SIDE SHOW to Receive Australian Premiere in Sydney

One Eyed Man Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co has announced the Australian premiere of the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical SIDE SHOW, due to play a strictly limited four-week season at Hayes Theatre Co from September 23. This stunning tale of sisterhood from the composer of Dreamgirls is based on the remarkable real-life story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton and their transition from 'circus freaks' to megastars.

In the footsteps of Frozen and Wicked, SIDE SHOW explores a very special connection between two sisters, their desire for acceptance, their search for true love and their desperate yearning for freedom. Being (literally) joined at the hip, Daisy and Violet's devotion to each other knew no bounds.

In real life, the spectacularly talented and charming Daisy and Violet rose to fame from the grim world of the circus freak show and an abusive upbringing, becoming the highest-paid stars of vaudeville in the 1930s. They went on to appear in the controversial 1932 film Freaks that was banned for 30 years. The film has since become a cult classic being referenced many times in contemporary pop culture, including on South Park, The Wolf of Wall Street, Orange is the New Black and most recently in American Horror Story: Freak Show.

Featuring two extraordinary roles for outstanding musical theatre actresses, SIDE SHOW made history when its original Broadway stars Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner were jointly nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. The search for two triple-threat performers to play the coveted roles in the Australian production has already begun and casting will be announced later in the year. Auditions will also be held for the variety of supporting roles including a bearded lady, a tattooed lady, fortune-teller and a half-man-half-woman, making up a complete cast of 12 plus a five-piece band.

"SIDE SHOW is one of the most extraordinary musicals to come out of Broadway in the last 20 years," said director Richard Carroll. "It's packed with fantastic songs by Dreamgirls composer Henry Krieger and the show has a devoted fan following like no other. I'm thrilled to finally bring the show to Australia and I can't wait to find the two actresses who will play the challenging and utterly unique roles of Daisy and Violet Hilton."

The Australian premiere of SIDE SHOW will be directed by Richard Carroll (producer of Sweet Charity and Miracle City), choreographed by Amy Campbell (Violet, Spring Awakening) and musically directed by Steven Kreamer (Rent, Little Shop of Horrors). Sydney Theatre Award-winning designers Lauren Peters (The Drowsy Chaperone, RENT) and Angela White (Heathers) will design set and costumes respectively.