BALLYHOO was set to be High Society Cabaret’s next original full length production and was planned for the late fall of 2018. Inspired by the 1932 movie Freaks, the show followed a circus and sideshow troupe while they stop in a conservative town near Wichita, Kansas at the beginning of the Edwardian Era. The cast of characters included a matriarch ring leader, her wife the bearded lady, a mute clown, a carnival barker, a strong man, a fortune teller, and circus roadie. The troupe catches the unwanted attention of the local reverend when his daughter, attempting to flee a repressed household, befriends members of the troupe. The intent of the show was meant to be more tragic and dark, while portraying a message of hope and resilience.
Plans included Knox to take a step back from parts of the production so she could star as the troupe's matriarch, Beth Rose Miller. Dana Thody would step in as director, with choreography being set by both Adam Martino and Knox Harter. Knox had large ambitions for this production that included complicated staging logistics, quick transitions and stage combat. A major hurdle was also an unfinished script. Knox recalls writing this script to be challenging:
Plans included Knox to take a step back from parts of the production so she could star as the troupe's matriarch, Beth Rose Miller. Dana Thody would step in as director, with choreography being set by both Adam Martino and Knox Harter. Knox had large ambitions for this production that included complicated staging logistics, quick transitions and stage combat. A major hurdle was also an unfinished script. Knox recalls writing this script to be challenging:
“I feel like I had such visceral feelings about what I wanted this show to be and how I wanted to affect an audience, but I was struggling to find the characters voices, or to have the series of events line up just so to make sense as a story."
While unfinished, Knox was determined to push forward, deciding to use the script in its current state as a skeleton or outline of the show's story and treat rehearsals as a workshop process to fill in some of the details. However all rehearsal plans came to a halt when the venue, Revival, stated that their proposed performance dates were given away to two different corporate bookings. Unable to find alternative dates within the month of November at Revival or a venue that could house Knox's ambitious ideas n the time allotted, Knox cancelled the dates and shelved the production just before the rehearsal process started.
Art: Adam Tupper
Media and Marketing: Knox Harter
Art: Adam Tupper
Media and Marketing: Knox Harter
