SIDE SHOW at Kennedy Center- Page 3

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 1:47pm

As much as I would love to see Betsy Wolfe in a future transfer or iteration of this, I doubt she will be attached in the future. I can't find the link now, but she recently gave an interview where she said her experience doing the workshops was very difficult and somewhat negative because of a personal history with the subject matter, and she didn't sound too keen on ever returning to the piece. I hope we get to see her in something better than Bullets soon, though.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 2:17pm

Looking at the abundance of tickets available on the Kennedy Center website makes me think that the show is still an incredibly difficult show to market to the general public. People just don't warm up to the title of the show or the subject matter. (I however love the show and look forward to seeing it on Saturday.)

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 2:57pm

The current advertising for this show throughout the Kennedy Center has posters with individual acts from the side show. They're very well done, although not sure how effective they'll be in getting people to see the show.

[Wickedmonkey332]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 10:46pm

Saw it tonight for the first time ever. I really enjoyed some parts, but found the entire show just a bit lacking. The costumes were incredible, the set and lighting were beautiful if not a bit tacky. I found the direction to be really well-done. The set and fly-in panels were used really well. The book and music have its flaws (lyrics), but I don't want to get into all that.

Emily and Erin were fantastic and their blending was heavenly. I really enjoyed the characters and voices of 95% of the cast. The exception was David St. Louis as Jake. I found his higher register quite annoying and his acting was mediocre and bland. The rest of the cast was really enjoyable (especially when singing together).

The standout moments were: The Devil You Know, The entire flashback sequence minus the awkward Houdini ballad, say goodbye to the sideshow, who will love me as i am, 1+1=3, I will never leave you, finale.

An overall enjoyable production of a flawed musical.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 11:37pm

Has this near-rave from Variety been posted?

http://variety.com/2014/legit/reviews/side-show-review-bill-condon-kennedy-center-1201223944/

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 9:54am

The Washington Post is a rave, as well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/side-show-a-searing-soaring-musical-is-reborn-at-the-kennedy-center/2014/06/19/a661820a-f7e8-11e3-8118-eae4d5b48c7d_story.html

Also, Betsy Wolfe did a questionnaire with BroadwayBox and one of the questions and answers was...

4. Character that I’ve played in New York that I most relate to:

"Daisy in Side Show. I don't get into this too often, but I was born with a conjoined twin. Working on that role really brought up a lot of those memories. I've said too much."

http://www.broadwaybox.com/daily-scoop/seven-bullets-points-with-betsy-wolfe/

I had no idea... Updated On: 6/20/14 at 09:54 AM

[mschwager]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 9:56am

I'm really excited to see this next week after these reviews. I'm guessing it is looking to go to NY next season with reviews like this.

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 10:13am

They should put it at Roundabout, MTC or Lincoln Center for the 2015-16 season. There are already a ton of commercial revivals coming this season. (See article on why waiting is sometimes better-and in this case waiting one season is not going to do anyone any harm-especially given how crowded a field revival is for the 2014-15 season. You already have: On the Town, On the Twentieth Century, The King and I, possibly Forum, and some other revivals have been rumored as well.)

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 10:14am

@Dreaming Off Topic (kinda), but did Dames At Sea ever announce an opening for this season?

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 10:16am

They are rumored-what theater and when I have no clue.
As I said, sometimes you can't hurry the transfer. There are other shows looking for houses. (Some seem to have them...)

[morosco]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 2:45pm

I had forgotten how unimaginative the window card was for the original production.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 2:47pm

I wonder if ticket sales have increased with the good notices.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 3:14pm

I think the problem with the initial production was not the reviews . I believe they were respectable enough. I think the problem than as well as now is the subject matter, Ask tourists if they would rather see a musical like Mama Mia or a new musical about Siamese twins and a circus freak show. There lies the root of the problem that has to be overcome no matter how good the show is

I saw the original and really enjoyed it . Do tourists really want to spend $ 200 or more a seat to see this subject matter? I hope they find a way around the problem this time.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 3:17pm

Which the Washington Post reviewer says they have.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 5:10pm

New York Times review by Charles Isherwood.

Of course, in some sense, we all know what it’s like to feel self-divided, or alienated from the world, which is what makes “Side Show” emotionally stirring. When Daisy and Violet raise their voices in urgent harmony, they radiate a strength that’s powerfully affecting, because we know that even in their loneliness, unlike the rest of us, they will never be alone.
A Grandeur That Eclipses the Grotesque

[gcal]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 5:37pm

Am I the only one who thinks Betsy might be... joking... about being born with a conjoined twin?

[lull89]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 6:00pm

Does anyone know if there is a rush or student ticket option for cheaper tickets? I'm new to the area and haven't done discounts at the Kennedy Center before.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 6:23pm

They do have a program that offers "a limited number of tickets at 50% off the full Box Office price. These Specially Priced Tickets (SPTs) are offered and sold on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability, to eligible patrons:

-Persons with permanent disabilities
-Full-time students (grade school through graduate school)*
-Seniors ages 65 and over.
-Enlisted military personnel (grades E1-E4)
-Persons with fixed low incomes."

Give them a call and ask if SIDE SHOW is participating in the program. I would bet that it is. 1-800-444-1324
Kennedy Center Specially Priced Tickets

[LikeLikingThings]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 6:49pm

@lull89 - If you're between 18-30 or in the military, there's also MyTix - https://www.kennedy-center.org/offers/mytix/ You sign up and can enter ticket giveaways and buy discounted tickets. It's kind of like their student program, but usually I get pretty good seats. It looks like they're out of Side Shoe at the moment, but I'll bet they'll add more (they usually do when there's lots of availability...)
MyTix

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 8:11pm

So happy about the great reviews! I am really hoping this transfers.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 9:42pm

Sadly many of the performances look like they are only at around 50% sold. Most every performance is marked "best availability". I hope business picks up.

[GreatWhiteGay]

Posted: 6/20/14 at 10:58pm

They weren't selling window cards, but I did buy a magnet. Not thrilled with the new design either, especially considering how good the advertising posters have been.

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 6/21/14 at 12:00am

When I went on Wednesday night the balcony was packed, as was what I could see of the orchestra. I thought it was an absolutely beautiful production.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/21/14 at 12:45am

Oof. That's one ugly logo. Makes it seem like a zany circus comedy.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 6/21/14 at 2:10am

Is Michelle London no longer covering Violet and Daisy?