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SIDE SHOW

This article is about the 1997 musical. For other uses, see Sideshow.
Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner as Violet and Daisy Hilton
Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner as Violet and Daisy Hilton

Side Show is a musical about Daisy and Violet Hilton, two Siamese Twins who make a change from being a circus act to becoming famous stage performers in the 1930s. The show was written by Bill Russell (book and lyrics) and Henry Krieger (music). The show starred Alice Ripley as Violet and Emily Skinner as Daisy. It opened on Broadway on October 16, 1997, and ran for 91 performances at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Despite critical acclaim, the show closed on January 4, 1998. It was later nominated for four Tony Awards in 1998:

Although Side Show won none of these awards, it was the first and only time that two actresses were nominated for Best Actress in a Musical together (if they had won, they would have won together) although in other shows, such as Wicked, two actresses from the same show were nominated in this category separately. At the Tony Awards ceremony, the two stars performed the show's most popular number, "I Will Never Leave You." The other show-stopping number was "Who Will Love Me As I Am?", the closing number of Act 1. Audiences loved the harmonious blend of Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner's voices so much that the two actresses successfully released two albums of duets (Duets and Unsuspecting Hearts).

Other members of the cast who have gone on to successful endeavors on Broadway include Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown), Hugh Panaro (The Phantom of Opera, Lestat) and Norm Lewis (The Wild Party, Dessa Rose)

The show has had several successful regional productions throughout the country, and has attained a loyal "cult" following.

Contents

Original Broadway Cast

  • Barry Finkel........... Reptile Man
  • Andy Gale.............. Bearded Lady
  • Billy Hartung.......... Roustabout
  • Emily Hsu.............. Snake Girl
  • Alicia Irving.......... Fortune Teller
  • Devanand N. Janki...... Fakir
  • Ken Jennings........... The Boss
  • Norm Lewis............. Jake
  • Judy Malloy............ 6th Exhibit
  • David Masenheimer...... Sheik
  • Jeff McCarthy.......... Terry Connor
  • David McDonald......... Roustabout
  • Phillip Officer........ Geek
  • Hugh Panaro............ Buddy Foster
  • Verna Pierce........... Dolly Dimples
  • Alice Ripley........... Violet Hilton
  • Jim T. Ruttman......... Roustabout
  • Emily Skinner.......... Daisy Hilton
  • Jenny-Lynn Suckling.... Harem Girl
  • Susan Taylor........... Harem Girl
  • Timothy Warmen......... Roustabout
  • Darlene Wilson......... Harem Girl

Swings: John Paul Almon, Kelly Cole, John Frenzer, Michelle Millerick, J. Robert Spencer.

Standbys: Kristen Behrendt (Violet Hilton), Todd Hunter (Jake), Lauren Kennedy (Daisy Hilton).

Understudies: John Frenzer (Buddy Foster), David Masenheimer (Terry Connor, The Boss), David McDonald (Terry Connor).

Song List

Act One

  • "Come Look At The Freaks" – The Boss and Company
  • "Like Everyone Else" – Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton
  • "You Deserve A Better Life" – Terry Connor
  • "Crazy, Deaf and Blind" – The Boss
  • "The Devil You Know" – Jake and 6th Exhibit
  • "More Than We Bargained For" – Terry Connor and Buddy Foster
  • "Feelings You've Got To Hide" – Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton
  • "When I'm By Your Side" – Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton
  • "Say Goodbye To The Freak Show" – Company
  • "Overnight Sensation" – Terry Connor and Reporters
  • "Leave Me Alone" – Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton
  • "We Share Everything" – Daisy Hilton, Violet Hilton and Vaudevillian
  • "The Interview" – Daisy Hilton, Violet Hilton and Reporters
  • "Who Will Love Me As I Am?" – Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton

Act Two

  • "Rare Songbirds On Display" – Company
  • "New Year's Day" – Terry Connor, Buddy Foster, Jake, Daisy Hilton, Violet Hilton and Company
  • "Private Conversation" – Terry Connor
  • "One Plus One Equals Three" – Buddy Foster, Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton
  • "You Should Be Loved" – Jake
  • "Tunnel Of Love" – Terry Connor, Buddy Foster, Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton
  • "Beautiful Day For A Wedding" – The Boss and Hawkers
  • "Marry Me, Terry" – Daisy Hilton
  • "I Will Never Leave You" – Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton
  • "Finale" – Company