scorching Jett Adore, aka "The No-Pantser Romancer".
If there's one caveat to DITA LAS VEGAS, it's that you'll learn almost nothing about its titular star. Aside from some brief recorded narration and an opening video package, Von Teese doesn't address the audience. Nor does she sing or provide a connective monologue. So what you're left with is a nonstop parade of dazzling imagery, minus the details and depth that could significantly increase her fan base.
As for the fans, they showed up en masse to last Saturday's 9 pm performance at Horseshoe Casino Hotel. Dressed to the nines and exuding extreme levels of elegance, they flocked to the merchandise shop post-performance to add to their Von Teese collection and pose for photos. I've been told by cast members that they're thrilled to see so many guests arriving in their best outfits. All the better to pay homage to the reigning Queen of Burlesque.
DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue performs December 28th through the 31st, then returns on February 15th, 2024. Tickets start at $59 (plus taxes/fees) and can be ordered here (VEGAS 411 recommends splurging for seats in the front half of the theater). The show is for adult audiences only.
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