The Timeless LEGENDS IN CONCERT
BY SAM NOVAK
Very few Las Vegas shows withstand the test of time. Of those that endure, most continue to perform while remaining relatively unchanged. But the longest-running production on the Strip has consistently re-invented itself, forever remaining hip and relevant while still embracing Sin City’s golden era. That show is LEGENDS IN CONCERT.
On May 3rd, 1983, launched at the former IMPERIAL PALACE, LEGENDS IN CONCERT grew beyond a six-week limited engagement into an entertainment enterprise. The tribute-artist showcase has performed in Africa, Australia, China, Russia, Canada, and throughout Europe, reaching over 100 million people worldwide.
Most fans are unaware that the corporate offices for LEGENDS are right here in Las Vegas…and CHIC Compass was invited for an exclusive tour of the facility. Inside their doors is an amazing glimpse into the inner workings of a thriving production facility…and a trip through the decades that made Las Vegas the “City of Entertainment.”
Our guide was Pieter Grove, Head of Wardrobe and Lead Designer for LEGENDS. With decades of experience both on and behind the stage, Mr. Grove is himself a legend. The South African native began as a dancer and ice skater, performing in Paris, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, and Bermuda. He then made his way to the United States, eventually sharing the stage with the likes of Carol Channing.
It’s been several years since Grove decided to make Las Vegas his home. Throughout his career, he’s placed an indelible mark on productions for Gordie Brown, magicians Rick Thomas and Hans Klok, Gladys Knight, and Earl Turner, in addition to his work on cruise ships and for television. Grove’s sets and costumes have wowed audiences at Fashionistas, Showgirls of Magic, Tropicana’s aerial extravaganza Air Play, and Sahara’s production of Saturday Night Fever.
We visited an array of offices, rehearsal spaces, workshops, and specialty cubicles during the tour. Dry-erase boards list the show’s current acts, broken down by city and location. Hundreds of thread spools, zippers, containers of buttons, necklaces, design sketches, and works-in-progress share space with cabinets full of patterns. Arranged in drawers by the decade, these fashion blueprints have labels like “Elvis – Burning Love” and “Pat Benatar – Crop Jacket, Love Is a Battlefield.”
The next stop is an archive of “Bibles”… massive binders identified by year. Inside, charts list every active celebrity impersonator and their measurements, height, weight, shoe, bra, and boot sizes. “Performers have to be regularly measured,” Grove told me. “Even their shoe size can change from season to season.”
As much as Mr. Grove enjoyed showing me these areas, he truly lit up when opening the doors to the costume warehouse. It’s here that the real magic lives and breathes. Thousands of pieces of Sin City history (and countless hours of manpower) reside on massive structures that reach to the ceiling and off into the distance.
“Nearly every major entertainer has been depicted at least once on the LEGENDS stages”
Beads, bangles, and rhinestones make a sharp contrast to leather jackets and biker jeans. Corsets, gowns, western garb, and all sorts of uniforms tell a tale of stars who were in vogue during a particular era…and those who might be ripe for a comeback.
Strolling among the LEGENDS IN CONCERT warehouse, we saw iconic costumes for Marilyn Monroe, Bobby Darin, and Judy Garland. Also represented are Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin, Garth Brooks, Prince, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars. Nearly every major entertainer has been depicted at least once on the LEGENDS stages, making our visit a veritable journey through Sin City history.
Sometimes, dazzling outfits can be repurposed with a brand-new twist. “You have to be frugal,” Pieter explained. To prove his point, the soft-spoken gentlemen gestured to where elaborate headdresses were suspended high above to protect them from damage.
Grove lowered the apparatus so that I could take a closer look. “Feel how light they are, despite the size. I took these from a previous show, reworked the shape of the feathers into a mohawk, and now they’re in our opening number. Nothing goes to waste.”
Along with being a storage and archive facility, the LEGENDS warehouse is also a fully functioning workshop. Costumes are brought here after each use to be laundered, repaired, and altered as needed. They are then returned to the Tropicana Theater for the next round of performances. And that’s one of the many functions that take place within the massive headquarters.
Toni Lee has been with LEGENDS for thirty years, first as a dancer/singer, then later as the show’s choreographer. Now, as Director of Productions, she oversees six permanent venues and several limited runs worldwide. Having served in so many capacities, Lee is the ideal person to spearhead the LEGENDS brand.
“Director of Productions is envisioning the whole show from top to bottom…starting with picking the appropriate tribute acts to negotiating contracts to making the best, and most fun show possible, to the costuming to the music selection to the lighting to the video…anything on and off stage that makes a show.”
In recent years, the Vegas version has transformed from “family-friendly” to a more adult-skewing variety. Drag superstar Frank Marino permanently joined as host(ess) in 2019, adding an ample dose of bawdy humor. A large cast of showgirls displays much more skin as well. “We have pasties now!” Mr. Grove chuckled.
LEGENDS IN CONCERT has always been a reflection of the times, and Miss Lee believes that the perennial favorite offers a much-needed break from reality. “I hope that this pandemic has taught us how valuable each of us is,” she stated. “That live shows are a huge part of our existence. That live shows can take us to another level of happiness and nostalgia. That being creative can be a form of escape. That we can be whatever we want to be.”
