“Jubilee!” Showgirls Get Frocked at Bally’s Las Vegas
On July 30, 2011, “Jubilee!” at Bally’s Las Vegas will celebrate its 30th anniversary as well as securing its place as the longest-running show on the Las Vegas Strip.
“Jubilee!” is the last production show of its kind, and the “retro-glam” production is considered a must-see for Las Vegas visitors from around the world.
In honor of the 30-year anniversary, one of the show’s original costume designers, Pete Menefee, was asked to create new frocks for the “Jubilee!” number featuring the sinking of the Titanic. We dropped by Bally’s during a costume fitting and the legendary designer shared some insights about the new costumes as well as the history and longevity of “Jubilee!”
One of our favorite revelations: Parts of the costumes use material from industrial water purifiers to increase their durability. The costumes in “Jubilee!” are definitely built to last.
“Jubilee!” was staged and directed by the legendary Donn Arden, and more than 18 million people seen the lavish show at Bally’s.
More “Jubilee!” facts? You got it. There are 85 dancers in the show, and showgirls must be at least 5’8″ tall, while the men have to be six feet or taller. Over 30 years, the show has featured more than a thousand dancers.
Pete Menefee, the man behind many of the eye-popping costumes in "Jubilee!," and showgirls Sarah and Crystal.
The “Jubilee!” stage is an astonishing 190 feet long and 73 feet deep, making it half the size of a football field. Thank you, news release, for making us sound like we can do math.
The stage is 15 stories tall from the bottom of the orchestra pit to the roof. Just enough room for those gravity-defying hats!
“Jubilee! features a mind-boggling 100 sets and backdrops, 100,000 light bulbs and more than 125 miles of wiring. About 4,200 pounds of dry ice are used each week to create smoke effects, and 10 pounds of explosives are used nightly in the show’s 50 pyrotechnic effects.
More than 1,000 costumes are worn during the show, and it takes a crew of 18 people to keep the wardrobe in tip-top shape. Insider fact: Some of the feathers used in the costumes in “Jubilee!” are vulture feathers.
Thanks to Pete Menefee for taking the time to chat with us about this fascinating aspect of Las Vegas entertainment, and here’s to another 30 years of “Jubilee!” Vegas just wouldn’t be Vegas without it.
