Barnum (musical)
Music
Cy Coleman
Lyrics
Michael Stewart
Book
Mark Bramble
Basis
The life of P. T. Barnum
Premiere
April 30, 1980: St. James Theatre, New York City
Productions
1980 Broadway
1981 West End
1984 Madrid
1984 UK Tour
2013 Chichester
2014 UK Tour
2017 Off-West End
Barnum is an American musical with a book by Mark Bramble, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and music by Cy Coleman. It is based on the life of showman P. T. Barnum, covering the period from 1835 through 1880 in America and major cities of the world where Barnum took his performing companies. The production combines elements of traditional musical theater with the spectacle of the circus. The characters include jugglers, trapeze artists and clowns, as well as such real-life personalities as Jenny Lind and General Tom Thumb.
The original Broadway production ran for 854 performances and was followed by a London production, among others.
Contents
1
Synopsis
2
Song list
3
Cast
4
Productions
4.1
Original Broadway Production
4.2
Original London Production
4.3
2013 Chichester revival and 2014/15 UK tour
4.4
2017 London revival
4.5
Other Productions
5
Recording
6
Response
7
Awards and nominations
8
See also
9
References
10
External links
Synopsis[edit]
In the middle of the 19th century, Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum introduces his circus acts as he stands in front of a tent, proclaiming "There Is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute". He loves spectacle and excitement, using hype and "humbug" to promote his exhibits. His wife Charity disagrees with his use of "humbug" but loves him and aims to keep him grounded. Barnum then introduces the oldest woman alive, Joice Heth, and thanks to some Barnum humbug she becomes a success ("Thank God I'm Old"). His wife Charity ("Chairy") urges him to get a job in a factory, but Barnum refuses ("The Colors of My Life [Part One]") and Charity wryly admits and accepts the disparity between their views ("The Colors of My Life [Part Two]"). Barnum enlists clowns to help in building a museum to house his attractions (with expected comical results) and it's up to Charity to encourage him to keep going ("One Brick at a Time"), with the result that "everything about [his] museum was spectacular" ("Museum Song"); however, the museum burns down accidentally. Barnum finds two new star attractions, Tom Thumb, who appears to advise that "Bigger Isn't Better", and Jumbo the elephant. Barnum then becomes manager of the famous Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind ("Love Makes Such Fools of Us All"). Barnum becomes enamored of her and sees the attraction of going on tour with her ("Out There"). He accompanies Jenny on tour, leaving Charity behind, as a marching band greets them ("Come Follow the Band"). Although all seems to be going well for Barnum, he finds that without Charity in his life he is miserable, and he decides to break ties with Jenny and return home to the woman he loves ("Love Makes Such Fools of Us All [Reprise]"). Upon his return to Charity, he promises to live the more sedate life she desires for him, in "Black and White." After a failed stint running a clockworks factory and a failed attempt to build his own city, he turns to politics; when his campaign looks doomed to fail due to lack of interest, Charity realizes how important his talents and passion are in his life and allows him to inject color and life into his campaign. He is elected Mayor of Bridgeport, and the two of them recognize the value in each other's approach to life and how they complement one another ("The Colors of My Life [Reprise]"). Barnum is prepared to run for Senator, but his beloved Charity dies suddenly, leaving Barnum bereft and alone. When Barnum finds himself cheated of the Senatortial nomination by his political party, he laments his position, realizes that his talent for Humbug will never leave him and wishes to "make it right, shoot a rocket, shine a light" ("Prince of Humbug"). James Anthony Bailey arrives and offers him the chance to "Join the Circus". Initially resisting, he relents (thanks in part to Charity's two-headed coin, which she has used to humbug him throughout the show) and joins Bailey, and they form the famous circus Barnum and Bailey.
In "a princely final attraction", Barnum appears before the audience ("The Final Event: There is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute" [Reprise]") and reflects on his past:
"Of course, that was a long time ago...and Joice Heth is gone and forgotten. And so's the American Museum...and the Living Whale...and Jennie Lind...and my poor Tom Thumb. And them reubens that came over on the Mayflower have gone to dust...and Tom Jefferson's a memory...and old Franklin's flown his last kite. So my kind of Humbug's disappeared. Pity."
Song list[edit]
Act I
"Overture Chase"
"There is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute" – Barnum
"Humble Beginnings Chase"
"Thank God I'm Old" – Joice Heth and Tambourine Players
"The Colors of My Life" (Part 1) – Barnum
"The Colors of My Life" (Part 2) – Charity
"One Brick at a Time" – Charity, Barnum and Bricklayers
"Museum Song" – Barnum
"Female of the Species Chase"
"I Like Your Style" – Barnum and Charity
"Bigger Isn't Better" – Tom Thumb
"Love Makes Such Fools of Us All" – Jenny Lind
"Midway Chase"
"Out There" – Barnum and Charity
Act II
"Come Follow the Band" – Potomac Marching Band and Washingtonians
"Black and White" – Charity, Choir, Blues Singer, Barnum and Citizens of Bridgeport
"The Colors of My Life" (Reprise) – Barnum and Charity
"The Prince of Humbug" – Barnum
"Join the Circus" – Bailey, Circus Performers and Barnum
"Finale Chase"
"The Final Event: There is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute" (Reprise)
The following list was used for the Chichester and UK tour productions, although many of the chases were still used:
Act One
There is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute - Barnum
Thank God I'm Old - Joice Heth
The Colors of My Life - Charity and Barnum
One Brick at a Time - Charity and Ensemble
Museum Song - Barnum
I Like Your Style - Chairy and Barnum
Bigger isn't Better - Tom Thumb and Ensemble
Love Makes Such Fools of Us All - Jenny Lind
Out There - Barnum
Act Two
Come Follow The Band - Barnum and Ensemble
Love Makes Such Fools of Us All (Reprise) - Jenny Lind
Black and White - Charity, Barnum and Ensemble
I Like Your Style - The Colours of My Life (Reprise) - Charity and Barnum
Barnum's Lament - Barnum
Join the Circus - Barnum, Bailey and Ensemble
Finale - Barnum
Cast[edit]
Character
Original Broadway Cast
Original London Cast
Chichester Festival Theatre cast
UK tour cast
2017 London revival
Phineas Taylor Barnum
Jim Dale
Michael Crawford
Christopher Fitzgerald
Brian Conley
Marcus Brigstocke
Charity (Chairy) Barnum
Glenn Close
Deborah Grant
Tamsin Carroll
Linzi Hateley
Laura Pitt-Pulford
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