New facility gives Chippendales the bare essentials

Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004 | 8:34 a.m.

It's a showroom. It's an ultra-lounge. It's a retail boutique.

And for the females, it's heaven.

The Rio gave reporters a peek at its new $7 million, 21,000-square-foot nightspot recently -- the Ultimate Girls' Night Out.

Construction isn't quite complete on the facility on the second floor inside the Masquerade Village, but it will be by the time of the scheduled soft opening Monday.

This elegant space is the new home of the Chippendales, one of the premier male dance shows in the world.

Chippendales performances will be offered nightly at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Tuesdays from Dec. 27 through Jan. 28. The show will be dark Wednesdays.

Ticket prices will be $34.95 Sundays through Thursdays and $39.95 Fridays and Saturdays.

Beginning Jan. 30 prices will be increased for the Friday and Saturday performances, which will include shows at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The weekend prices will range from $34.95 to $49.95. Sky lounges will be $75 per person.

For more information call 777-7776.

For the past three years the ripped dancers have shared the Scinta Showroom with the Scintas and ventriloquist Ronn Lucas.

Soon they will have a home of their own, and their female fans should love it.

Pampering is the key ingredient to this new room, where the all-male wait staff will be treating the women guests with near-Southern hospitality.

"Our staff is undergoing special training where they are being taught the art of chivalry," said Marilyn Winn, senior vice president and general manager of the Rio. "In fact, these servers will be the most extraordinary, charming staff in the city.

"They have been schooled to pay special attention to every customer ... more like concierges than servers."

In addition to the theater there is a 1,500-square-foot ultra-lounge that features a menu of exotic drinks. Flavored rums, vodkas, tequilas and champagnes will be blended with exotic ingredients and fresh fruit juices to create "sexy, sophisticated cocktails."

Even the women's restroom is special -- it is zoned for gossip. Guests may sit at mirrors and chat as they freshen their makeup.

The theater where the Chippendales will perform seats 400. A balcony overlooking the stage has 40 seats in private sky lounges where women can hold bachelorette parties and other events.

As fans exit they will pass through a 2,100-square-foot retail boutique that sells a variety of items that appeal to women.

The show, which lasts 75 minutes, also is undergoing some reconstruction.

Emmy-nominated choreographer Brian Thomas has made some changes to the dance numbers, said to be even more scintillating than before.