Kate Gersten On "The Last Showgirl"

The inspiration for The Last Showgirl came from an unexpected source – Kate Gersten’s first writing job crafting material for a Las Vegas show. While there, she witnessed a performance of Jubilee, the last major showgirl spectacular in Vegas.

“There were 85 women on the stage, 45 people on the crew,” she recalls. “That was minimized from the way that it was in the 80s and 90s. It was a 40-year-old show.” The nearly empty theater that night left an indelible impression.

“There were only 15 people in the audience when I went to see it. Mostly these stoic international businessmen who were barely even clapping. But the ethos of being a showgirl was so alive with these women.” The experience resonated deeply with Gersten’s own understanding of performing arts.

“The lives of dancers are so fascinating to me because there’s not a lot of glory to being a dancer. You’re never gonna be rich. You’re never gonna be famous. It’s really all about dancing in the moment and how it makes you feel.” The impact was immediate. “I went back to New York. I wrote the play in a week. We were workshopping it at the roundabout a month later.”

To continue reading our interview with Kate Gersten, click HERE.