Sideshow Opens THE FLU SEASON at Belmont's Black Box Theatre 12/8-11

As their first full length production, the emerging artists of the Sideshow Ensemble @ Actors Bridge will stage Will Eno's Oppenheimer Award-winning, The Flu Season, December 8-11 at the Belmont Black Box theatre.

Sideshow Ensemble is comprised of 12 self-proclaimed theatre 'freaks' that form a proverbial melting pot of emerging Nashville artists. Sideshow, a ten-month training immersion and theatrical cross training program, strengthens the core disciplines and bolster additional skills by providing opportunities for the 'freaks' to train and exhibit skills outside of their current artistic disciplines. The Flu Season will be their first foray into full-scale production together.

In The Flu Season, two professional technical directors take the stage in leading roles, one full-time actor takes a stab at costume design while another performer will stage manage for the very first time. A director will design lights, a stage manager will perform, directors will staff the box office, a scenic artist will house manage.

This environment of creative risk creates a unique and exhilarating energy that propels Eno's experimental work forward for an adventurous audience. The Sideshow Ensemble is lead by three innovative theatre professionals with long standing ties to the Nashville community: Jessika Malone, Jackie Johnson, and Mitch Massaro and is mentored by Actors Bridge Ensemble's founding artistic director Bill Feehely and producing artistic director Vali Forrister.

The Flu Season makes for an ideal debut production for the Sideshow Ensemble, according to director Jessika Malone: "The story itself blurs the lines between actor, playwright, director, and audience as it moves in an experimental structure that suggests life and art are intimately interwoven. The Flu Season allows our ensemble an opportunity to showcase both their strengths and more newly acquired skills while asking the audience to take a risk with us in a work that is a little bit off the beaten path. The result will no doubt be an exciting and adventurous introduction to one of the most innovative playwrights working today."

Tickets are available for $10 at http://fluseason-esearch.eventbrite.com/?srnk=1. Additional Inquiries may be made to: Nashvillesideshow@gmail.com or to Jessika Malone (615) 460-5503.

Pictured: Michael Redman and Jackie Johnson

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