Sarah Houbolt celebrates the beauty of difference in her Green Room Award winning one woman show, Koo Koo the Bird Girl at Coney Island USA's Sideshows by the Seashore for one night only on Wednesday August 14th.
"My unique look is very similar to the original Koo Koo the Bird Girl, so it was a natural choice of character." says Sarah. "Koo Koo's story is one that's not often told, and it's an important one."
The original Koo Koo the Bird Girl, Minnie Woolsey was born in the US in the late 19th century. She performed in the sideshow and features in Tod Browning's now iconic 1932 film Freaks. Although Freaks was banned for 30 years for being too controversial, Minnie was considered a 'rock star' of her times.
Sarah presents a haunting and captivating homage to Woolsey, juggling beauty, sincerity, and a heartfelt connection to a hidden past. Koo Koo the Bird Girl is a visceral experience that encapsulates circus narrative; combining the traditions of the sideshow with dance, theatre and historical documentation.
This is an engaging and entertaining show about cinema, circus history and an unlikely female idol. Sarah weaves circus skill, multimedia and story in this delightful and deep production to mesmerise audiences.
The creative development spanned New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and America, as she researched the freak shows, including a pilgrimage to the Mecca of sideshow and place of Koo Koo's performances Coney Island, where Sarah now works in the sideshow five days a week.
"Natural Born Freaks are royalty of the sideshow. It's wonderful to support Sarah's show"
Dick Zigun, Artistic Director, Coney Island USA.
As a consummate circus and physical theatre performer, Sarah brings a strong yet sensitive physical presence to this performance. Her credits include TEDxSydney speaker, United Nations speaker, Paralympian, featured actress in
Cirque du Soleil's Worlds Away, the lead in Hairy Maclary stage show (NZ) and feature film Reflection in the Dust, Sarah has been a core company member of Touch Compass Dance Co. and The Dust Palace circus theatre (NZ), and has also worked for Circus Oz, Extant Theatre (UK), and Extraordinary Bodies (UK). This is the American premiere.
"The development of this show has been a really rich experience, spanning continents," said Sarah. "I felt compelled to tell the story of Koo Koo; it's magical, and an importance legacy. And to bring her to her homeland and where she used to perform - I am so overjoyed!"
After performing at Coney Island, Sarah has been invited to take the show to the 11th Blind Theatre Festival in Croatia.
Tickets are $15 online or at the door.
Advance tickets can be purchased at:
www.coneyisland.com/event/kookoothebirdgirl
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