The Mile Square Sideshow debuts in Hoboken on Oct. 27

HOBOKEN – “I think it’s the perfect night out for our micro-attention-span day and age” says Bill McGarvey, musician and co-founder of the Mile Square Sideshow. “Exactly,” says Jim Dodge, comedian and Sideshow partner. “If a particular musician or comedian isn’t your cup of tea, just wait five minutes and a contortionist or an acrobat or a magician will be taking the stage that will be.”
For the past year, McGarvey and Dodge – both Hoboken residents – had been toying with the idea of producing a show at Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre. They wanted to get past the formulaic approaches to shows they’ve participated in for years.
“Jim and I realized that people have seen plenty of shows with comedians and musicians” says McGarvey, whose music has appeared on network television and feature films and been critically acclaimed by the New York Times, Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and Billboard. “But how often do audiences get the opportunity to get up close to a truly unique experience with a range of different types of performers that we could gather in a sideshow or variety format?”
Enter Guinevere DiPiazza, a friend and longtime Hobokenite who also happens to be a professional aerialist, circus coach and choreographer.
“Guin had been a friend for years. But when we decided to bring her on as a co-producer it opened up a whole new universe” says Dodge, who has appeared on “The Daily Show,” NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Myers” and “Jane’s New York.”
By any definition, DiPiazza has an unconventional job.
“Most of the time, when I’m working you can find me dangling from the rafters performing one of my solo/duo acts with silks, aerial bartending, lyra and trapeze” she says. But the Mile Square Sideshow also taps into her skills as the founder and artistic director of Aerial Acrobat Entertainment, which provides dazzling cirque entertainment for private and corporate events around the country.
“I’ve been fortunate to have worked with so many great circus performers over the years” she says “but opportunities like this to put together a wide variety of great acts that people rarely see is a real thrill.”
The show will be presented at the Mile Square Theatre, 1400 Clinton St., Hoboken, on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the show.
For more information and to buy tickets visit https://milesquaresideshow.com/.