Fabulous female impersonators deliver un-‘Believe’-able fun with ‘Divas In A Man’s World’ — at Resorts Atlantic City through July 10.
Female impersonators are nothing new in the Atlantic City landscape. Bally’s hosted An Evening at La Cage for 11 years and the town has hosted the Miss’d America Pageant, a spoof of the Miss America Pageant featuring cross-dressing gentlemen.
However, the town has never hosted a show as enticing and hilarious as Believe - Divas In A Man’s World. Steve Andrade, who put the show together and stars as Cher, has assembled some of the best female impersonators in the country, including Phyl Craig as Liza Minnelli and Gary Dee as Joan Rivers, an impersonation so dead on perfect that Rivers has hired him to work events for her.
Divas In A Man’s World starts with top tier talent and builds from there. The show also features four dancers — two male, two female — whose choreography, designed by Frank Moore (who also stars as the show’s non-diva headliner, Prince) really gives the show a concert atmosphere. This is especially true when Craig does his routine to Minnelli’s show stopping “Cabaret” and Jimmy Electra is doing his Divine Miss M routine to “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
The other element that takes this show to the next level is the costumes. Andrade makes his own knockoffs of Bob Mackie’s originals for his performance and he also designed some of the other costuming in the show.
The glue that holds the show together is Dee. He keeps the audience in stitches, not to mention dazzling the crowd with multiple gown changes. Joan accuses an audience member of looking up her skirt and says, “What you will find there is Pee Wee’s big adventure.” She also claims that there are Monica Lewinsky slots on the casino floor. “They say insert Bill here.”
The show begins with a bonus impersonation. Craig begins the evening as Nancy Sinatra, complete with nearly hip-high boots for “These Boots Are Made For Walking” with the 1960s era feel that makes the song come alive and matches the video of Nancy herself that begins before Craig arrives onstage.
Next up was a first dose of Dee’s delightful Rivers shtick, followed by Electra’s Bette Midler. When Electra gets dramatic while lip-synching to “Wind Beneath My Wings,” a piece of costuming nearly steals the show, a huge set of wings designed by Andrade that are so heavy they are hung from the ceiling and descend to just above Bette’s shoulders. It made me think about Robert Preston’s line in Victor/Victoria when he is coaching Julie Andrews. “Give it tons of shoulder, you’re a drag queen.” Those wings were the costume equivalent of “tons of shoulder.”
Speaking of going over the top, Eddie Summers’ body English is hilarious as he gives us his interpretation of Patti LaBelle doing “Lady Marmalade,” “New Attitude” and especially “Over the Rainbow.”
Andrade arrives with those impressive costumes including Indian headgear and the famous tattoo-revealing outfit to faux belt such classics as “If I Could Turn Back Time,” “Half Breed” and “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.”
Believe me, this show delivers the drama and pageantry that becomes a diva most.
The Man Behind Cher
Steve Andrade, pictured at left, and who has toured the country with his hour long Cher tribute, has wanted to put together a great cast and deliver a topnotch female impersonator show (he prefers that term rather than drag show) for a decade. He is delighted that Resorts’ is giving him that opportunity.
ACW: How did this show come about?
Steve Andrade: We’ve all been in La Cage shows. It was a different experience; they put you on stage for two minutes and then the next act arrives and that would be it. I wanted to do my own show for about ten years, so I came up with the name. People that are doing what I do try their whole life to get [a show] like this. I happened to be a judge at the Miss’d America Pageant and Dave Pena asked me to perform at Boogie Nights at Resorts and Dennis Gomes was there and I told him about the show and he put with in touch with Resorts Vice President of Entertainment Stephanie Nielson. It was just the type of show they were looking for.
When Steve Andrade created his female impersonator show Believe. Divas in a Man’s World for Resorts, he hoped that it would be popular enough to be extended beyond the initial contract. He really did “believe.” The show just celebrated its one year anniversary at Resorts with no reason to think it is leaving any time soon.
Turns out, 'Believe' is a bridge of understanding and acceptance too — between worlds that might otherwise not meet.
Atlantic City audiences are looking forward with great anticipation to Liza Minnelli's Saturday night concert at Trump Taj Mahal. It's been a long time since the award-winning legend graced an Atlant...
Definition of a drag queen? A man who likes to eat, drink, and be Mary! It may sound funny to some and it’s easy to crack a joke here and there, but until you get to an event such as this past weekend’s Miss’d America Pageant, you cannot imagine the talent, sincerity, and camaraderie that fills the room.
So last week, there was Hitchen, head to toe decked out as “Knockers Johnson,” filming the opening skit for this year’s pageant on the beach. Other characters were Lucy Luckyano and Ally Capone, possibly the first time some of America’s most famous gangsters ....
Entertainment will become a real drag at Resorts Atlantic City beginning May 5. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. That’s when the born-again First Game in Town will debut the gender-bender production show 'Believe: Divas In A Man’s World' for an extended run.
The show was created in the early 1990s by former Atlantic City Councilman John Schultz and his partner, Gary Hill, and held at their old Studio Six nightclub, once considered the epicenter for gay life in Atlantic City.
'Everything we do as a society is based on love. I want to welcome everyone. Our arms are open to all aspects of our culture.'
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1. Jane said... on May 19, 2011 at 02:19PM
“The show was magnificent. Cher was breathtaking. My husband and I felt like we were at the real star's concerts. We are exited to come back to Atlantic City to see it again. One of the best shows we have ever seen, Bravo”
2. Denise said... on Sep 18, 2011 at 06:44PM
“Absolutely fabulous! My daughter and I went in July and decided to make it a monthly event! Once you see the show you will want more! The costumes,the makeup,the legs!The entire cast delivers and we were laughing at Joan Rivers (Gary Dee) so hard my stomach hurt!Cher (Steven Andrade) was stunning in those amazing costumes and came into the audience making sure to acknowledge the people in wheelchairs!Liza (Phyl Craig) was wonderful and just perfect! I loved Caberet.We loved them all! If you haven't seen it reserve now, you will not be disappointed and it sells out fast!”