Written by Eric Fagundes 

directed by nikki diloreto

Schlitzie: Alive and Inside follows the true story of Schlitzie, an iconic and often misunderstood performer who was a star of the sideshow circuit during its heyday in the first half of the 20th century. Audiences step into a memory collage of Schlitzie’s life, from his sideshow persona where he was billed as a “pinhead” due to a rare condition called microcephaly, to his appearance in Todd Browning’s 1932 film Freaks, to his time in Los Angeles performing in McArthur Park. Along the way, Schlitzie’s sideshow became more than a way to make a buck — it became a space where marginalized performers and artists with disabilities could find safety, friendship, and a sustainable way of life. In a world that aims to label, ignore, or forget folks who don’t fit in, Schlitzie’s is a story of a special family surviving – together.

Read more about the history of Schlitzie and the sideshow.

NEXT PERFORMANCE

    March 14 - 30, 2025*
*Check the special events list below for exciting pre-and-post-show talks and entertainments!
** Monday, March 24th will now be an ASL translated performance - if this is an option that would allow you to see the show, use code Community for $20 all in tickets

location

    Heritage Square Museum 
3800 Homer Street
Los Angeles, California 90031

Tickets on sale now 

Rogue Artists Ensemble would be nothing without our community, and we understand that not everyone may be in the position to come to Schlitzie: Alive and Inside at our regular ticket prices - for this reason we are happy to continue our tradition of offering a limited number of reduced price, or free tickets. Learn more here.