Side Show to Play Off-Bway's American Theatre of Actors

Producer and director Ryan Mekenian will present Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show at Off-Broadway's American Theatre of Actors from August 31 to September 3. The production will be the first in Manhattan since the musical premiered on Broadway in 1997.

Side Show is dramatically based upon real-life vaudeville entertainers and conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton (Carey McCray and Dawn Cantwell). The musical follows these unique sisters from their humble beginnings among the "freaks" of the sideshow to their rise of fame in the Vaudeville circuit and eventually Hollywood. Along the way they face challenges of love, identity, discrimination, and isolation. The New York Times called the musical "daring" and "enthralling", adding that the songs, ranging from saucy gospel to rock-flavored ballads, "spin out of each other with agility and a beautifully sustained momentum". Dane Agostinis, Joshua Isaacs, Kevin Bradley, Jr., and Nathan Brisby also star.

With an education in directing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Ryan Mekenian has recently initiated a new "summer stock" program at Tisch's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, where new musicals will be fully produced for the first time at the University. Mekenian is currently assisting alongside Harold Prince and Alfred Uhry on the new musical LoveMusik, which will open on Broadway in the coming season. Also in NY, Mekenian served as an Associate Producer for Snoopy! the Musical starring Tony winner Sutton Foster. Other credits include directing the California premiere of Parade, Merrily We Roll Along, Assistant Director for The History of Tears (featuring music by Tony winner Michael Cerveris), and Production Assistant for Broadway's Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.

Side Show's original production in 1997 played less than 100 performances on Broadway, despite critical receptiveness. The musical forces its audience to acknowledge the idea that as humans we enjoy watching other humans – obsessed with others' faults and being entertained by their misfortunes. This is especially true in the ever-growing popularity of reality television. Perhaps Broadway audiences were not willing to be asked such large questions about themselves. Side Show remains a daring musical, seeking to raise questions about our current society.

Side Show will run August 31, September 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. and September 2 and 3 at 2 p.m. at Off-Broadway's American Theatre of Actors – 314 W. 54th Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues) in Manhattan. Billy Griffin is Choreographer and Mike Pettry is Musical Director. The design team consists of Elisha Shaefer, David Mendizabal, and Dan Scully. Tickets will be available for reservation beginning August 1.