BARNUM

Music by Cy Coleman Lyrics by Michael Stewart Book by Mark Bramble Originally Pr

oduced on the Broadway Stage by Judy Gordon, Cy Coleman,
Maurice and Lois E Rosenfeld in association with Irwin Feld and Kenneth Feld
St James Theatre Broadway - 30 April 1980 (854 perfs)
London Palladium 11 June, 1981 (655 perfs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Barnum's the name. PT. Barnum. And I want to tell you that tonight you are goin
g to see bar none -every eight, wonder and miracle that name stands for!"
Here is the show that traces the career of America's greatest, showman from 1835
to the year he joined with James A. Bailey to form The Greatest Show On Earth.
To start we. are outside the tent and Barmum tells us we are here to defend 'the
noble art of humbug". Whether we agree with him or not, Barnum's sure he'll be
able to sell us his bill of goods. Why? THERE'S A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE.
Humble beginnings start as Barnum signs up his first attraction, Joice Heth, the
"oldest" woman in the world. Joice is a big success and sings of the virtues of
being 160 in THANK GOD I'M OLD.
Barnum's wife, Charity, wants him to settle to a respectable job but in THE COLO
URS OF MY LIFE he tells her that this is not for him and rushes off to open a mu
seum to house his growing number of attractions. Charity, left alone, sings abou
t the colours of her life. `
A cornucopia of clowns build Barnum's museum, ONE BRICK AT A TIME and Barnum sa
ys "Step right up" to the public in THE MUSEUM SONG. The years go by, the Barnum
's grow a little older and more successful and their conflict and affection cont
inue in I LIKE YOUR STYLE, Then General Tom Thumb tells us BIGGER ISN'T BETTER.
Jenny Lind, The Swedish Nightingale, arrives and wins the hearts of all who hear
her, Barnum included. LOVE MAKES SUCH FOOLS OF US ALL. He can't resist her and
leaves Charity at home to tour with Jenny. OUT THERE, Washington salutes Jenny w
ith COME FOLLOW THE BAND.
Barnum returns to Charity on her terms and promises from here on to live his lif
e IN BLACK AND WHITE, Years later a now very ill Charity and Barnum declare thei
r continuing love for each other by affectionately restating their age-old quarr
el in THE COLOURS OF MY LIFE.
After Charity's passing, Barnum realises that being a respectable businessman is
not for him and he will always be THE PRINCE OF HUMBUG.

The Main Event. The Greatest Show On Earth James A Bailey arrives convincing Bar
num to JOIN THE CIRCUS.
Final Attraction. The tentpole comes down, the, canvas is loaded and we hear fro
m Phineas Taylor Barnum himself in FINAL CHASE and THERE'S A SUCKER BORN EVERY M
INUTE.
CAST

Male - 12 Female - 7
Phineas Taylor Barnum - The Prince of Humbug
Chairy Barnum - His wife
Joice Heth oldest woman alive
Tom Thumb - Smallest man in the world
Julius Goldschmidt - Jenny Lind's manager
Jenny Lind - Swedish soprano
Blues Singer - A black woman (same as Joice Heth)
James A Bailey - Small circus owner
Ringmaster - Circus performer (Same as James A Bailey)
Chester Lyman - Joice Heth's manager
Amos Scudder - Owner of the American Museum
Sherwood Stratton - Tom Thumb's father
Mrs Sherwood Stratton - Tom Thumb's mother
Wilton - Barnum's assistant on the Jenny Lind tour
Edgar Templeton - Political party boss
Humbert Morrisey - Political party boss
Plus a host of extras in a huge selection of parts
Tumbers, jugglers, clowns aerialists, acrobats, gymnasts, bricklayers, passersby
, museum patrons, strongmen, beefeaters, the "mob" in general, the Bridgeport Pa
geant Choir and bands of every size, shape and description
ORCHESTRATION
Reed 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5: Violin: Cello: Bass: Trumpet 1,2 & 3: Trombone 1,2 & 3: Tub
a: Drums: Percussion: Guitar: Stage Violin & Viola: Piano 1 & 2
Musical Numbers
There's A Sucker Born Every Minute - Barnum
Thank God I'm Old - Joice Heth
The Colours of My Life - Chairy and Barnum
One Brick At A Time - Chairy and chorus
Museum Song - Barnum
I Like Your Style - Chairy & Barnum
Bigger Isn't Better - Tom Thumb
Love Makes Such Fools of Us All - Jenny Lind
Out There - Barnum
Come Follow the Band - Barnum, Ringmaster and chorus
Black and White - Chairy, Barnum, Blues Singer and chorus
The Prince of Humbug - Barnum
Join the Circus - Barnum, Bailey and chorus
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