A winning combination of contemporary songs, sophisticated dance moves, glittering costumes and over-the-top performances, Planet Hollywood’s Peepshow serves up burlesque with a distinctly Vegas touch.

Former Girl Next Door and Dancing With the Stars contestant Holly Madison has been a staple of reality television in recent years, but the starlet has transitioned to the stage, having joined the Peepshow cast in June. Madison replaced another Dancing With the Stars alum, Kelly Monaco, in the starring role of Bo Peep, a naïve woman looking for love.

Broadway star Shoshana Bean plays the Peep Diva, who teasingly guides Madison’s Bo Peep through a sexy series of musical lessons inspired by nursery rhymes. Bean took on the role of the Peep Diva after ex-Spice Girl Mel B departed the show in June, and Bean will be replaced by former Danity Kane songstress Aubrey O’Day in September.

With Peepshow, Madison is beginning a new chapter in her life, leaving behind her days as Hugh Hefner’s No. 1 lady at the Playboy Mansion to forge her own path as a true talent.

Madison recently spoke to Casino Connection about Peepshow and her plans for the future.

Peepshow plays every night but Wednesday at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Tickets are $65, $75, $100 and $165. The show is for those 18 and older.

Casino Connection: Peepshow has a lot of different elements—singing, dancing and nudity among them. What did you think of the show when you first saw it?

Holly Madison: When I first saw it, I loved it immediately. It’s the best burlesque show in Las Vegas, and it has the best production value and the most talented performers. I get to do so many things. I get to do dance numbers, fall from silk out of the ceiling. It’s so much fun.

How did you become the star of Peepshow? Were you interested in the part, or did the producers pursue you?
They had intended to rotate the part every three months, and I came in and got the role and it’s been working out really well, so I’m going to sign on to do it longer.

Did you have any reservations about being topless on stage?

I wanted to make sure that I felt comfortable with that part of it. I wanted to make sure it made sense, that the choreography was appropriate and it was for the amount of time I wanted it to be. There was a little disagreement over that originally, but I won out.

I think if you look at somebody who’s really good at that sort of thing, like Dita Von Teese, she has a lot of layers to take off. You have a lot of shows where the girls are topless from the very beginning, and they think it’s sexier, but it’s not.

You took over the role of Bo Peep after Kelly Monaco left the show. How did you make the part your own?
I just bring a lot of my personality and sense of humor to it. The part’s perfect for me, and I have a lot of fun with that. I wasn’t allowed to make any changes, but I am open to being in the show more.

What is your favorite part of the show?

My first big dance or the part where I fall out of the ceiling.

You perform this show multiple times a week; has it become repetitive?

I would actually like to do more, because I’m not in every scene in the show, but I have a blast with the cast and crew, and we have so much fun. I just want to make my part better and better.

When you left the Playboy Mansion, did you ever imagine that you’d wind up starring in a big show on the Strip?

Actually, when I first left the mansion, I was talking to a different show on the Strip, but it didn’t work out because of creative differences. I’m glad it didn’t though, because then Peepshow came along, and it’s the perfect role for me.

Do you plan to stay in the acting world after you finish Peepshow?

I’d like to do movies, but I’d like to stay in Peepshow for a long time.

By Caitlin McGarry