Producer Thompson going beyond the girlie shows

Thursday, May 18, 2006 | 7:33 a.m.

When: Beginning Friday. 10:30 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays, Saturdays; 10 p.m. and midnight Fridays; 7:30 (covered) and 10:30 p.m. Sundays; dark Thursdays

Where: Harrah's Clint Holmes Theater

Tickets: $49.95

Information: 369-5000

Greg Thompson doesn't consider himself to be a skin merchant.

Although he has produced his share of topless shows - among them, "Skintight," "Showgirls" and "Erocktica" - Thompson looks beyond bare breasts for professional satisfaction.

"I'm trying to get away from girlie shows," Thompson said. "I love to look at good-looking girls as much as the next guy, but there's only so much you can do with that.

"Girlie shows don't have much singing. I feel they are one-dimensional - I'm trying to add more entertainment value to the shows, more gimmicks, more fun, more comedy, more singing. I'm trying to give people a lot more variety than just a line of girls."

His latest foray into the topless-but-more arena is "Bareback," which debuts Friday at Harrah's.

The production will feature contemporary country music with songs from such top artists as Toby Keith, Big & Rich, Hank Williams Jr. and Gretchen Wilson.

The Western-themed adult production replaces the six-year-old "Skintight," which is headed for the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Fla.

Actually, "Skintight" is closer to nine years old, counting the years it played in Reno before coming to Las Vegas.

"We felt 'Skintight' had played for a long time at Harrah's - fans had seen it three, four or five times," he said. "They were ready for a new show."

"Bareback" goes breast-to-breast with "Buck Wild," the Western-themed topless show produced by David Saxe at the Sahara.

"We're not anything like that other show," Thompson said. "It's more of a variety show. We're not trying to do that. Ours is strictly singing and dancing."

Thompson says "Bareback" is meant to be enjoyed by both men and women.

"It's a party show for couples," he said.

"We want everyone to feel comfortable ... Men can look at the great women onstage, and women can look at the male hunks and the great dancing and costumes."

The four males in the show are called "The Wild Bunch."

Thompson has jumped on the country bandwagon because of its rising popularity.

"New country music - not the older songs - has taken the place of pop/rock," he said. "New country stations are popping up all over the country."

He says the music appeals to 35- to 65-year-old customers.

"Not the kids who go to the clubs and enjoy hip-hop and rap, and not to the real old folks who only go to daytime shows," Thompson said.

The formula has been working at Harrah's Reno, where "Bareback" has been playing for a year.

"It has been a big hit for us up there," Thompson said. "Harrah's took a look at it and thought it would work here, too."