I need info. about "Sideshow"! Please help!

[SStwins08]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 9:08pm

My friend and I are going to competition with the song "I Will Never Leave You" from Sideshow. We love the song but we are having a VERY hard time finding a summary on the musical. We know that they are conjoined twins...but where are they conjoined?? This is very important so that we can coreograph! Also, a FULL summary of the musical would be incredibly helpful! We are somewhat confused about what is going on in the musical surrounding the song we chose! Any help is very much appreciated! If you have any ideas on coreography, we would also love to hear from you! THANKS A MILLION!

[Gingersnap]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 9:11pm

They were conjoined around the hips.

I don't have my "Side Show" stuff handy, but...if no one else posts a summary or a link before I finish work for the night, I'll dig it out for you.

As for the choreography...I recall reading that the actresses playing Daisy and Violet didn't use any belt or device to attach them to each other.

[MoonOnAstring]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 9:54pm

This might help you out:

http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/1494/sideshow.html
http://www.prigsbee.com/Musicals/shows/sideshow.htm
http://www.curtainup.com/sideshow.html
http://www.playbill.com/features/article/64634.html

[1/2 Shiksa Goddess]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 11:46pm

You can also find the full libretto here:
http://libretto.musicals.ru/text.php?textid=305&language=1

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 11:53pm

That particular song they are re-affirming each other that they do care about each other and are their for one another even though they have had their arguments and are so different. Also...obviously...they physically cannot leave each other lol.

It's a great show.

[SStwins08]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 7:32pm

Thank you all so much! Any help with coreography would be appreciated much!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 7:47pm

Tidbit about the song's placement: in the original workshop, it was sung quite early, by younger versions of the twins. It was a childhood song to bolster spirits when things were low. It was not planned as the final number. Opinion is split on its success as the denouement. I'm of the mind that it works brilliantly, poignantly, the irony of their separation being physically impossble adding to the emotion, not making it laughable. But others--like critic John Lahr--find the song's use as a summation of their symbiosis to be the ultimate comment on the show's weaknesses.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 10:55pm

Many have wished for a revival, which I don't think will ever happen, but I have thought for years that The Actor's Fund or another group should bring back Sideshow as a benefit concert. I think it would be an absolute sell out! Can you imagine some of today's young stars who might be cast as Daisy and Violet?? Too fun to think about...

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 10:59pm

Chris, shoshana bean has mentioned she would want to play violet with leslie kritzer as daisy.

BUT!! I just thought of how amazing shoshana and donna vivino would be as daisy and violet, respectfully. i'd pay, what is it, $110 now? Yeah, i'd pay $110 to see that pair.

Updated On: 3/30/06 at 10:59 PM

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 11:19pm

I like it! Shoshana, make it happen!!

(Yeah, an Encores! version would be pretty cool, too.)

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 11:38pm

yeah, I'd like to see it happen too, Chris. The show is awesome, and they are both powerhouses who, i think, could do justice to the songs.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 11:50pm

Several years ago, two ensemble guys on the Benny tour of Rent sang this in a benefit. I'm guessing the take they had on it was not one of familial love.

[andyf]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 1:09am

As I've said before, I think someone should revive Side Show with Shoshana Bean and Nikki René Daniels as Daisy and Violet, respectively (Shoshana is not right for Violet).

I think people would be really interested in seeing the twins played by two black girls. Of course, then you'd have to switch the races of at least Buddy and Jake, too, but we can get to that later.

Sidebar, according to IBDB, Nikki Renée got cast in Lestat: http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=402876

Updated On: 11/14/05 at 01:09 AM

[SStwins08]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 1:00pm

Thanks guys...if you have any other suggestions PLEASE LET US KNOW! this is our first year competing and any help at all would be wonderful...espeically if you are familiar with this competition!
By the Way...what do you guys think of our songs choice!?!?! Will it do well in competition(districts)??

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 2:55pm

I hope you do well in the competition! Side Show is one of my favorite shows.

[DresserSam]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 7:15pm

When the song was performed on the Tony awards show the year it was nominated, the girls entered from opposite sides of the stage in identical dresses. They met at center stage, just barely touching hips together, effectively dispelling any notion that they were physically joined. Great trick.