Photo by Theresa Keil
Shelly Work and Amanda Rife.
When the ties that bind consist of connective tissue, blood and bone, one might assume that the bond between twins is that much more profound. Such was the case for Daisy and Violet Hilton, the famous conjoined sisters, whose lives are the basis for the musical, Side Show, currently playing at the Mobtown Theatre through September 4th.
Photo by Theresa Keil.
Photo by Theresa Keil
Katie O. Solomon and Tammy Oppel.
Side Show was written by Bill Russell with music by Henry Krieger. Despite being nominated for four Tony Awards, the production only ran on Broadway from October 1997 until January 1994. Since then, the show has been successfully staged around the country for a cult following that’s been known to travel vast distances for the chance to see these productions.
Photo by Theresa Keil.
Photo by Theresa Keil
Kevin McAllister, Shelly Work, Amanda Rife and Kristen Zwobot.
The actual Hilton Sisters were sold by their biological mother to her boss who did what any proud owner of human oddities would do during the depression. She took the show on the road and billed them as “freaks.” One could surmise that a person who would even consider “buying” another human being might be on the callus side of the spectrum, to put it mildly. According to the twins’ autobiography, physical abuse was the preferred method for their child rearing.
Photo by Theresa Keil.
Photo by Theresa Keil
Shelly Work, Amanda Rife and Chris Rudy.
The character Buddy represents a glimpse of the Hilton sisters lifelong search for love. Sadly the two sisters died alone in Charlotte, North Carolina. After being abandoned by their manager at a drive-in theater, the sisters were forced to spend their last days earning a living at a nearby grocery store.
Photo and story by Theresa Keil.
Photo by Theresa Keil
Amanda Rife and Jay Gilman.
Side Show, produced by Teatro 101, directed by David Gregory and musically directed by Julie Parish, comes complete with a live orchestra and an intimate 60 seat theater. The production can be seen every Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm until September the fourth.
Photo by Theresa Keil.
Photo by Theresa Keil
Photo by Theresa Keil.
Photo by Theresa Keil
Photo and story by Theresa Keil.
Photo by Theresa Keil
Photo and story by Theresa Keil.
