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original work by Pulling Threads
original music and lyrics by Jeremiah Cymerman, Michael Boyd, Jen Cwiok, Lysa Sullivan and Phillip Baumgarner
Lobsterboy is based on the life and death of Sideshow Superstar, Grady Stiles, Jr.  Considered by many inside the carnival circuit as Freak Show Royalty, Stiles entered the profession at a yound age -- performing with his father and sister as THE LOBSTER FAMILY before becoming a headlining feature on his own as THE LOBSTER BOY.  In the world of sideshow illusions and freak shows, Stiles was a charming entertainer as well as a lucrative entreprenuer.  During the peak of his career, he owned and operated a successful Ten-in-One Freak Show, which featured ten acts under one tent.  In private, however, the Lobster Boy was an abusive alcoholic who vented anger and violence upon his family.  Stiles' life ended in 1992 when a teenage neighbor -- hired by his wife and stepson -- murdered him.  Pulling Threads explores Lobster Boy's life with dark humor through the use of masks; puppets; a bit of tent revivalism; and a whole lot of tom foolery.

In conjunction with Pulling Threads' LOBSTERBOY show, The Flicker Theatre and Bar offers other forays into carnival sideshows.  THE UNHOLY THREE (1925), starring Lon Chaney, is an eerie thriller about three Sideshow performers who plan a clever con game using a pet shop as a front for a burglary racket.  Hailed by many critics as Chaney's tour de force, he plays the duo roles of Professor Echo, the sideshow ventriloquist, and Mrs. O'Grady, the pet shop owner.  Tod Browning, the infamous director of FREAKS, directed the film. 

Flicker Theatre and Bar also offers a sculptural installation by Quinton Phillips and Cindy Jarrelll based on THE UNKNOWN, a film that tells the story of an armless knife thrower in love with his beautiful assistant, who cannot stand to be touched.  The installation will be in the front window of Flicker Theatre and Bar.
You need Java to see this applet.
You need Java to see this applet.
photos by Frank Hamrick
FREAK EVENT INFORMATION:
LOBSTERBOY
July 25-28 @ 8:30pm
The Flicker Theatre and Bar
263 West Washington
July 25 Pay-What-You-Can
all other performances $5.00
July 27 is a benefit performance for PROJECT SAFE
706-613-2559
www.pullingthreads.com
THE UNHOLY THREE
July 27-28 @ 11:00pm
and the
SCULPTURAL INSTALLATION
in the front window
The Flicker Theatre and Bar
263 West Washington
discount memberships for the screening
706-546-0039
www.flickertheatre.com
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Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

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