Short and sweet.

Hello everyone!

Well today we meet the final intern. His name is Jon Giberson.

What is your name? What department are you interning in?

Jonathon Giberson Jr. – Lighting Intern

Are you from the area? If not, where?

I am from Corcoran, MN

Tell us a little bit about yourself. (You don’t have to write a novel)

I grew up in a small town, I went to school at McNally Smith.

Where is your favorite place to eat in Michigan? What about it is your favorite?

Any Coney Island – We don’t have them back home.

What are some of your favorite things to do? When not being an intern.

I like to hang out and talk about being interns and play video games I guess.

How did you find out about this internship? What did you do to apply for the job?

Backstagejobs.com I sent in my resume and had a phone interview.

What was the interview like?

Kinda nerve wracking! I remember exactly where and what I was doing though.

What has been your favorite part about this season so far?

Nunsense.

What has been the coolest thing you have done since you started your internship?

Played up on the cloud (the space above the stage) and in the steel.

What are some things that you have learned so far? What else would you like to learn?

Too many things to count, everyone shares their knowledge, but juggling is the best thing so far!

What is your favorite part about being an intern?

Getting paid to learn at a place that is awesome!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What do you want to do when your internship is over?

Touring with a band or theatre agency either Front of House or Rigging.

Alright thanks Jon! Short and sweet right to the point. Oh yeah..I taught him how to juggle!  So, what would all you readers like to see blogs about? Let me know! Stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

Welcome….

Hello Happy Readers!

Boy January 2012 is almost over. I can’t believe how fast this month has gone! It seems like yesterday we were ringing in the new year. Soon it will be February and Mary Stuart will open. By the way if you have not bought tickets yet for Mary Stuart you should! It is going to be a fantastic show! You should buy the tickets because I am in the show! (shameless plug?). Also if you have not yet bought tickets for Nunset Boulevard you need to, the show is closing this Sunday! Anyway onto what you all can here to read…We now meet Andrew Danner…

What is your name? What department are you interning in?
Andrew Danner, Acting/Administration

Are you from the area? If not, where?
My hometown is Rochester Hills.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. (You don’t have to write a novel)
I am a native Detroiter and grew up attending MBT performances.  I showed an early interest in acting, often reenacting Robin Williams’ scenes from Aladdin, so my parents encouraged me to get involved in local theatre.   In high school, I performed in theatre, but also was heavily involved in Spanish and social sciences.  Following that path, I initially enrolled at University of Michigan for pre-law.  However, I decided to follow my passions for performing to Point Park Conservatory in Pittsburgh.  While in Pittsburgh, I wet my feet in both theatre and film, as well as working with the opera and symphony.   I later transferred and graduated this spring from the BFA Musical Theatre program at Western Michigan University.  While at WMU, I gained experience in variety of musicals and even created a solo cabaret under the direction of the MT chair, Jay Berkow.  My recent pre-MBT credits include: “Drowsy Chaperone,” “The Music Man,” “My One and Only,” “Jekyll & Hyde,” and New World Stages in NYC.

Where is your favorite place to eat in Michigan? What about it is your favorite?
Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown district.  Their ingredients are some of the freshest in the state and the experience is not to be missed.  There’s something so exciting about waiting in the line that wraps around the building and ordering a freshly made sandwich.  They also offer a market, which has an incredibly wide selection.

What are some of your favorite things to do? When not being an intern.
In my free time I enjoy working out, a good college football game (Go Blue!), checking out museums, and boating.   I also enjoy indie films,  I recently went down to the Main Art in Royal Oak to see Lars von Trier’s Melancholia.

How did you find out about this internship? What did you do to apply for the job?
I was visiting my friend Renee in Astoria over the summer of 2010 and she told me she was going to Michigan to work for Meadow Brook Theatre.  I touched base with her over the course of the year and decided to apply.   I sent in a pretty standard submission, headshot, resume, cover letter and was thrilled to hear back.

What was the interview like?
I auditioned with a song and monologue, as well as completing an interview.  It was great experience, because it allowed me to see what MBT was about and witness the great rapport between the artistic staff.

What has been your favorite part about his season so far?
Although, it feels like it has just begun, but I have definitely learned a lot about working in regional theatre.  “A Christmas Carol” was extra special for me, as it was surreal to be performing in a show that had inspired me as a kid.  I also really enjoy watching the veteran actors perform and seeing their process evolve.
What has been the coolest thing you have done since you started your internship?
I would say the coolest thing that I have done is diversify my skills and with each new show, a new adventure.   I’ve also enjoyed seeing the wide range of patrons and their experiences at the theatre.  It makes the work extra fulfilling.

What are some things that you have learned so far? What else would you like to learn?
The many facets of working in regional theatre.  I look forward to the many new lessons the remainder of the season brings.

What is your favorite part about being an intern?
I get to see the whole process.  As an actor, I rarely get that, and it has expanded my worldview.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What do you want to do when your internship is over?
“I never think of the future – it comes soon enough.” – Albert Einstein.    I like to take each day as it comes and taking progressive steps toward my goals.

Thanks Andrew! So there you have it. I am going to have to try Zingerman’s Deli! Well stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

And today….

Hello Everyone,

Today we have another intern for you all to meet her name is Mary Gietzen. But before we meet her I wanted to put in the plug about Nunset Boulevard. This show is hilarious. I went and saw it on Friday last week and I couldn’t stop laughing. For those of you who don’t know this is the last installment of the Nunsense Series by Dan Goggin. The sister of Hoboken New Jersey travel to LA to play what they think is going to be the Hollywood Bowl, but when they arrive they find out they are playing at the Hollywood-Bowl-A-Rama. A Cabaret lounge and bowling alley! If you have not had a chance to see this show you must come and see it! Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com, or you can call the Box Office at 248.377.3300. So back to the task at hand, here is Mary Gietzen.

What is your name? What department are you interning in?

My name is Mary Gietzen and I am the Wardrobe intern.

Are you from the area? If not, where?

I am originally from Warren MI but currently live in Rochester Mi.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. (You don’t have to write a novel)

I recently graduated from Oakland University in Rochester, MI, where I was a Theatre Design and Technology Major. I worked in the theatre’s costume shop for five years, partaking in many of their productions whether in the capacity of design, construction or running shows. In the summer of 2009 I had the chance to work at the West Virginia Public Theatre where I was the Assistant Wardrobe Coordinator. I love working with people and clothing, which the costume area allows me to do both. I love designing, crewing and stitching and hopefully one day I can say that I have done them all professionally.

Where is your favorite place to eat in Michigan? What about it is your favorite?

My favorite place to eat at is Chipotle, simply because it is good food that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to fill you up.

What are some of your favorite things to do? When not being an intern.

When I am not at Meadowbrook doing my intern duties I enjoy being around my friends and family just hanging out, whether it’s doing karaoke, the movies or even the theatre, just having fun is what makes my time away from the theatre more special.

How did you find out about this internship? What did you do to apply for the job?

I found out about this internship while I attended Oakland University, I had heard about it not only from the friends I had that were interns themselves but from people at Meadow Brook. In order to apply for the job I had to send in my resume and a cover letter, once that was done I waited until I got an interview in which I showed my portfolio.  I knew they were adding the position of Wardrobe intern so I applied for both of the costume positions that were available.

What was the interview like?

The interview was at first a bit scary while I was waiting for my turn, but once I sat down to talk with Sarah Warren it wasn’t so bad. I showed her my portfolio and talked about the work I had done in my undergrad. She asked me a few questions and we talked about what the job was looking for and if I would be a good fit. It was an interesting process and in the end I am glad that I was able to do something that allowed me to receive a position.

What has been your favorite part about his season so far?

I love being able to spend time in my area and concentrating on being the best I can be has allowed me to learn more about it and expand. Being able to be efficient and helpful have always been important to me and learning how to do this on a new level is very satisfying. It is very rewarding to be able to help someone and make them feel like they are in good hands backstage. In addition I like knowing that an actor can concentrate on the show if they know that their costumes are taken care of. Theatre is truly a collaboration and the more you can work together the better each and every show will be, which is why I am truly glad that I have a great supervisor that I can learn from and eventually my experiences here will shape me into being a better supervisor in the future.

What has been the coolest thing you have done since you started your internship?

The coolest thing I have done so far in my internship was make new friends and be apart of memories that will last for a lifetime.

What are some things that you have learned so far? What else would you like to learn?

I have learned more about working with people and about tag teaming to make sure the job gets done. This goes for all areas of theatre because being part of a team makes the job ten times better than having to do it alone. I really want to learn as much as I can about the costume field, whether its about sewing or wardrobe, I just want to be the best I can be through out my costume career.

What is your favorite part about being an intern?

I don’t really have a favorite part simply because I am still learning and growing as a theatre artist and there are things that I haven’t experienced yet. I do enjoy getting to work in the different fields because in the end it will make me a stronger person.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What do you want to do when your internship is over?

In the next 5 years I see myself either in grad school or working on Broadway. When this internship is over I want to do something that will allow me to get closer to my goals, exactly what that is I am not sure yet.

Thanks Mary! I hope that you continue to follow your dreams! You will go far. Remember never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about! Stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

This week…

Hello everyone!

So how about his weather! Wow. It is January and it feels a little like spring. What is going on? Anyway, today we are going to meet another intern, this week it is Theresa McKenzie.

What is your name? What department are you interning in?

Theresa McKenzie, Prop intern

Are you from the area? If not, where?

I’m from Virginia

Tell us a little bit about yourself. (You don’t have to write a novel)

I grew up in Virginia where I also went to school, Lynchburg College. There I gained a degree in technical theatre with a minor in elementary ed. After graduation, I spent a year in Memphis, TN as the scenic charge intern for Playhouse on the Square where we did 21 in one season. When my contract ended, I came to Michigan to work for Meadow Brook Theatre to be the prop intern.

Where is your favorite place to eat in Michigan? What about it is your favorite?

Buddy’s pizza. It’s possibly some the best pizza I’ve ever had and the people are really nice and attentive.

What are some of your favorite things to do? When not being an intern.

I like to watch movies, knit different projects, and read.

How did you find out about this internship? What did you do to apply for the job?

I found out about the job through Backstagejobs.com and sent an email with my resume and digital portfolio to the company.

What was the interview like?

The interview was two parts, first with Sarah Warren and then with Kristen Gribbin. The asked my about my interest in the company, told me what I could expect if I was to be hired, and then asked me about me experience and history. I told them about the different tools and techniques I’d worked with. The rest is history.

What has been your favorite part about this season so far?

I’m going to have to say running Christmas Carol because it was nice to be able to see all the other interns every day. I work in a different building so I only see them for meetings and special projects.

What has been the coolest thing you have done since you started your internship?

Getting to make the new Christmas goose for a Christmas Carol. It was something I got to make by myself and it’s neat to know that it will be in the show for the next 10-15 years.

What are some things that you have learned so far? What else would you like to learn?

So far I’ve learned how to work a patch board during light focus, been exposed to different adhesives, and have learned how to gold leaf. I’m looking forward to this week because I’m getting the chance to work with a finish carpenter on making some fine furniture, which will be a new experience for me.

What is your favorite part about being an intern?

Getting to learn and be exposed to different skills.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What do you want to do when your internship is over?

In 5 years I would like to be established enough to start my own children’s theatre both financially and in my career. After my internship is over I want to go on tour with either a national or international touring company.

Thanks Theresa! Don’t forget to get tickets to see Nunset Boulevard by Dan Goggin! It is a great show! Stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

A New Year!!

Hello all you readers!

Wow..can you believe it another year has gone by! Here we are in 2012. 2011 went by so fast, there were many good thing in 2011, but also some not so good. I know that I am looking forward to a whole new year! How about you? What are you looking forward to in 2012? Well to start off the new year I thought I would do something that is a little different from the other blogs I have done. There are certain individuals that work behind the scenes and on stage to help keep this theatre going. Those would be our wonderful interns! They work very hard and many people don’t know who they are. Well I am going introduce them to you one by one over the next few weeks. I will have an intern of the week for the next 8 weeks. Our first intern of the week is Meredith Gifford and I will let her tell you a little bit more about herself.

What is your name? What department are you interning in?

Meredith Gifford, acting/administrative intern

Are you from the area? If not, where?

Yes, I am from Rochester, MI. I went to school at Notre Dame Prep High School, just down the road from here.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. (You don’t have to write a novel)

I didn’t start singing or acting till I was 16 and played Ado Annie in Oklahoma at my high school. I went to Viterbo University in LaCrosse, WI and got my BFA in Music Theatre Performance. I have performed with Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre, Timber Lake Playhouse, Santa’s Village Theme Park, Michigan Star Clipper Dinner Train, and the Granbury Opera House. I have taught acting and dance at Gyeonggi English Village and at the New York Kid’s Club. I also have a teaching certification through Harvard University’s “Teaching for Understanding”. I just moved back to Michigan after 3 years at Gyeonggi English Village in South Korea. I worked as a Edutrainer creating and performing original musicals that taught Korean kids English. I was also the General Manager of the department for almost 2 years.

Where is your favorite place to eat in Michigan? What about it is your favorite?

Kruse and Muer at the Village shopping center. Their bread is to die for!!

What are some of your favorite things to do? When not being an intern.

I love to play with my shih tzu pup, Frankie. I take him on lots of walks. I love taking Zumba classes at the gym and going to different bars or restaurants with my friends.

When I lived abroad I traveled a lot. I have been to 8 counties in Southeast Asia!

How did you find out about this internship? What did you do to apply for the job?

I am good friends with Renee Turner, the acting intern last year. I came to see her in Dracula and talked to her about the internship. She was having such a great time that I decided to apply for it. Then I chickened out because I was busy with work and didn’t think it was a very good season for me. When I was visiting home in May, I happened to be home for the cattle call auditions. It was my 1st time auditioning for them. I am non-equity and had to wait around all day to get an audition slot. During those 6 hours I was talking to the interns and friends that had worked at MBT. When I walked into my audition, I asked Travis and Terry if they still had a slot open for an acting intern. They said yes, I sang and did my monologue, had an interview a few days later, and got a call 10 days later that I was hired!

What was the interview like?

Very relaxed. I was shocked. I had practiced for hours what I was going to say!! Sarah Warren took me to her office and she asked me what I had been doing since graduating from college. We talked about the internship (the good, the bad, and the cleaning). She was very honest. At the time, they were wanting 2 male acting interns because the season was very guy heavy. Guess they liked me enough to have 1 guy and 1 girl!

What has been your favorite part about this season so far?

Cleaning the bathrooms and hallways every 3 weeks is definitely my favorite. Hehehe

What has been the coolest thing you have done since you started your internship?

Being on an Equity stage for the 1st time in Something Wicked This Way Comes. It really hit me during our 1st preview performance. During the curtain call, I almost started tearing up. It was such an honor to be on this stage!

What are some things that you have learned so far? What else would you like to learn?

I have learned lots about lights. As an intern, we are all required to do the light hangs for each show. When I started directing a few years ago, I knew nothing about lights. It was very frustrating for me. I’m still pretty new but I know so much more now. I’d like to learn more about directing and creating a vision. I should probably start picking Travis Walter’s brain more while I am here.

What is your favorite part about being an intern?

I love working in a theatre community. Everyone is so supportive of one another. The interns and staff at MBT have become another family to me. Actually, I see them much more than my family that I live with!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What do you want to do when your internship is over?

I am an older intern. I graduated from college almost 6 years ago so my answers might be a little different. I am currently applying to grad schools for a masters in theatre education. My top choice is Emerson College in Boston. In 5 years, I would be done with my masters and be a liscensced teacher. I would like to have a full time teaching job at a high school with a growing performing arts department. I would teach theatre, acting, dance, and maybe a theatre lit class. I would also be the head director/choreographer doing 2-4 shows a year. I would still be performing when I could, I would be married or close to it, and live in a metropolitan city. Of course, my dog Frankie would come with and he would have a little pug sister.

What can I say, I am a planner

So there you have it..thanks Meredith! I hope that you got to know her a little bit more and don’t forget to come see her in some of the shows this season. Stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

Another Year…

Ho-Ho-Hollo Readers!

It has officially been a few weeks since I have posted anything! So, here is another year almost come to a close. Can you believe it, Christmas is just around the corner! It is weird to think that 2012 is almost here. So what is your New Years Resolution? Mine, I am going to go to the gym more often and get back into shape!

So for this week’s blog I have decided that I am going to share with you a little about the different Christmas traditions around the world. I don’t think we have time for everywhere around the world, so I am going to choose about 2 or 3 different countries.

Our first country is China. For the small number of Christians in China, Christmas is called Sheng Dan Jieh, which means Holy Birth Festival. People decorate their home with poster, bright paper chains, and evergreens. They put up the “tree of light,” or the Christmas Tree, they decorate it with flower, lanterns, and red paper chains that symbolize happiness.

Many Chinese people enjoy the fun and color of the Christmas season. The bigger cities in China are gaily decorated and many shops sell plastic trees and Christmas decorations. Believe it or not, Santa Claus is a popular good-luck figure, he is also called Lan Khoong-Khoong, “Nice Old Father.” There are many fireworks, jugglers (Yay!) and Acrobats that entertain. Also at this time of year, the people of Hong Kong celebrate Ta Chiu, a festival of peace and renewal, by making offerings to saints and reading the names of everyone who live in the area.

On Christmas Eve, Christian children in China hang up their stockings that are specially mad so Christmas Old Men or “Dun Che Lao Ren,” can fill them with wonderful gifts.

Our next visit takes us to Ethiopia, which is the one of the oldest nations in Africa. Because Ethiopians still follow the ancient Julian calendar they celebrate Christmas on January 7. This is called Ganna.

On “Ganna Eve,” people fast all day. On Ganna at dawn, most Ethiopians don a traditional shamma, a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends. It is basically worn like a toga. Then they head to the early mass which starts at 4am.

The foods during the Ganna season include wat, a thick, spicy stew of meat, vegetables, and sometimes eggs as well. The wat is served on a injera, which is a flat sourdough bread.

Twelve day after Ganna, on January 19, Ethiopians begin the three-day celebration call Timkat, which commemorates the baptism of Christ. Ganna and Timkat are not occasions for giving gifts in Ethiopia. If a child receives any gift at all, it is usually a small gift of clothing. Religious observances, feasting, and games are the focus of the season.

Most other countries celebrate the Christmas we know. With presents and lots of good food. If you would like to read a little bit more about different traditions around the world please visit http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/christmas-traditions-around-the-world-ga.htm. So there you have it! What is the best and/or worst Christmas present you ever received? I have always received really great Christmas presents so I can’t just pick one.

Stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

Up and Running!

Well A Christmas Carol is up and running! We had our first show on November 19th to a sold out audience! And again we had another sold out show on Nov 20th! If it keeps up like this, it will be a fantastic season for A Christmas Carol. To top it all off Thanksgiving is just 4 days away! This is one of my favorite times of the season because two of the biggest food days are so close to one another. I love the smell of turkey baking in the oven. I remember the days when we would go to my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving, we would walk in the door and you could just smell the turkey with cranberry sauce, the smell of stuffing and sweet potatoes it was like walking into wall of food. It was the best! What is your favorite part about Thanksgiving and/or Christmas?

Also don’t forget to buy your tickets to A Christmas Carol it is running now until Dec. 23rd. Don’t miss out and have a Happy Turkey Day! Gobble Gobble!

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

Celebrating 30 Years of A Christmas Carol!

Hello Readers!

Wow! It is almost Thanksgiving, and soon it will be Christmas! Where did the time go? I think it is crazy that every time I walk into Meijer or Walmart, or pretty much any other store for that matter, they have had Christmas things on the shelves since before Halloween. Anyway here we are at yet another Christmas Carol. The season has come upon us, the leaves are falling, the smell of frost in the air and snow soon to fall. Well this is the 30th year of our popular show. Families come from all over Michigan to see this show, it is family fun for everyone! I have with me a cast list from the very first production of this famous tale. I am going to share that with you. See how many people you remember.

Who do you remember as the very first miser? If you guessed Booth Colman you are correct!
Bob Cratchit was played by Thom Haneline
Fred was played by Andrew Barnicle
First Charity Man was played by Phillip Locker
Second Charity Man was played by Henson Keys
Jacob Marley was played by Wil Love
Spirit of Christmas Past was played by Grace Aiello
Scrooge as a Boy was played by Raphael Aiello
Fan was played by Mary Bruin
Fezziwig was played by  Phillip Locker
Mrs. Fezziwig was played by Jane MacIver
Scrooge as a Young Man was played by Terrence Sherman
Belle was played by Sara Morrison
Belle’s Husband was played by Carl Schurr
Spirit of Christmas Present was played by Graham Pollock
Mrs Cratchit was played by  Jane MacIver
Peter Cratchit was played by Eric Bruggemann
Martha Cratchit was played by Grace Aiello
Tiny Tim was played by Kevin Skiles
Belinda Cratchit was played by Mary Bruin
Matthew Cratchit was played by Raphael Aiello
Fred’s Wife was played by Sara Morrison
Spirit of Christmas Future was played by Carl Schurr
Old Joe was played by Henson Keys
Char Woman was played by Sara Morrison
Laundress was played by Grace Aiello
Undertaker was played by Phillip Locker
Turkey Boy was played by Joshua Dawson
Londoners were Judi Ammar-Parker, George Bufford, J. Luke Huber, Sarah Jayne Huber, Jane Shaffmaster, Jan Semelroth Elliott, Rebecca Watts.

The Director was Carl Schurr
Set Designer was Barry Griffith
Lighting Designer was and is currently Reid G. Johnson
Costumes Designed by Mary Lynn Crum
Musical Direction by Terrence Sherman
Stage Managers were (and one of them still is) Thomas Spence & Terry W. Carpenter.

So there you have it. The cast and crew of the 1982 production of A Christmas Carol. How many people do you remember? Were you in the cast that year? Please tell us your stories of the times you had backstage. On behalf of MBT I would like to thank the first cast and crew for making this production a holiday favorite! Stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

Happy Halloween!

Hello Readers!

Just want to say a big Happy Halloween to everyone! This is one of my favorite holidays because I get to dress up and because there is candy everywhere you go! So in keeping with halloween and the sideshow “freak” blogs, this will be the last sideshow entry! Now this person is very interesting. Her name is Percilla Bejano, she was billed as the Monkey Girl. Here is her story…

During her long life Percilla Lauther was known by many names. Originally she was descriptively dubbed ‘the hairy little girl’ and later as ‘the monkey girl’, but it is quite likely that she will forever be remembered by those dear to her as Percilla Bejano – loving wife of Emmitt the Alligator-Skinned Man.

The hirsute Percilla was born on April 26 of 1911 in the Puerto Rican town of Bayamon. Percilla had been born with hypertrichosis, she possessed two rows of teeth and drew immediate attention from the public and the medical community. Percilla’s father was a native of Spain and he did not know what to make of his hairy daughter initially. Percilla’s parents traveled to New York City seeking answers from American doctors and there they remained for seven months until Percilla’s father developed the idea of exhibiting his daughter for profit.

Percilla’s father was not a greedy man. He merely saw an opportunity to make the most of the situation nature had thrust upon his daughter. However his limited knowledge of English and business made promoting Percilla difficult and he approached showman Karl. L. Lauther for assistance. Lauther was an accomplished promoter and he owned and operated several shows during his lifetime. He took an instant interest in Percilla and hired her on the spot. Lauther also hired an assistant to help Percilla’s father care for the child after his wife returned to Puerto Rico. That arrangement was short lived however, as Percilla’s father was shot and killed in Gainesville. Upon his death, and according to his final wish, Lauther adopted young Percilla as his own daughter.

Percilla never said anything ill of her adoptive father, thus one may assume that he was a compassionate and loving man. In fact all evidence indicates that despite exhibiting Percilla for profit, Lauther was extremely sensitive to the public perception of his adoptive daughter. Lauther disliked the fact that the public took to calling Percilla a ‘monkey girl’ and verbally lashed out at anyone bold enough to call her a ‘freak’. But the ‘Monkey Girl’ moniker stuck and Lauther gave in and began to publicly pair Percilla with a trained chimpanzee named Josephine. He may have had the last laugh, however, as the two attractions were juxtaposed. Percilla would warmly and graciously welcome guests to her exhibit while Josephine would rudely smoke cigarettes and spit.

In the late 1930′s, while performing with the Johnny J. Jones Exposition, Percilla met fellow marvel Emmitt Bejano, the Alligator-Skinned Man. Despite her heavy beard and his ichthyosis a sweet romance blossomed between the unique couple. The pair saw past their physical differences. Emmitt was a man with calloused skin who spent performance intermissions submerged in vats of ice water because he could not sweat. Emmitt was quite literally ‘thick skinned’ and he had a ‘hard shell to crack’ but beneath he was a compassionate, gentle, charming and passionate man. Percilla, despite looking more beast than beauty, was elegant, eloquent and possessed an enchanting singing voice. Before long Percilla realized that the gentle Emmitt was the love of her life and the two eloped in 1938. A year later, the couple welcomed a daughter, Francine, into their family. Unfortunately pneumonia extinguished her life after a scant four months.

When Emmitt and Percilla returned to exhibition they were promoted as the World’s Strangest Married Couple. Percilla and Emmitt shared the stage and most notably worked for Ringling Brothers and other shows successfully for over a decade. They appeared together in the 1980 film Carny opposite Jodie Foster and Gary Busey. Eventually the couple grew tired of life in the public eye and opted to retire to a private life in Gibsonton, Florida. There the two remained madly in love for many more years. Their union ended with Emmitt’s passing in 1995.

Percilla carried on, clean shaven for the first time in her life, and briefly appeared in various documentaries and on the Jerry Springer show where she charmed the audience with stories of her beloved Emmitt and by shyly singing his favourite song ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’. Percilla herself passed away in her sleep in February of 2001. She is dearly missed by all who knew her.

So there you have it! She is extremely sweet person, I wish that I could have met her. Click here to read her Jerry Springer interview. Also watch this short interview with her and Emmitt. Stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

information from http://thehumanmarvels.com/?p=132

Them in a Musical?

Hello Readers,

Today I am excited to share some information about a famous sideshow that actually has a musical loosely based on their life. They are known as the Hilton Sisters. In 1997, a broadway musical loosely based on their life received 4 Tony nominations. The lyrics by Bill Russell and the music by Henry Krieger. A couple of fun facts Henry Krieger is the same person who wrote music for Dreamgirls and Bill Russell is from my hometown of Spearfish South Dakota! So yes people can make it big from my little town!! He comes back to Spearfish every summer to put on a caberet fundraiser. I had the amazing opportunity to be in a premiere of one of his shows called Lucky Duck.  Anyway I digress read on…

Contrary to popular belief, outright exploitation was not very common in sideshow. The majority of human marvels displayed themselves for their own reasons and quite often reaped massive financial and personal rewards for doing so. However, of the few performers who were exploited against their will, the tale of Daisy and Violet Hilton ranks as one of the worst.

Daisy and Violet were conjoined twins born in Brighton, England on February 5, 1908. The sisters were born pygopagi, joined at the posterior. The sisters shared no internal organs and all that was truly uniting them was bone, muscle and skin.

Their birth name was Skinner however their impoverished and unmarried mother, Kate, could not fathom the responsibilities involved in raising a pair of girls joined. She sold the twins to her boss and midwife Mary Hilton.

Williams instantly saw potential profit in the twins. According to many sources, including the autobiography written by the Hilton sisters in 1942, Mary Hilton was a strict, physically abusive, exploitive and corrupt human being. The twins were ‘trained’ and ‘groomed’ to sing and dance in the vaudeville tradition. While this training was in progress the horrific abuse and dehumanizing continued. When the girls finally began touring, they were seen as little more than possessions by the Hiltons.

The twins proved to be hugely successful and the toured extensively beginning at the age of three. On stage, the pair likely looked like dolls, their blond hair in curls and bows on their shoes. Violet played the piano while Daisy played the violin. Billed as ‘The United Twins’, their tours of Germany, Australia and the USA often saw record crowds. The twin brought in enormous amounts of money. Mary Hilton kept every penny.

When Mary finally died in Birmingham, Alabama, the guardianship of the twins fell to Mary’s daughter Edith and Edith’s husband, Meyer Meyers. They were even worse than Mary as they controlled every movement the twins made. They also proved to be poor agents as they insisted on keeping the girls ‘dolled up’ as little girl well past the age it was acceptable. Critics took notice and the twins were allowed to grow up, but only a little.

The mistreatment and corruption continued under the dictatorship of Edith. Edith purchased a mansion in San Antonio with the money the twins earned as a headquarters as the twins spent much of the 1920’s touring the United States on vaudeville circuits. It was on these circuits that they met Bob Hope and their dear friend Harry Houdini. Their popularity, at this point was near its peak and as a result they became subject to scandal.

The twins had befriended their advance agent, William Oliver. Oliver’s wife Mildred was suspicious of the relationship and accused William of improper acts. A postcard from the twins signed to William ‘with love’ prompted Mildred to file for divorce and sue the twins for $250,000. Oddly enough, this frivolous lawsuit was the catalyst for the Hilton’s freedom.

During a visit to San Antonio lawyer, Martin J. Arnold, the truth came out. As the Meyer’s were out of the room the Hilton sisters told the lawyer of their life of abuse and captivity. The lawyer was flabbergasted and immediately took on the twins’ case. He took the twins into protective custody. In April of 1931 Judge W.W. McCrory awarded a large sum of money – some reports say as much as $100,000, to the sisters and granted the pair their freedom. The girls had spent 21 years in abject slavery.

Daisy and Violet became citizens of the United States and returned to show business. They hosted their own show, ‘The Hilton Sisters’ Revue’, and stared in the 1932 film Freaks.

Everything seemed to be perfect in the life of the Hilton sisters; however the pair soon began to self destruct. Due to too many years of solitude, suppression and deprivation the girl wallowed in excess. They had numerous affairs, legal problems, clashes with that media and a couple of short publicity marriages. Their popularity nosedived. In 1950, the sisters appeared in their final film Chained for Life. It flopped and the pair further failed in an attempted food franchise. By the 1960’s the pair were nearly penniless.

The Hiltons’ last public appearance was at a drive-in movie theater in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1962. Their tour manager abandoned them there, as the tour was a failure and he was tired of losing money. He left them without any money or transportation and the twins simply decided to settle in Charlotte. A kind grocery store manager hired the sisters to work in his shop, where they checked and bagged groceries. On January 6, 1969, the twins failed to report for work and were found dead in their pious home. They had no surviving family. Despite the sad end to their lives, the memory of the Hilton sisters still lives on. In 1997, a Broadway musical loosely based on the sisters’ lives, Side Show, with lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger, received four Tony nominations.

So there you have it. Stay tuned…

Casey S. Hibbert© – Guest Blogger

Information from http://thehumanmarvels.com/?p=50