Rumored SIDE SHOW revival for next season

[musicow]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:37pm

The theatre gossip was front and center at the opening of SUNDAY IN THE PARK last Thursday night. But of special interest was talk of a revised SIDESHOW (with new book by Bill Condon no less) as a spring '09 offering for Roundabout. Also rumors of a major dance show being created by Kenny (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) Ortega for international tour in '08 and the possible Fall workshop of a stage version of the musical film YENTL!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:38pm

I love SIDE SHOW.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:41pm

I WILL NEVER LEAAAAAAVE YOOOOUUUU!!!!

I love Side Show too.

[East Village]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:47pm

The failure of Side Show to find an audience was one of the biggest crimes committed by humanity. Period.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:48pm

Is it going to have a new score, too?

[ashley0139]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:49pm

That would be... amazing.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:49pm

This is the best rumor I heard for the looongest time... but I dont know if I should rejoice bec...

I will be OFFICIALLY "old" when this happens.....bec. I saw original Side Show in 1998 with Emily Skinner & Alice Ripley at the Richard Rodgers Theater...

I thought I will say that if ever MISS SAIGON gets revived in the future.

J*

Updated On: 2/23/08 at 11:49 PM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:51pm

Well, Jay, at least you didn't see the oriiginal Hilton Sisters. Then you'd REALLY be old.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 11:55pm

I would LOVE for them to revive Side Show! I never got to see the original...

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:06am

They must have big names in mind for the leads if this is true. I don't want to think about it too much because this is probably just message board gossip.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:10am

The original production was fantastic. The cast was top notch...Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Hugh Panaro & Norm Lewis... I remember the opening when all the freaks are sitting on a bench..just dark space...singing... Come Look at the Freaks... I was sitting at the nose bleeds seats...and It was soo amazing..then the whole stage lit up..I can still remember when the twins was introduce... you can see their silhoutte...

I love The Follies Part too on ACT 2... Too bad.. this closed prematurely... I remember people at the stage door talking about picketing to have the show open...but it still CLOSED soo soon...

Beautiful music by Henry Krieger...and amazing chreoraphy & direction by Robert Longbottom...too bad.. it was not appreciated when it first opened on Broadway.. Its a very dark show.. I love it.. too bad.. it was not appreciated back in '98.

I think in my 16 yrs of theater going (not consistent).. SIDE SHOW, TITANIC & PARADE were the most memorable experience .. I had..

J*

Updated On: 2/24/08 at 12:10 AM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:22am

Having played 'The Boss' in a production of SIDE SHOW - when Westchester Broadway housed the Young Artists Repertory Company (in June '06), the show is BEYOND near and dear to my heart. I would *LOVE* to see a revival of this show - Never caught the original, did get to view a bootleg around the time of my mounting. Thinking back, it's truly one of those shows where the company (as a whole) is just so ... 'together' and 'on the same page" throughout - Moving, thinking, experiencing, delivering as a whole. The 6 of us leads (the twins, Terry, Buddy, Jake and myself) were really tight throughout the rehearsal process, and the way the story goes, it just ... 'happened' when we were onstage. We didn't even have to try, y'know? Truly, truly one of the finest experiences I've ever had as a performer.

As for the Roundabout revival, I say they just bring the OBC back. Honestly. Why a new book? I'll have to wait and see what that brings. "Come Look at the Freaks", "Private Conversation", "You Should Ve Loved", and of course, "Who Will Love Me" strike a chord and tug at these heartstrings to this day... The whole score, really. The message, the story, everything. Beautiful.

PLEASE, LET THIS BE TRUE!
Updated On: 2/24/08 at 12:22 AM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:23am

I still wear my "Come Look at the Freaks" t-shirt.

Now the BWW "casting predictions" will begin!!!

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:31am

God, this was one of my favorite shows! SIDE SHOW was one of those little theatre gems that so perfectly came together in both cast & music that I can't understand why it couldn't find an audience!
(Yes I know, bad marketing, etc, but it still deserved something better.)

[East Village]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:36am

The 90s were such a weird-az time for theater. Some things hit, but the audiences just weren't there. And outside theater circles, theater just wasn't hip on folks' mind.

Times have changed -- Side Show just might have the right edged to be hit today. If I got to take drugs with the set designer, I think I'd stay up all night convincing them to do a whole Coney Island Luna Park light show at the end -- just to knock it out of the park for the tourists. That's how I always pictured it in my head -- with all the lights coming on for the final Come Look at the Freaks

Updated On: 2/24/08 at 12:36 AM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:39am

I've said it before. Alice and Emily are 'a must'.
Unless, y'know, the masses are looking for a 'fresh approach' to the lovely Hilton Sisters. Hehe.
As for the male leads? Hmmm. If were casting the revival of SIDE SHOW, I would have Norbs as 'The Boss' - Without question.
Updated On: 2/24/08 at 12:39 AM

[East Village]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:43am

And I've said this before, Emily and Alice as the sisters are the martyred musical saints of the theater. We worship at the altar of their performance

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:46am

Neither Alice nor Emily can do wrong as far as I'm concerned.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:48am

I will be OFFICIALLY "old" when this happens.....bec. I saw original Side Show in 1998 with Emily Skinner & Alice Ripley at the Richard Rodgers Theater...

Me too! I saw it a month after it opened.

And while part of me loves the idea of this rumor, I just don't know if I could stomach the thought of Bill Condon writing the book. Does that mean all the recitative would be cut?

And I really think it would be unseemly to have the original twins. Isn't Alice Ripley pushing 50?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:49am

Alice is ageless!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:56am

P.S. Phyllis...Merman was pushing 60 when she appeared in the revival of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 12:57am

Sh*t, I love Alice Ripley so much I got an advance copy of her first solo album. But she's still too old!

[wexy]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 1:00am

It was a great show.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 1:09am

What about fantasy casting this puppy, hmm?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 1:12am

Miss P, I saw Jennifer Holliday play Effie in 2002! While Alice was great, neither she nor the role have any real legend to them. Yes, there's a small bad rabid contingent of fans. I still kick my self I didn't see it again before it closed. That said, I just wouldn't buy her in the role anymore. Not in a non-concert production.