 The
Showgirl Must Go On...
Still
going strong after the February premiere, Bette Midler
The Showgirl Must Go On continues to sell out to
crowds of VIPs and celebrities alike.
When
asked why she chose Las Vegas as the place for the show, the divine
Miss M. simply states, “Why Las Vegas? Why not Las Vegas!?
I’ve been hording feathers and fans and sequins and rhinestones
for the last fifty years and, hey, I’m ready to throw ‘em
all on stage.”
And
that she does! Flaunting plenty of girls and gags, The Showgirl
Must Go On features an enchanting repertoire complete with some
of Midler’s favorite characters, from Delores Delago, the
wheelchair-bound mermaid, to Soph, the oldest living showgirl in
Las Vegas. Amongst the backdrop of a glittering Broadway-style theatre,
Midler and her entourage of talented performers light up the stage
in an energetic, comical, and visually stunning spectacle.
“They
want glamour, glory, and gold. They want color and they want the
latest in fashion. They want really wonderful arrangements and a
great band … and we try to do that. It’s a full evening’s
entertainment. It’s not just a concert, it’s a show!”
said Bette.
Besides
the glamour and glitz, each witty number in The Showgirl Must Go
On is peppered with Midler’s incomparable wit and brash sense
of style. During the show, Bette frequently jokes about the massive
size of the stage. (Measuring at 120 ft wide by 60 ft deep, the
total size is approximately 7,000 square feet, and it takes 34 stagehands
and crew to make the set changes that guests see during the show.)
Joined
on stage by the Harlettes (Jordan Ballard, Kyra Dacosta and Kamilah
Martin), a 13-piece band (which includes a six-piece horn section
from the Las Vegas band “The Fat City Horns”) and 20
female dancers, who tackle the lively and energetic choreography
created by the legendary Toni Basil (of “Mickey” fame),
there is more to the show that meets the eye.
 For
example, “The Caesar Salad” girls, Bette’s version
of the classic Las Vegas showgirl, each undergo approximately 2
hours of hair and make-up preparation and there are a total of 132
costume changes during one performance (enough for each Caesar Salad
Girl, all 3 Harlettes, and Bette to change costumes 6 times).
Not
only is time spent on the performers, but there is special attention
paid to the detail of the props. For example, the mountain of Louis
Vuitton luggage that opens the show weighs approximately 2,200 pounds
and approximately 75,000 individually hand-painted gold coins make
up the coin curtains and the coin trees that adorn the stage.
The
most notable fact, though, and not to mention a dream come true
for every Bette Midler fan, is that while seated for the show, no
fan is more than 120 feet from Bette. To be close to her fans and
to keep the excitement going is Bette’s passion. She expresses
the love of her show by concluding, “I’m looking forward
to the next two years. We are going to have a lot of fun, and it’s
not going to be the same ever. Never. Not ever! Every night is going
to be different, so come on down!”
The
Showgirl Must Go On hits the stage five nights per week at 7:30
p.m. (dark Mondays and Thursdays). Ticket prices are $95, $140,
$175, and $250, and can be purchased by calling 1-877-723-8836 or
logging on to www.ticketmaster.com, keyword “Bette Midler.”
Tickets
may also be purchased in person at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Box Office, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For additional
information, please visit www.bettemidler.com.
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