For three shows, DIY is way to go

What do “Le Reve,” “Jubilee!” and the Stratosphere’s upcoming “Pin Up” have in common?

Not much to do with content. But all three are the rare examples of a casino producing a show itself, instead of farming it out to an outside producer.

This was accepted practice from the ’50s through the ’70s, to the point where it was hard to get used to outsiders such as Cirque du Soleil.

But now it’s down to “Jubilee!” because it’s always been that way. “Le Reve” because, well, Steve Wynn is Steve Wynn and likes to have a creative say in his shows. And “Pin Up” because ... well, it’s complicated.

From what I hear, it’s been really complicated.

The new burlesque show set to debut Saturday is the concept of entertainer Frankie Moreno, who already has an old-school headlining deal with the hotel.

But the Stratosphere’s previous late show, “Bite,” was farmed out to independent producer Tim Molyneux. Why the do-it-yourself approach now?

“For us it makes sense because the Stratosphere has undergone a lot of positive changes in the last four or five years,” general manager Paul Hobson explains. “Entertainment is a way for us to sort of showcase that brand to the public. We’re going to promote this show, but simultaneously we’re promoting the Stratosphere and what we’re about.”

Hobson adds that he recently saw a TV commercial for Human Nature. “You have to get all the way to the end to see what hotel they’re even performing at.”

The ol’ “billboard debate” is a specific raw nerve with producers. Some claim it’s hard to get a hotel to even help pay for a highway billboard that by necessity identifies the property.

So, Hobson points out, certain efficiencies are back in play. On the other hand? Word is that “Pin Up” has been quite the mess to get to the finish line, with creative shifts, too many cooks in the kitchen and no one sure who’s ultimately in charge.

Moreno says the timing has been tricky, if for good reasons. Scoring and arranging “Pin Up” fell during promotion of his album and a boost from “Dancing With the Stars.”

Moreno is now credited as producer and co-creator with the Stratosphere’s Drew DiCostanzo as director and writer. “I’m cool with that because it’s not 100 percent my show anymore,” Moreno says. “But it looks really good so far.”

“I hope they knock this out of the park because my name’s on it,” he says.

But however it comes out, it’s a noble experiment. And no one has to split the tab for a billboard.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.