Fanlisting

Rules | Join | Buttons | Update | Fans | Affiliates | Extra | Home

Musical

About | Lyrics | Personal Note

Barnum

Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891), American showman who is best remembered for his entertaining hoaxes and for founding the circus that eventually became Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Often referred to as the "Prince of Humbugs", Barnum saw nothing wrong in entertainers or vendors using hype (or "humbug", as he termed it) in their promotional material, just as long as the public was getting good value for its money.

The theatre musical Barnum - with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart and book by Mark Bramble - is based on the life of P.T. Barnum.

Broadway production The show opened at the St. James Theatre on April 30, 1980 and ran for 854 performances. It was directed by Joe Layton.
Cast:
Jim Dale as Phineas Taylor Barnum
Glenn Close as Charity "Chairy" Barnum

London production The show opened at the London Palladium on June 11, 1981 and ran for 655 performances.
Cast:
Michael Crawford as Phineas Taylor Barnum
Deborah Grant as Charity Barnum

Holland National Tour The show played at many theatres nationwide in 1988/1989.
Cast:
Michael Burstyn as Phineas Taylor Barnum
Marloes van den Heuvel as Charity Barnum

Songs

• There is a Sucker Born Every Minute - Barnum


• Humble Beginnings Chase - (orchestra)


• Thank God I'm Old - Joice Heth


• The Colors of My Life - Charity and Barnum


• The Brick Chase - (orchestra)


• One Brick at a Time - Charity and chorus


• Museum Song - Barnum


• Female of the Species Chase - (orchestra)


• I Like Your Style - Charity and Barnum


• Bigger Isn't Better - Tom Thumb


• Love Makes Such Fools of Us All - Jenny Lind


• Midway Chase - (orchestra)


• Out There - Barnum


• Come Follow the Band - Barnum, Ringmaster and chorus


• In Black and White - Charity, Barnum, Blues Singer and chorus


• The Colors of My Life (reprise) - Charity and Barnum


• The Prince of Humbug - Barnum


• Join the Circus - Barnum & Bailey and chorus


• There is a Sucker Born Every Minute (reprise) - Barnum and company

List of actors who played Barnum

• Jim Dale (Broadway, 1980)


• Tony Orlando (Broadway, 1981)


• Mike Burstyn (Broadway, 1981 and Holland, 1989)


• Stacy Keach (US National Tour, 1982)


• Gary Sandy (Ohio, 1983)


• Michael Crawford (London, 1981 and BBC TV Production, 1986)


• Andrew O'Connor UK National Tour, 1995/96)


• Peter Duncan (UK Tour 1986 and 1999)


• James J. Mellon (Los Angeles, 2006)