PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Side Show With "Half-Man/Half-Woman," Kelvin Moon LohSpend a two-show day at the Broadway revival of Side Show with cast member Kelvin Moon Loh, who is featured as the mysterious Half-Man/Half-Woman. He shares his pre-show routines and invites readers on an exclusive trip behind the tents of the St. James Theatre.
By
Matthew Blank
December 17, 2014
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Side Show With "Half-Man/Half-Woman," Kelvin Moon Loh
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Side Show With "Half-Man/Half-Woman," Kelvin Moon Loh
Spend a two-show day at the Broadway revival of Side Show with cast member Kelvin Moon Loh, who is featured as the mysterious Half-Man/Half-Woman. He shares his pre-show routines and invites readers on an exclusive trip behind the tents of the St. James Theatre.
58 PHOTOS
Two Pandas sleeping before a Two Show Day!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Okay, I've seen a lot of these photo features of people hitting up yoga and/or the gym before a two show day- I only hit the snooze button until nearly noon. Over and over again....
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Seriously?! Is it time to get up?
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Examining the leftover eyeliner from the night before. From the show or life?....the world may never know.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Yes, that was a vintage Playboy with Sally Field in my bathroom. Yes, it's the only Playboy I've ever owned. No, she is not the centerfold!
No time for laundry! Thank goodness I have an addiction to midnight online underwear buying.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Let's pump up the volume on Bing Crosby because it's time for.....
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Tea and Tutus with Jeigh Madjus, my current roomie and former cast mate of Here Lies Love!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
My subway rides are rather uneventful unless you include SAVING THE ENTIRE PLANET WITH THE MOST AWESOME POCKET MONSTERS.....ever.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Found our armless Venus De Milo outside (Lauren Elder) and I asked her to use those arms to show you our fabulous marquee.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Look, Ma! I've made it on a door!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
I'm going to steal my name off this board. This I promise you.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Step right up to pick up some merchandise with Sean and Jacquie!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Someone brought donuts to the matinee. A. That is just mean for someone who has to wear a corset. B. There is theater lore about those who bring donuts to the show. Google it.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Obligatory Sign In Sheet Photo.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Stage manager, Matt Stern, ready to give me notes on....well...everything. Today's note? "Less is more, Kelvin."
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
I'm pretty sure my trainer at the gym called this favor in. My dressing room is on the 6th floor sans elevator.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
But I'm greeted with a Broadway Debut gift from Jeigh Madjus- Siamese Orchids!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
More gifts and trinkets that remind me of cast mates past. Poconos Kelly (from Conrad Ricamora, Here Lies Love), Coconut the Monkey (from Jeigh Madjus, Here Lies Love), Half Man Half Woman Decanter (from Tommy McDowell, American Idiot), Juggling Balls (from IDK, I'm sorry?)
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Let's get this face beat!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Sometimes I can be a really helpful dressing room mate. (w/ Brandon Bieber)
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
And sometimes......
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
-a not so helpful creeper. But he's so handsome! (w/ Derek Hanson)
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Robert strapping me into one of the many layers of my costume's under dressing.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
She's lost. He's also lost.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
When I was in high school, I learned that one should not eat in costume. I didn't do too well in high school either.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
I spend a majority of my time onstage with Charity Dawson, our wondrous Fortune Teller. We strive to say hello before I literally run into her onstage.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Bye Bye, Blondie!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Hello, Half Blondie with the elegant Con O'Shea-Creal stealing some mirror space.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Running in one heel and one boot because as usual, I'm late!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Derek doing some pre-show pullups on the set. Kelvin doing some pre-show NOT pullups on the set.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
One quick group photo before our matinee.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
And one last boob check with my bestie, the Tattoo Girl (Hannah Shankman).
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Our fabulous twin standby, Megan McGinnis! I'm obsessed with her. Like fangirl obsessed.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Only ladies in the Ladies' dressing room!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Ladies and goofballs!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Dinner time between shows in midtown can be hellish if you're looking for healthy food. Unless it's here at Green Symphony on 43rd!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Always tempted to get the American Idiot smoothie which is ultra delicious.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Opted to feed my addiction to Harmless Harvest Coconut water instead!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Today, I made the trek to the Balcony of the St. James to eat my dinner. I used to usher up here when I was in college and The Producers was still playing- Full circle. Dreams do come true.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Post dinner nap on the Actor's Equity cot. Our UNION provides! But using a foam roller as a pillow makes me pine for my panda.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
And a little dessert before the evening show- Opening Night Cookies I have been hoarding. White chocolate covered Oreos.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Between shows Leanne does a little surgery on our Lizard Man's suit!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
A glowing shoe rack full of water bottles....
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
....has claimed another thirsty victim. The ever debonair Josh Walker!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
We got Matt Stern at Stage Management Central Control-
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
And our genius music director, Sam Davis, on the tube!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
John Mcnulty preps me for Act Two.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
The most "normal" costume I have in the show.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to the Side Show.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
These cupids are up to no good. Pecs belong to the suave Javier Ignacio.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
And then there's this scandalous tap dancing Priest (Brandon Bieber).
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Supervising another gender transformation....
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Brandon Bieber as our 2nd Bearded Lady with Schlitze- one of our amazing puppets built, by Lou and Dave Elsey, to perfection.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Schlitze has many admirers including Trent and Blair!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Finally- Two Shows over and it's time to hit up our dressing room bar that we have affectionately named Bar Sei equipped with an ice Machine and everything.
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Bulleit Rye on the rocks in a freaks glass please! The night is young!
Kelvin Moon Loh and Brandon Andrus
Best way to celebrate a long day's work? It's with this beer and this handsome guy (Bruce Landon Huffman)!
Cheers and hope to see you at the Side Show!
The reimagined production of the 1997 Tony-nominated musical Side Show, previously seen at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the La Jolla Playhouse, will play its final performance at Broadway's St. James Theatre Jan. 4, 2015.
The musical officially opened Nov. 17 following previews that began Oct. 28. (The original Broadway production played 31 previews and 91 regular performances in 1997-98.)
Coincidentally, the original production of the musical played a nearly-identical run, beginning performances in mid-October, 1997 and playing its final performance Jan. 3, 1998.
Discussions are currently underway for Side Show to make its London debut. Academy Award winner Bill Condon, who is making his Broadway directorial debut, directs. The revival received mostly favorable notices; read critics' reviews here.
Erin Davie and Emily Padgett, who starred in both the La Jolla Playhouse and Kennedy Center engagements, reprise their leading roles as conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton.
The two actresses are joined by Matthew Hydzik as Buddy Foster, Robert Joy as Sir, Ryan Silverman as Terry Connor and David St. Louis as Jake with Brandon Bieber as the 3 Legged Man, Matthew Patrick Davis as the Geek, Charity Angel Dawson as the Fortune Teller, Lauren Elder as the Venus di Milo, Javier Ignacio as the Dog Boy, Jordanna James as the World’s Tiniest Woman, Kelvin Moon Loh as the Half-Man Half-Woman, Barrett Martin as the Human Pin Cushion, Don Richard as the Reptile Man, Blair Ross as the Bearded Lady, Hannah Shankman as the Tattoo Girl, Josh Walker as the World’s Tiniest Man, Con O’Shea-Creal, Derek Hanson and DeLaney Westfall.
The production also has lighting design by nine-time Tony Award winners Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, set design by three-time Tony Award nominee David Rockwell, costume design by five–time Tony Award nominee Paul Tazewell, sound design by Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski, hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe, make-up design by Cookie Jordan, illusions by Paul Kieve, special make-up effects by the Academy Award-winning team Dave Elsy & Lou Elsy, musical direction and arrangements by Sam Davis, orchestrations by six time Tony Award nominee Harold Wheeler and choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Anthony Van Laast. Since its inception, Jack Tantleff has served as creative supervisor.
Condon’s new production, according to press notes, "reimagines the world of Side Show, set against the backdrop of 1920’s and 30’s show business that seamlessly blends the worlds of carnival, vaudeville, and Hollywood glamour."
The musical is inspired by the "remarkable true story of the Hilton twins, Daisy and Violet, who were legends in their time and the highest paid performers on the vaudeville circuit. Side Show is their heartwarming search for first love and acceptance amidst the spectacle of fame and scrutiny under the spotlight."
A new Broadway cast recording will be produced by six-time Grammy Award-winning producer Frank Filipetti and will be released in the theatre, stores and on iTunes. The CD is available now for pre-order by clicking here.
The original Broadway production of Side Show opened on Oct. 16, 1997, and was directed by Robert Longbottom. The production starred Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Ken Jennings, Norm Lewis, Jeff McCarthy and Hugh Panaro. It ran for 91 performances and received four Tony nominations, including a shared nomination for co-stars Ripley and Skinner, the only time in Tony history where two people were co-nominated for the Best Actress award.
Side Show is produced by Darren Bagert, Martin Massman, Jayne Baron Sherman, Joan Raffe & Jhett Tolentino, Universal Stage Productions, Joined at the Hip Productions, CJ E&M/Mike Coolik, Shadowcatcher Entertainment, Michael M. Kaiser, Jim Kierstead, Marc David Levine, Catherine & Fred Adler, Bredeweg & Carlberg, Clear Channel Spectacolor, Curtis Forsythe, Gloken, HIGHBROW & Nahem, Nobile Lehner Shea Productions, Pretty Freaks, Weatherby & Fishman Theatrical, Matthew Masten, and Jujamcyn Theaters in association with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts & La Jolla Playhouse.