Just announced – Side Show, seen here at the Kennedy Center last June, will indeed be going to Broadway, moving into the St. James Theatre, now home to Bullets over Broadway. This ends months of online speculation which began on Side Show‘s opening night. Side Show will open for previews October 28th, with the official opening scheduled for November 17th. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 13.
The Broadway producers became convinced after seeing the production and reading the unanimous critical response to the Kennedy Center/La Jolla Playhouse co-production. Jayne Blanchard (DCTS) wrote: “… astounding visual artistry, a ripping yarn and a tingly emotional score, stirringly sung by the company, which is as heart-stopping as a high-flying aerialist act.” Paul Harris (Variety) who rarely reviews now, praised the re-worked book and score: “its real selling point is its thoroughly delightful score, enhanced with terrific new songs.”Peter Marks (Washington Post) found it “intoxicating … Anyone not knocked out by this ravishing musical is hereby ordered to have their vital signs checked.”
In breaking the news, the producers announced that Bill Condon, whose brilliant direction is credited for the success of the revival of the Henry Krieger/Bill Russell musical will make his Broadway directorial debut at the helm of Side Show.
Erin Davie and Emily Padgett will continue in their roles as conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton. Other creative and casting notices will follow.
Here’s hoping that the Broadway casting agents will re-unite the entire cast of Side Show.
It’s difficult to imagine better artistic choices than those experienced in the Kennedy Center production, especially David Rockwell’s sets, Paul Tazewell’s costumes, Paul Kieve’s magic and Harold Wheeler’s orchestrations.
Montage from Side Show at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts: June 14 – July 13, 2014
The Kennedy Center production was wonderful – I can’t imagine what will be changed to make it more “palatable” for New York, but remember the recent Kennedy Center production of Follies that transferred to New York after rave reviews in Washington. Did it ever find an audience? Was it “doomed” because it was from DC and directed by Eric S.? Let’s hope Side Show becomes the smash that it deserves to be! Here’s to a long and profitable run!