Bill Russell News

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in association with La Jolla Playhouse, presents a re-imagining of Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show. Directed by Academy Award winning director Bill Condon, the musical will play at La Jolla Playhouse now through December 17 and will open at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in spring 2014. The show was just featured in a special on KPBS, and you can go behind the scenes of the project below. Plus, check out the first video footage from the new production on stage!

DREAMGIRLS big screen director and CHICAGO movie musical screenwriter Bill Condon is currently trying his hand at a large-scale stage musical with the new version of Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's SIDE SHOW, now trying out on the west coast at the La Jolla Playhouse.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in association with La Jolla Playhouse, presents a re-imagining of Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show. Directed by Academy Award winning director Bill Condon, the musical plays at La Jolla Playhouse now through December 17 and will open at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in spring 2014. The musical features book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Kriegerwho will revise the show before its debut at La Jolla. Check out some costume sketches by designer Paul Tazewell and renderings for some of the "freak" character special makeup effects by Dave and Lou Elsey below!

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Side Show/book & lyrics by Bill Russell/music by Henry Krieger/directed by Bill Condon/La Jolla Playhouse/through December 15

The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) present Making Magic, Defying Gravity, an evening of music, performance, and 'behind the curtain' conversation, today Monday, November 11 at Parkway Central High School at 7:00 p.m. The evening includes live performances from Broadway's and St. Louis's top student talent, but also provides understanding and perspective on theatre education and careers in the business.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will produce, in association with La Jolla Playhouse, a re-imagining of Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show. Directed by Academy Award winning director Bill Condon, the musical will play at La Jolla Playhouse now through December 17 and will open at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in spring 2014. The musical features book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger who will revise the show before its debut at La Jolla. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

A vastly revised and rewritten new version of cult musical SIDE SHOW by Henry Krieger and Bill Russell is preparing for its debut under the direction of film director Bill Condon at the La Jolla Playhouse this month and character sketches of some of the new freaks being added to the carnival-themed show are now available to view, with comments on the process from the noted Hollywood make-up craftsmen who have helped create them, Dave and Lou Elsey.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will produce, in association with La Jolla Playhouse, a re-imagining of Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show. Directed by Academy Award winning director Bill Condon, the musical will play at La Jolla Playhouse November 5 through December 17 and will play the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in spring 2014, according to an equity casting notice. The musical features book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger who will revise the show before its debut at La Jolla.

The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) will present Making Magic, Defying Gravity, an evening of music, performance, and 'behind the curtain' conversation, on Monday, November 11 at Parkway Central High School at 7:00 p.m. The evening includes live performances from Broadway's and St. Louis's top student talent, but also provides understanding and perspective on theatre education and careers in the business.

'Come look at the freaks!' Celebrated cult musical SIDE SHOW is currently rehearsing for an out-of-town tryout at the La Jolla Playhouse under DREAMGIRLS feature film director Bill Condon's supervision, outfitted with a new book, new songs, new characters, a new look and a whole different attitude, making the Henry Krieger/Bill Russell musical a vastly rewritten, virtually new show, yet with the glimpses of greatness of the original ported over, as well.

Legendary leading lady Lea Salonga and rising musical theatre superstar Sierra Boggess have recorded two tracks for an upcoming charity compilation album to benefit Children In Need set for release in 2014 the composers confirmed with BroadwayWorld earlier today.

The production just launched a Twitter re-tweet challenge for fans. They tweeted: 'RT this! 1st 'freak peek'at the #SideShow sisters singing: http://bit.ly/19WVt2t .' If the clip receives 200 retweets La Jolla Playhouse will release a clip of a brand new song sung by Erin Davie and Emily Padgett in rehearsal.

TWEED TheaterWorks & Theater 80 St. Marks have announced the highly anticipated NYC return of Varla Jean Merman with Boston's acclaimed Gold Dust Orphans in the New York premiere of MILDRED FIERCE, a dizzily entertaining sendup of the 1945 classic 'MildrEd Pierce', which will begin previews on Saturday, October 5that Theater 80 St. Marks. The production, written by Ryan Landry will have it's official opening tonight, October 12th at 10:30PM and will continue performances until October 27th.

La Jolla Playhouse announces a fifth production for its 2013/14 season: the world premiere of The Tallest Tree, a new play with music written and performed by Daniel Beaty (Emergency, Through the Night), directed by Moises Kaufman (I Am My Own Wife, The Laramie Project). A co-production with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Tallest Tree will run in The Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre tonight, October 9 - November 3, 2013. The piece is produced in association with Tectonic Theater Project.

TWEED TheaterWorks & Theater 80 St. Marks have announced the highly anticipated NYC return of Varla Jean Merman with Boston's acclaimed Gold Dust Orphans in the New York premiere of MILDRED FIERCE, a dizzily entertaining sendup of the 1945 classic 'Mildred Pierce', which will begin previews today, October 5that Theater 80 St. Marks. The production, written by Ryan Landry will have it's official opening today, October 12th at 10:30PM and will continue performances until October 27th.

TWEED TheaterWorks & Theater 80 St. Marks have announced the highly anticipated NYC return of Varla Jean Merman with Boston's acclaimed Gold Dust Orphans in the New York premiere of MILDRED FIERCE, a dizzily entertaining sendup of the 1945 classic "Mildred Pierce", which will begin previews on Saturday, October 5that Theater 80 St. Marks. The production, written by Ryan Landry will have it's official opening on Saturday, October 12th at 10:30PM and will continue performances until October 27th.