Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Play to do with Carnivals, Freak Shows, 1890ish

Author

Message

neilfortin
Celebrity

Joined: 11/20/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 210

Topic: Play to do with Carnivals, Freak Shows, 1890ish
Posted: 3/09/07 at 2:54pm

Hi, we are a local community theater wanting to do a halloween show that centers around the Victorian freak shows and circuses during the turn of the century. Any ideas would be awesome!

Community Theater makes us smile

IP Logged

teridtiger
Star
Star

Joined: 10/24/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 69

Posted: 3/09/07 at 4:02pm

The only one I can think of is a musical - "Side Show". About a pair of Siamese twins in the Depression: http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/sideshow.htm

The rights are available through Samuel French: http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/2755?osCsid=bbd91d6245472ccb7d414498d7871f78

Synopsis: Based on the true story of Siamese twins Violet and Daisy Hilton who became stars during the Depression, Side Show is a moving portrait of two women joined at the hip whose extraordinary bondage brings them fame but denies them love. Told almost entirely in song, the show follows their progression from England to America, around the vaudeville circuit and to Hollywood on the eve of their appearance in the 1932 movie Freaks.

IP Logged

tristanrobin
Celebrity

Joined: 4/25/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 704

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:46am

well, LOL, there is "The Elephant Man" and "Barnum"

also a turn of the century Russian play that takes place in a circus (though the freaks are not the leads), "He Who Gets Slapped"

it's interestng how few plays have been written about circus' and sideshows, considering how popular they are!

IP Logged

Gaafa
Celebrity

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:26pm

Look at 'Jack the Ripper' which is in a setting of the 'Steam Packet' Music Hall.

great fun & can be as much 'Kensington Gore' as you like, while having a touch of good old panto!;-

http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsP/pember-ron.html#27429
No circus but definatly an 'aside show'.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP Logged

neilfortin
Celebrity

Joined: 11/20/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 210

Posted: 3/13/07 at 9:39am

Thanks everyone I will check all of these out! We want it to have the feeling of "The Prestige" with some great stage tricks!

Community Theater makes us smile

IP Logged

Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Topic: Play to do with Carnivals, Freak Shows, 1890ish( Topic Closed)

Author	Message
neilfortin Celebrity Joined: 11/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 210	Topic: Play to do with Carnivals, Freak Shows, 1890ish Posted: 3/09/07 at 2:54pm
	Hi, we are a local community theater wanting to do a halloween show that centers around the Victorian freak shows and circuses during the turn of the century. Any ideas would be awesome!
	Community Theater makes us smile

	IP Logged

teridtiger Star Joined: 10/24/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 69	Posted: 3/09/07 at 4:02pm
	The only one I can think of is a musical - "Side Show". About a pair of Siamese twins in the Depression: http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/sideshow.htm The rights are available through Samuel French: http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/2755?osCsid=bbd91d6245472ccb7d414498d7871f78 Synopsis: Based on the true story of Siamese twins Violet and Daisy Hilton who became stars during the Depression, Side Show is a moving portrait of two women joined at the hip whose extraordinary bondage brings them fame but denies them love. Told almost entirely in song, the show follows their progression from England to America, around the vaudeville circuit and to Hollywood on the eve of their appearance in the 1932 movie Freaks.
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:46am
	well, LOL, there is "The Elephant Man" and "Barnum" also a turn of the century Russian play that takes place in a circus (though the freaks are not the leads), "He Who Gets Slapped" it's interestng how few plays have been written about circus' and sideshows, considering how popular they are!
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:26pm
	Look at 'Jack the Ripper' which is in a setting of the 'Steam Packet' Music Hall. great fun & can be as much 'Kensington Gore' as you like, while having a touch of good old panto!;- http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsP/pember-ron.html#27429 No circus but definatly an 'aside show'.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

neilfortin Celebrity Joined: 11/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 210	Posted: 3/13/07 at 9:39am
	Thanks everyone I will check all of these out! We want it to have the feeling of "The Prestige" with some great stage tricks!
	Community Theater makes us smile
	IP Logged