Our Prediction

There is evidence to suggest that the art of fortune-telling has been around since as long ago as 4000 BCE. There are many forms of this practice that have been developed over the centuries, such as astrology, numerology, palmistry. While you won't find fortune tellers today in circuses like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, they were once commonly part of many sideshow acts. Margo Tilstrom takes on this roll in our production of Side Show and predicts that this is going to be a great show!

Week 2 Begins

With only three weeks to put on a full-length musical, we have really had to keep up the pace during our rehearsals. Our students are doing a phenomenal job learning their blocking, memorizing their songs and lines, and developing their characters. We still have a ways to go, but we have accomplished a lot so far and the show is starting to look really great! Make sure you keep you schedule open for July 5-7 to come see us perform!

The Boss

The role of ringmaster has been traditionally been played by males, but women have begun to step into the spotlight as well. Texas native, Audrey Michelle Alvarado, has led the show as the ringmaster for the George Carden International Circus since she was 31, but she knew the Circus life had been her calling since childhood. Our own Charlotte Fallick takes on the role of The Boss in this production of Side Show. We're so lucky to have such a talented young lady to work with! Don't let her sweet demeanor offstage fool you, though, she manages this sideshow with the best (or worst) of them, depending on who you ask.

2 for 1

Did you know that Side Show's Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner were the first and only two actresses to be co-nominated for the Tony Award of Best Actress in a Musical? Side Show centers around the story of real-life conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, who rose from a sideshow act to the vaudeville stage. Our own production stars Emily Wirthwein and Hannah Gang as the sisters. They are quickly learning just how difficult it is to move as a pair, but our girls are handling the task like real pros!

Physicality

We're making a big effort to focus on physicality today! Part of being a great actor means being able to move the way you think your character should move. Side Show is filled with interesting opportunities for our young superstars to explore. From reptile girl to the conjoined twins, each character is unique and gives our actors and actresses the chance to have fun and be creative with their motions.

Tony Award Nominee

Things are already starting to come together for our show! While we still have many hours of rehearsal ahead of us, you can be sure that we're working our hardest to put on a great performance for you. Did you know that Side Show was nominated at the 1998 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical? Here's a little taste of Side Show from the 52nd Tony Awards starring Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley.

Summer Theatre Camp Starts Today!

Today begins the first session of Fairmount Theatre Academy's Summer Theatre Camp! We are incredibly excited to begin work on this summer's first production of Side Show with a group of talented young actors and actresses from around the greater Cleveland area. This year, we are happy to announce that both the camp and our productions will all take place at Chagrin Falls High School. The performances for Side Show will be July 5-7. Check back to our blog for our posts about getting ready for this production!