Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
#1Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:03pm
Anything new regarding the Side Show revival? Is it going to happen? Any information would be greatly appreciated!
On another note, haven't been on the board for a long, long time. Hope everything is well.
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
JudasIscariot
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/05
#2re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:05pmI'd assume that it is happening. I talked to Aaron Lazar at the stage door a few weeks ago and he said it was. It's hard to interpret that any other way.
#2re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:08pmIs there casting/theatre already for the show?
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
#3re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:12pmThe current rumor is that Roundabout is going to include it in their schedule for next season, with some people saying it may be used to open the newly renovated Henry Miller's Theatre.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#4re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:14pmI would love it if they kept Erin Davie in the actual production, then bring in Leigh Ann Larkin. That'd be fabulous really.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#5re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:15pmSounds like a plan. Thanks
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
#6re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:20pm
I am still not completely sold on the casting of Erin Davie.
While I heard she was serviceable in the workshop, Violet has to belt most of the extremely high harmonies in the score as it's written. While I've always found Davie to have a gorgeously lush soprano, her belt usually tends to be quite thin and unpowerful.
I'd prefer Leigh Ann Larkin as Daisy (a great suggestion to be sure) opposite a Violet like Brandi Burkhardt with a more well rounded voice.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 11/2/08 at 01:20 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#7re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:21pm
I hope they cast unknown phenomenal talents as Violet and Daisy.
And I hope this is true.
#8re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:24pmI think Davie can handle it. It would definitely be a less belty Violet than Ripley's, but maybe a fresh take on the score. More floaty than belty.
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
PiraguaGuy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
#9re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:24pmI don't know about Davie.
Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08
#10re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:24pm
You know another idea I was thinking about?
What about Brooke and Tiffany Engen, the twins from the HAIRSPRAY movie who both just did LEGALLY BLONDE and HAIRSPRAY on Broadway respectively?
I saw one of them on as Serena in LEGALLY BLONDE and the other as Amber in HAIRSPRAY and both had terrific voices and great stage presence.
If their ranges matched up, they could be an interesting choice (since we know they obviously have the look.)
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
yeah
Featured Actor Joined: 10/2/08
#11re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:27pmTonya Pinkins and Anika Noni Rose get a lot of recommendations from people on this board; why don't they just take the roles??
PiraguaGuy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
#12re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:27pm
Whoa, they're TWINS?
Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08
#13re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:29pm
I have no idea who the twins from the HAIRSPRAY movie are (I hardly recall anything from that film really), but I do think it'd be neat to have actual twins in the roles. I'm sure the kind of connection/chemistry they would share would add a whole new subtext to the show.
I am such a fan of Davie, so I'm still a bit champion of her as Violet, though admittedly I'm not that familiar with the SIDESHOW score.
I don't want them to cast completely unknowns though, as proven by this thread there are a number of Broadway regulars (not stars necessarily) who could really fill the shoes of Violet and Daisy Hilton.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#14re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:33pm
Anika Noni Rose and Tracie Thoms. DEFINITELY Anika, but Tracie is a question mark in her acting (of course not the vocals, we know she's got those pipes in check!).
But definitely Anika. Yes. Yes. Yes.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#15re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:34pm
Lisa Brescia, anyone? She would be fantastic as Daisy.
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
#16re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:35pm
All_For_Laura, Brescia just played Violet in the Kennedy Center THREE GENERATIONS celebration opposite Jen Colella's Daisy.
They were a great pair, but their voices lacked the distinct contrast in tone to really give the score it's thrilling kick when they blended together (they also changed the arrangements to have Colella belt the higher parts instead of Brescia.)
To me, what makes the score so exciting is when, like the characters, the actresses playing Daisy and Violet have voices that can function together beautifully but are also distinctly different.
That was the key element to what made Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley such a phenomenal pair, and since Colella and Brescia sound almost identical (there were literally times when you couldn't tell which one was singing what,) that whole element was missing.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 11/2/08 at 01:35 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#17re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:42pm
Oh yeah, I know, that is why I suggested Brescia. I would love to pair her with someone different than Colella though.
I agree though, the contrast is crucial and essential! Tunnel of Love harmonies are so amazing!
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
#18re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:48pm
but Tracie is a question mark in her acting (of course not the vocals, we know she's got those pipes in check!).
Judging from Thoms' recent tenure in RENT, I'd say just the opposite. Her vocals were serviceable, but often inconsistent (she wouldn't stand a chance oppposite Rose.) What sold me on her solid portrayal was the nuanced acting.
As for the Larkin/Burkhardt suggestion...yes, please.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#19re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:49pmI'm actually loving the Anika Noni Rose idea but I'm iffy on Tracie Thoms...
#20re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 2:00pm
Anika Noni Rose would be perfection, and she has worked with Bill Condon and Henry Krieger before.
I believe people were suggesting Rose along with Renee Elise Goldsberry in the past. I'm not familiar with Goldsberry.
Never seen Tracie Thoms act on stage but she is pretty great when she acts on film/TV. She doesn't look anything like Anika Noni Rose though.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
SporkGoddess
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
#21re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 2:34pmI don't think you can do color-blind casting with Side Show, unless you take out the whole Jake/Violet thing.
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
#22re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 2:43pm
It'd have to be an artistic decision to cast actors of color in the leads.
Here's a thread concerning casting from months ago. In it, I suggested Anika Noni Rose and Nikki Renee Daniels.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=960146#3488768
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#23re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 2:58pm
I love Anika Noni Rose, but her voice is completely wrong for both Daisy and Violet.
Daisy has to have a larger-than-life belt with an equally grand soprano. In contrast, Violet has to have a sheer soprano that can rattle up to a high belt.
Rose's voice falls somewhere between those two ranges. It's certainly distinct, but does it fit Krieger's score? No.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#24re: Side Show Revival: Updates/Rumors?
Posted: 11/2/08 at 3:57pm
On the one hand, I would love to SEE Rose and Thoms. I've liked Thoms for some time and seeing her on stage in Rent solidified my faith in her as a performer, not to mention the fact that she was by far the nicest person I have ever met at the stagedoor, which was pretty surprising considering she's more known for (rather popular) movies. That being said, I do think they are (vocally) wrong for the roles. Daisy and Violet have to have such differing voices and incredible range that I can't imagine them working well together.
The idea of Leigh-Ann Larkin, though, excites me like you wouldn't believe. You know you've got a phenomenal talent when I can hardly wait for her to get out of Gypsy already (which I have admitted to being my favorite production) so she can move on to "better" things. By better, I obviously just mean bigger roles, since Gypsy is so amazing and as June, she lights up the stage and brings unprecedented nuances to the character and unbelievable belts to her numbers.
So all in all, a revival would be a great idea and depending on the cast, could be magic.
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