Luxe Life Blog

Photos: Sexy ‘Zumanity’ celebrates — and looks forward to — its 10th year

Posted September 25, 2012 • 12:28 p.m.

"Zumanity" celebrates its ninth anniversary at New York-New York on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012.

Photo: Cashman Photography

Even as the erotic and adult cabaret show “Zumanity” celebrated its 9th anniversary at New York-New York last week, Cirque du Soleil executives had already begun planning its 10th-anniversary celebration next year. The edgy show has been renewed with its outrageous cast; check out our story posted last Tuesday.

“Zumanity” hit its 4,318th and 4,319th shows last week, and that means for Mistress of Sensuality Edie brilliantly played by drag diva Christopher Kenney, he’s performed 2,100 shows in a little more than four years. With the renewal, he will surpass the record set by the previous MC, Joey Aria.

“It’s all gone past in a blink of an eye,” Chris told me. “We are a show that instead of getting applause in between acts gets gasps and audiences with open jaws. That’s when we know we’ve performed well. It’s the only show on the Strip that knows it’s succeeded when the audience is stunned into silence or open mouthed by its edginess. Yes, there’s plenty of applause and whistling cheers at the end, but in between -- shellshock!

“When I arrived, Edye was a ’60s go-go girl with her personality, but I’ve grown her into a motherly, seductive madam at the brothel.”

The “Zumanity” cast admitted that their daringly naughty costumes, acrobatics, contortions and aerial stunts often get audiences aroused and frisky. “I can’t tell you how many women have flashed me discreetly,” laughed Chris. “And the men in the audience can be just as outrageous gripping on for dear life.”

The racy “Orgy” scene closes the show, and on the 9th anniversary, two people plucked from the audience really threw themselves into the gyrations. A hunky Olympic gymnast from Oklahoma and a Vancouver, B.C., wife and schoolteacher showed that they could perform onstage as well as the performers.

“We are never surprised at how our audiences really get into the spirit of ‘Zumanity,’ ” summed up Chris.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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