Over the recent weekend, the International Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese, marked the grand opening of her inaugural residency, named “DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue,” in the Jubilee Theater at Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Having been a lifelong enthusiast of the iconic Las Vegas show Jubilee, a production that uniquely combined the last remaining showgirl spectacle of its kind at Bally’s Las Vegas from 1981 to 2016, Dita’s new show seamlessly blends her distinctive burlesque performances with the celebrated Jubilee style. This fusion also entails the incorporation of original costumes and sets from the historic show.
In this extraordinary Vegas extravaganza, Dita shares the stage with a group of twenty-four dancers and two guest performers, paying homage to the extravagant era of Jubilee and the Horseshoe Theater while presenting her most iconic acts. The 75-minute uninterrupted performance kicks off with a thrilling opening number in which Dita descends from a floating disc, suspended five stories above the stage, commencing a jubilant tribute to vintage Las Vegas showgirls adorned in vibrant orange and pink feathers and dazzling Swarovski crystals.
The glamour of the show continues to captivate the audience with a gilded Venus shell unveiling a Sally Rand-style Bubble Dance, an act curated by Dita and performed by featured artist Ferly Prado.
Among the dazzling attractions are blindingly sparkly carousel horses, a ballerina emerging from a colossal powder compact, a towering bejeweled “pop-out” cake, an oversized glittery lipstick, and a sparkling birdcage with a water feature.
The spectacle reaches new heights with an erotically-charged circus in vivid pastels, led by Dita herself, perched atop a gleaming circus wagon pulled by glittering male show ponies and Dita’s glamorous pointe-dancing tiger showgirls and showboys.
Beyond the rhinestones and feathers, the show features a sensually-charged video projection mapping striptease act, originally conceived by Ali Mahdavi for Dita at The Crazy Horse Paris, marking a first-of-its-kind act.
The show also includes a Swarovski-encrusted Western scene where Dita confidently rides a pink mechanical bull, adding her distinctive flair to a vintage fetish bondage act.
The extravaganza doesn’t stop there; the audience is treated to Dita’s complete repertoire of the most elaborate burlesque acts ever conceived, culminating in a grand finale where Dita adorns an eye-catching Swarovski-crystallized striptease gown, showcasing five of Dita’s signature jeweled champagne and martini glasses on stage simultaneously, followed by a lively procession featuring the opulent “Jewels” showgirl costumes designed by Bob Mackie.
In addition to donning some of the original Jubilee costumes created by the legendary Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee, Dita graces the stage in six custom-designed costumes by Jenny Packham, Alexis Mabille, Michael Schmidt, Catherine D’Lish, Mister Pearl, and Christian Louboutin, all adorned with an unprecedented number of genuine Swarovski crystals, including exquisite jewelry designs by Swarovski.
“Dita Las Vegas” draws inspiration from the original StripScapes crafted by Dita Von Teese and Catherine D’Lish over the past 23 years. Collaborating with Dita to bring this unprecedented show to life are Director and Executive Producer Michael Schwandt, along with Choreographers Kevin Wilson, Johanna Sapakie, Marcel Wilson, and Ferly Prado. Lighting Design is skillfully executed by David Finn and Alex Goldberg, while Video Content Design is masterminded by Media Monks and Jeremy Danger. The music score for the show is composed by Chuck Henry and Jack Rayner, with additional music contributions by Boys Noize and Monarchy.
“DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue” electrifies the Jubilee Theater stage every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening at 9 p.m., with special New Year’s Eve weekend performances scheduled for December 28, 29, 30, and 31. For the full show schedule and ticket purchases, individuals may visit ticketmaster.com/DitaVegas.
