99TH STREET SUMMER THEATRE FESTIVAL PRESENTS “SIDE SHOW”

The 99th Street Summer Theatre Festival, a community summer theatre program sponsored by Mother McAuley High School, will open its 34th season on July 12 with a production of the musical “Side Show,” a musical based on the true story of the Hilton Twins who were stars of Vaudeville and the Ziegfeld Follies. The show will continue on July 13 and July 14 with all performances taking place in the McAuley auditorium at 8:00pm.  Tickets for the show can be purchased by calling 773-881-6512.

“Side Show” opened on Broadway in October of 1997 and features the show’s most memorable songs “I Will Never Leave You” and “Who Will Love Me As I Am?” harmoniously blended by the characters of Violet and Daisy.  The show is one of the beautiful modern shows that combines a realistic story with great music and vaudeville style numbers.  The show has a loyal following of audience members but we hope to expand the audience by bringing this rarely done piece of musical theatre to our Southside audiences. 

According to director, Patricia Haynes, “It is a great pleasure for us to bring something new and different to our audiences.  The music is beautiful and touches the hearts of the audience.  We are lucky enough to have a cast of strong singer/actors who will perform this story.  I am so excited to combine this show with our classic production of “Bye Bye Birdie” at the end of our season.”

The cast of “Side Show” is led by a group of veteran performers including Erin Haynes and Katherine Williams as the twins Violet and Daisy Hilton, Billy Vitucci as Terry Connor, Tom McNichols as Buddy Foster, Tony Levine as The Boss, and Jeffrey Ford as Jake.  Other featured players incluce Peter Grundas, Joe Roccasalva, Mary Kooy Pniewski, Rick Salazar, Rosie Schapiro, Da’Maris King, Sarah Menke, Audrey Brazel, Xavier Roe, Beny Cabrera, Brian Mallon, Trevor Krueger, Rebecca Seweryn, Christina Miller, Melissa Trentacoste, Lauren O’Neil, Molly Sheahan, Jessica Pedroza, Katherine Houze, Tara Duffy, Amara Brady, Erin Kelleher, Jordan Arredondo, Sam Dawe, Rachel  Szydlo, Armando Solas, Elizabeth Bailey, Ian McCafferty, and Tim Jones. 

The production staff for the show includes Director, Patricia Haynes; Vocal Directors, Stacy Cunningham and Rose DeSanto; Choreographer, Michael Gutrich;  Conductor, Patrick Mooney;  Scenic Designer, Bridget Thomas and Technical Director, Tom Moster. 

Tickets for the show are $16 and $14 for senior citizens.  All seats are reserved.  Reservations and other information is available by calling 773-881-6512.