Coney Island Circus Sideshow + Half Step

The last traditional 10-in 1 continuous sideshow performing in a circus or amusement context includes a cast of live professional performers, many at the top of their field. Located in the home of sideshow culture, in an official New York City Landmark with its own sideshow pedigree, and offering traditional shows and Sideshow School, our facility is to sideshow culture what the Actor’s Studio is to American acting: we are the International Center of Sideshow Arts.


This work takes place in our facility, Sideshows by the Seashore. It represents the origins of American Theater, starting with PT Barnum in 1842, and continuing through the mid-20th c. changes to entertainment culture with Houdini, Ringling Bros and Ripley’s Believe-It-or-Not and is also the home of the American Sideshow Hall of Fame. The Sideshow/Freakshow is one of our oldest and most important programs and of of the 15-20 different artistic programs we produce, it is the most visible, most egalitarian, and most memorable for visitors to Coney Island.


The continuous 10 in 1 format was once shared by other popular entertainments like burlesque and vaudeville but is quite rare today. All 10 acts are scripted with traditional dialogue going back half a century and the show represents a highly evolved and intricate structure in a field full of street-buskers. In addition, the Sideshow fulfills our goal of creating innovative artistic programming that seamlessly integrates with the fabric of the amusement area, bringing in foot-traffic from all over Coney Island and creating engaging and surprising artistic work for an audience who are not traditional theater-goers.


Although we are a family friendly show, we also have a reputation for encouraging new directions and trends in our field: this year’s cast will consist of 9 performers, several of which are new to our stage and several visiting artists. In the past, the world's foremost sword swallowers and fire eaters have worked in our cast, and we’re excited to welcome group of assertive young "born different" performers this summer who think the talented and handicapped have as much right to be rock stars on stage as doctors and lawyers. As such, we will be hosting a number of guest performers. In addition to guests, our core cast will include Ray Valenz (MC and human blockhead) and Betty Bloomerz (Sword Swallower).


The 2015 sideshow will remain at an affordable price, in keeping with our mission, although, because of the extraordinary costs of rebuilding after Sandy, we are hoping to find alternative ways of subsidizing this ticket price – through additional memberships, a donation drive at the ticket box, and new ways of communicating who we are to visitors who think we’re just “a part of the amusement park”.


- See more at: http://www.coneyisland.com/programs/coney-island-circus-sideshow#sthash.teBpSnV1.dpuf


Half Step is a group of dedicated fans & students of the Grateful Dead, capturing the spirit, improvisation, sound & complexity of Grateful Dead music.


Established in 2004 on Long Island, Half Step has been mastering their craft while winning over crowds of veteran Deadheads, newcomers and non-Dead fans alike.


Just like the Grateful Dead themselves, the band is constantly pushing the envelope, growing together as musicians and performers. Only true fans that have experienced and studied the music with an extreme level of dedication and passion can accurately represent the superb body of work that the Grateful Dead have to offer.


When seeing Half Step live, one can clearly see the attention to detail that the band has in putting on a viable Grateful Dead experience. They stay true to the traditional show format and play sets of tunes in a sequence that could likely have been performed by the Dead themselves years ago. The members of Half Step also use similar instruments, amplifiers and effects to further authenticate the Grateful Dead sound.


In the band’s long history, they have undergone and overcome numerous incarnations. With each new member they come closer to refining their approach while consistently raising their standards. Half Step’s current line up is by far the most seasoned and prepared to bring their show to the next level.


As musicians, Half Step has what it takes to present the Dead’s music to even the most critical of fans. Anyone who has experienced the Grateful Dead in one way or another have formed a unique impression of their music. Half Step has the rare privilege to be in the position to share their collective impression with you.

— The long strange trip continues…