Lynette Chappell: Heart of a Lioness
There are people in this world that, on occasion, volunteer for activities. Then there are those who commit themselves body and soul to something for life. Lynette Chappell is such a person.
On stage at The Mirage, Lynette is the Evil Queen in Siegfried & Roy's tale of good versus evil. Off stage, she's the Magicians of the Century's coordinator and administrator of their life and routine. She's as comfortable with royalty as she is with a Magical White Lion or Royal White Tiger. The entertainers admit her role defies description. They call it a 24-hour lifestyle requiring complete dedication.
Through it all Lynette is a woman with the heart of a lioness.
Lynette, who originally hails from South Africa, started her stage career as a dancer studying at London's Royal School of Ballet. Later her Las Vegas career began as a Bluebell Girl after being discovered by Miss Bluebell herself.
She met Siegfried & Roy when they all performed at the Stardust in the "Lido de Paris" in 1967. Their bond was instantaneous and their love of animals all consuming. "I saw two men that I knew would become larger than life. I knew they would change the course of entertainment and would someday become superstars."
Over the years Lynette — she celebrates her birthday this week — has become a surrogate mother to all people and creatures in her realm. She can be described as the glue that holds them all together and often referred to as "the quiet power behind the throne". She is the driving force behind everything that happens within the Siegfried & Roy organization.
Lynette's commitment to the animals runs deep. Virtually every waking moment in her life centers on their care. At any given moment you can find her caring for a young Siberian White Tiger, or a Spotted Leopard with an upset tummy, or simply an aging White Tiger that's in its twilight years. This is her passion. This is what drives her.
When asked what is the first thing she would take any out of town family to see when they visit, she answers without hesitation…"Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage".
"The animals you see are my life; who I am and what I do. They are what fills my life."
During the day you might find her on the phone talking with veterinarians worldwide about the breeding status of the endangered White Tigers. Or, if it's between shows you'll find her in the nursery off of her dressing room feeding the baby White Lions, White Tigers, and Spotted Leopards while making notes for the next day's agenda or performance.
Then she puts on her makeup and is quickly transformed into the glamorous Evil Queen. During the show is zapped away by the magicians only to reappear moments later in a new gown and a large snake around her neck. Next she is sawed in half by Siegfried & Roy, a feat she has done thousands of times that has gained her entry into the Guinness Book of Records.
If anyone in the company (or for that matter in Las Vegas!) finds a sick, injured, or abandoned animal, they call Lynette. And she takes them all in, tends to their needs, heals them body & soul and finds them a loving home.
And yet with this all-consuming lifestyle, Lynette finds time to volunteer for numerous organizations or fundraising efforts such as Opportunity Village and the Las Vegas Metro Police K-9 Unit. In fact, she jokingly says that she needs a t-shirt that says, "Stop Me Before I Volunteer Again". But her lioness' heart won't let her stop.
She currently is working on "The Fabulous Las Vegas Teddy Bear Auction" project. She is helping to collect stuffed bears decorated in the likeness of and autographed by celebrities that will be auctioned off in support of Opportunity Village. This is a woman who gives of herself without reservation and from her heart in all that she does.
Lynette is poised and confident; she can also be relentless. When she's on a mission, nothing can stop her.
To describe a diamond is to describe the woman we all know as Lynette… multi-faceted, beautiful and the toughest substance on earth. More importantly, she endures.
You may still think of her as the Evil Queen…but she is the Evil Queen with the heart of a lioness.
