Magic Mike Live Choreographer Explains Why Channing Tatum's Hit Vegas Show Is 'Unclassifiable'
Channing Tatum is the name most synonymous with the Magic Mike franchise — but behind the sexy dance moves that define the two hit movies and its live shows are women.
Alison Faulk served as the lead choreographer on 2012’s Magic Mike and co-directed the Magic Mike Live Las Vegas show with Tatum, which just celebrated its 1,000th performance. Her frequent collaborator Teresa Espinosa, who also worked on the film and its sequel alongside Faulk, is the show’s associate director. Both women helped choreograph the Vegas spectacular where 13 wildly talented performers dance, sing and strip in front of — and all around — the audience
As Faulk tells PEOPLE, Tatum was adamant about relying on women to bring his stripper saga to life. “He always wants to know what our thoughts are, what our feelings are,” she says. That attitude likely accounts for why his hit movie — inspired by his early career as a male dancer — inspired not only a sequel, Magic Mike XXL, but also three live shows: a Broadway-bound musical, a live show in London, and a successful Las Vegas revue.
RELATED: Channing Tatum Teases Magic Mike’s Broadway Debut: ‘This. Is. Happening.’
Below, Faulk discusses Magic Mike Live Las Vegas‘ popularity and working with Tatum.
10 shows a week is a lot to ask of your dancers. How do they do it?
They’re like soldiers. It’s so physical; they’re dancing their faces off. I just love them so much. They’re regular industry dancers. We always like to classify the show as like an unclassifiable show. It’s one of those things where all of the guys have done film and television and just tons of industry stuff and videos and everything. Like a regular dance show — and they happen to take their shirt off every so often.
Out of all the stars in the two Magic Mike films, who surprised you most as a dancer?
Gosh, well all of them put so much work into it. I would say Adam Rodriguez put the work in. I was so impressed. I mean out of all the guys it’s hard to pick one, but he definitely came a really long way. It was cool to see him progress the way he did.
Are we getting a third movie?
The shows are the third movies.
What do you make of the Magic Mike phenomenon? Two movies, a Vegas show, a London show, and now a Broadway show…!
I think what it comes down to is — and this is just me speculating of course — it’s something that’s for women that really considers a woman and what she actually might want. We listen to women. We ask for their feedback. We want to know what they’re interested in. We put so much effort into delivering something that we really hope people will enjoy, and we realize that people plan this trip in advance and save their money. We take it really seriously.
RELATED: Magic Mike Live Dancers Reveal All as Channing Tatum’s Vegas Show Celebrates 1,000 Performances
For such a female-led show, choreographed by two women, how is Channing’s role as the head of all this?
He’s the big idea guy. He wants to know people’s thoughts and perspectives on things all the time. He’s just a really creative, smart guy who is super open to hearing people’s perspective — and he doesn’t have to be right all the time. He’s a really great collaborator. I think he always sees the big picture.
Our production adviser is a woman and one of our set designers is a woman, our costume designer is a woman, our aerial choreographer is a woman — so he always wants to know what our thoughts are, what our feelings are. He asks a lot of questions. He’s just a smart dude. He’s not somebody that is like thinking down. He’s collaborating with everybody constantly. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s really special.
He once teased that he’d be down for making a cameo one day in Magic Mike Live. Do you think that’s ever going to happen?
I don’t think it would not happen. I’ve heard him say in interviews that if he was getting in shape for a film, he’d drop in. He’s so talented, man. Watching him dance, he’s really special.
