My first audition for the Tropicana Hotel 1987: Part 1 Folies Bergere

Las Vegas  September 1987

Here I am just chilling in my dorm room at UNLV, studying and stretching. I have been in Las Vegas on my own for two weeks since my parents helped me move into Tonopah Hall on the UNLV campus. Im finally feeling free and inspired. I do have a silly room-mate Loreal who is from upstate NY and she always has some random guy in her bed. I don't mind as I'm rarely in the room except to sleep and sometimes study. I prefer to be in the dance studio or library where I have a part time job as an assistant to the librarian. But today, I got word that there is to be an audition next week for one of the biggest shows on the Strip at the Tropicana Hotel! Its for the 'Les Folies Bergere.' The first Las Vegas show I attended at 16 years old with my sisters wedding party. So, I am pretty ramped up! I know I'm only 18 years old with no experience as a Showgirl, but I'm going to give it my best! I have less then a week to prepare.

Being a dancer from Los Angeles and going to auditions with most of my clothes on, I had no idea what surprises I would see when I walked into the showroom at the Tropicana Hotel. I was in for a bit of a shock, even though I knew that part of the show was topless. There were 4 different lines for the dancers and showgirls. The acrobats, short covered dancers, short nude dancers and tall nude showgirls. Plus the boys also had two lines; acrobats and tall male show-boys. It was a huge cast of over 60 dancers! I was auditioning for either a short covered or short nude.

Audition day arrives! I thought I was so cool as I borrowed my friends two piece lime green top and bottom, beige ballet tights, black legwarmers and black dancing heels(borrowed from my Mother). I will tell ya it was a sight to see. Total 80's regalia with a super tight hair bun, black smokey eyes and red glossy lips. I didn't know what fake eyelashes were at the time, so none of that, but Id soon find out!

I took a cab from the campus and arrived at the Tropicana in less then 5 minutes. I proudly walked up the stairs and entered into the casino. I knew this was a special day as I had been dreaming of auditioning for the show since I was 16. And, today I was here!