Side Man

By turns funny and sad, Side Man depicts a family for whom jazz is both a passion and poison. Heather Siobhan Curran directs this play by Warren Leight. Based on Leight’s own memories of growing up in 1950s New York, in Side Man Clifford guides us through his memories of a turbulent family life destroyed by his father, Gene, a brilliant jazz musician for whom jazz is both a passion and a poison. Over a 32-year period covered in the play, the life of a touring musician takes its toll on Clifford’s mother, Terry, as it becomes abundantly clear that the true love of Gene’s life is music.