"Side Show" Preview Thread — Page 7

I agree @BroadwayBoobs. I saw a preview over the weekend and just loved it. AND I loved the original. I think the changes are great. One of the things I love about this is show is the historical aspect and I love how the changes include more of what actually happened to the girls. And those girls are STARS. Genius. Will be returning.

Also, just read this WSJ article. Good read:

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/11/03/reviving-side-show-in-the-time-of-the-freak/

I believe the Tony's nominated Emily Skinner & Alice Ripley as one...like Billy Elliot's 3 boys later. The girls were the first to ever be nominated that way.

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^ I understand it, but I don't support it. It's like telling someone "Your performance was great, here's half a Tony". Maybe they could do something like they did with the original Matilda's and give them honorary Tony's?

The Matildas were kids-and I feel that's setting a bad precedent regarding double, triple and quadruple casting roles like that. It sort of says that if you have more than 2 kids in a role, then the role must be hard or good-and they'll automatically receive a Tony. Personally, I think the issue of child actors needs to be considered more carefully. Campaigning for the Tony is tough enough on an adult, but to put that on a kid is very demanding. (I happen to be in the camp that thinks if a child's performance warrants an award, they should get a Tony Honor.)

The difference with Side Show is that the two roles are inseparable (in more than one way). Their performances depend on one another and the voters are voting for the PERFORMANCE(s) not the ROLE. I kind of feel that's how the multi-cast children's roles have been-voting for the role (since most voters don't get to see all the actors/actresses).

"I believe the Tony's nominated Emily Skinner & Alice Ripley as one...like Billy Elliot's 3 boys later. The girls were the first to ever be nominated that way."

The children in The Sound of Music were nominated together for a Tony Award.
John Kani and Winston Ntshona were nominated together for a Tony -- and won -- for their performances in Sizwe Banzi Is Dead and The Island.

Updated On: 11/4/14 at 09:32 AM

It was the same in the original wasn't it?

Eta: I just looked it up on playbillvault. For some reason I remembered Lauren Kennedy as the only standby but they had two standbys last time. Interesting.

Updated On: 11/4/14 at 09:49 AM

In the original production, there was one performance where both understudies went on.

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That's right-in that category. In the case of The Sound of Music the children were placed in Featured Actress in a Musical even though there were 2 boys in there. And the Billys were leading actor in a musical. So, yes the Side Show ladies would be the first in Leading Actress in a Musical.

They could nominate them separately, but I'm not sure either would get nominated in that case-they could cancel each other out.

As I've said, I am of the opinion that all children under a certain age should be considered for Honorary Tonys. The burden of performing at an adult level eight times a week is hard enough-but these are CHILDREN. This would ease them of the further pressure of campaigning.

There are actually TWO understudies that cover both: Megan McGinnis (who may have been cast after the initial Playbill went to print, so that may be the reason you only see one understudy listed) and DeLaney Westfall.

So there are TWO who cover both.

They were clear about casting two standbys in the Side Show call in August. It's probably like somethingwicked said: one of the standbys is choosing to go uncredited in the Playbill.

Me either. I don't think she is listed in the Playbill (but I can't check as I am at work). That makes sense of course..

So. They're not selling the balcony. Only the mezz. Front of he balcony has the sound booth