Director and producer Hanoch Rosènn has made a significant impact on the Las Vegas live entertainment landscape in recent years with the success of two family-friendly, very Vegas productions—WOW at the Rio and Extravaganza at Bally’s. This summer he saw a new project come to fruition, a unique take on a more grown-up show genre, when he opened Rouge at The STRAT. We checked in with this creative force to find out what makes this sexy new stage show stand out.

Rouge falls into the category of other burlesque-style, topless shows in Las Vegas, but it’s very different. What inspired its creation?

It’s hard to explain what it’s going to be. I think you have to see it in order to really understand what it is. It is a topless show, but it’s very artistic, and it’s the first time I’ve done something like that. I’ve seen almost every show in Vegas, including the female revues and most of the male revues. I’d also seen Zumanity, a great inspiration for all of us. What it started 17 years ago was really something. There’s really nothing out there now that combines men and women together with this scale, the spectacle of a big show. That’s what this is, a big show in a small theater.

Is this something you put together specifically for The STRAT Theater, or had it been in development for a while?

I had this show in mind for a long time, probably a few years, and I knew I wanted to do it because I saw what there was around town and around the world. It’s very modern. The music is up to date and it’s not like the showgirls and topless revues from the past, that was not my inspiration. I would say my inspiration was (the film) Fifty Shades of Grey, and really just the common, everyday couple, portrayed in the opening scene.

How does that scene set the tone for the rest of the show?

You see them in bed, saying, “Oh, I have a headache, I’m tired, maybe tomorrow.” We’re all going through this. And the suddenly, you see these hands coming up in the bed, and soon we are filling the stage with this huge lingerie party.

Why was it important for Rouge to be accessible?

It’s not just about having these beautiful dancers and acrobats and performers. This is about the freedom of the body, and feeling good about yourself. And I felt the connection between the performers doesn’t have to be woman to man, it can be man to man or woman to woman or whatever, and we want to show that connection onstage in an artistic way.

The comedy and acrobatic elements in Rouge really stand out in the intimate confines of The STRAT Theater.

The theater is very cozy, even though it seats around 650 for our show. The lighting is great. People get to come in and see all these characters all around them and it’s quite a shock, how close it is. This is a good theater for me, with a lot of booths and tables, and it’s perfect for me to match what (The STRAT) wanted for a real late-night show.

The STRAT, 18+. 702.380.7777

Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.