"Say Goodbye to the Side Show": Acclaimed Revival Closes on Broadway Today

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/5a7efcd33ec911d2fcd3001d2faa15f5-sideopen200.jpg — Emily Padgett and Erin Davie Photo by Joan Marcus

The musical officially opened Nov. 17 following previews that began Oct. 28. The revival played 20 previews and 56 regular performances.

Coincidentally, the original production of the musical played a nearly-identical run, beginning performances in mid-October 1997 and playing its final performance Jan. 3, 1998. That staging played 31 previews and 91 regular performances.

The current revival was recently filmed for Lincoln Center's Theatre on Film and Tape Archive. Discussions are currently underway for Side Show to make its London debut. A cast album will be released in the coming months.

Academy Award winner Bill Condon, who is making his Broadway directorial debut, directs. The revival received mostly favorable notices; read critics' reviews here.

Read the Playbill.com feature: Side Show Director Bill Condon Enters the Broadway Circus With Re-Imagined Cult Favorite Erin Davie and Emily Padgett, who starred in both the La Jolla Playhouse and Kennedy Center engagements, reprise their leading roles as conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton.

The two actresses are joined by Matthew Hydzik as Buddy Foster, Robert Joy as Sir, Ryan Silverman as Terry Connor and David St. Louis as Jake with Brandon Bieber as the 3 Legged Man, Matthew Patrick Davis as the Geek, Charity Angel Dawson as the Fortune Teller, Lauren Elder as the Venus di Milo, Javier Ignacio as the Dog Boy, Jordanna James as the World’s Tiniest Woman, Kelvin Moon Loh as the Half-Man Half-Woman, Barrett Martin as the Human Pin Cushion, Don Richard as the Reptile Man, Blair Ross as the Bearded Lady, Hannah Shankman as the Tattoo Girl, Josh Walker as the World’s Tiniest Man, Con O’Shea-Creal, Derek Hanson and DeLaney Westfall.

The production also has lighting design by nine-time Tony Award winners Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, set design by three-time Tony Award nominee David Rockwell, costume design by five–time Tony Award nominee Paul Tazewell, sound design by Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski, hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe, make-up design by Cookie Jordan, illusions by Paul Kieve, special make-up effects by the Academy Award-winning team Dave Elsy & Lou Elsy, musical direction and arrangements by Sam Davis, orchestrations by six time Tony Award nominee Harold Wheeler and choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Anthony Van Laast. Since its inception, Jack Tantleff has served as creative supervisor.

Side Show has a score by Tony nominee Henry Krieger, book and lyrics by Tony nominee Bill Russell and additional book material by Condon.

Read the Playbill.com feature: As Side Show Bows Again on Broadway, Its Writers Recall the Last Performance of the 1997 Original

Condon’s new production, according to press notes, "reimagines the world of Side Show, set against the backdrop of 1920’s and 30’s show business that seamlessly blends the worlds of carnival, vaudeville, and Hollywood glamour."

The musical is inspired by the "remarkable true story of the Hilton twins, Daisy and Violet, who were legends in their time and the highest paid performers on the vaudeville circuit. Side Show is their heartwarming search for first love and acceptance amidst the spectacle of fame and scrutiny under the spotlight."

A new Broadway cast recording will be produced by six-time Grammy Award-winning producer Frank Filipetti and will be released in the theatre, stores and on iTunes. The CD is available now for pre-order by clicking here.

The original Broadway production of Side Show opened on Oct. 16, 1997, and was directed by Robert Longbottom. The production starred Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Ken Jennings, Norm Lewis, Jeff McCarthy and Hugh Panaro. It ran for 91 performances and received four Tony nominations, including a shared nomination for co-stars Ripley and Skinner, the only time in Tony history where two people were co-nominated for the Best Actress award.

Read the 1997 Interview with Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley, Two Hopefuls on the Verge of Stardom and Failure in Side Show

Side Show was produced by Darren Bagert, Martin Massman, Jayne Baron Sherman, Joan Raffe & Jhett Tolentino, Universal Stage Productions, Joined at the Hip Productions, CJ E&M/Mike Coolik, Shadowcatcher Entertainment, Michael M. Kaiser, Jim Kierstead, Marc David Levine, Catherine & Fred Adler, Bredeweg & Carlberg, Clear Channel Spectacolor, Curtis Forsythe, Gloken, HIGHBROW & Nahem, Nobile Lehner Shea Productions, Pretty Freaks, Weatherby & Fishman Theatrical, Matthew Masten, and Jujamcyn Theaters in association with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts & La Jolla Playhouse.

St. James Theatre is located at 246 W. 44th St.

Tickets are available at SideShowBroadway.com.