Musical (1980)


Musique: Cy Coleman
Paroles: Michael Stewart
Livret: Mark Bramble
Production à la création:

Barnum raconte l'histoire du Prince of Humbug, Phineas Taylor Barnum. Malgré les objections de sa femme, Charity, Barnum essaie de créer un spectacle dans lequel les attractions principales sont monstres de société. On y retrouve la plus vieille femme en vie, Joice Heth, le plus petit homme du monde, Tom Thumb, et encore mieux, un chanteur d'opéra suédois glamour, Jenny Lind. Finalement, Barnum consent à abandonner le spectacle et commencer une vie normale pour apaiser Charity. A la fin, après que la mort de Charity, Barnum revient dans le monde du cirque, très à la mode, en formant une association avec James A. Baily. Alors, les deux hommes créent 'The Greatest Show on Earth'.

"Barnum's the name. PT. Barnum. And I want to tell you that tonight you are going 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 COLOURS OF MY LIFE he tells her that this is not for him and rushes off to open a museum to house his growing number of attractions. Charity, left alone, sings about the colours of her life.
A cornucopia of clowns build Barnum's museum, ONE BRICK AT A TIME and Barnum says "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 continue 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 with COME FOLLOW THE BAND.
Barnum returns to Charity on her terms and promises from here on to live his life IN BLACK AND WHITE, Years later a now very ill Charity and Barnum declare their continuing love for each other by affectionately restating their age-old quarrel 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 Barnum to JOIN THE CIRCUS.
Final Attraction. The tentpole comes down, the, canvas is loaded and we hear from Phineas Taylor Barnum himself in FINAL CHASE and THERE'S A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE.


Original Broadway Production)
The original production opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway, on April 30, 1980 and closed on May 16, 1982 after 854 performances and 26 previews. It was directed and choreographed by Joe Layton, with scenic design by David Mitchell, costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge, and lighting design by Craig Miller. The musical starred Jim Dale as P.T. Barnum, Glenn Close as Charity Barnum, Marianne Tatum as Jenny Lind, Terri White as Joice Heth, and Terrence Mann as Chester Lyman.

Original London Production
The show made its West End debut on June 11, 1981 at the London Palladium, where it ran for 655 performances. The London cast included Michael Crawford as P.T. Barnum, Deborah Grant as Charity Barnum and Sarah Payne as Jenny Lind. Crawford reprised his role opposite Eileen Battye in a UK Tour of the show which ran between 1984 and 1986, stopping off at various venues including the Manchester Opera House and Victoria Palace Theatre. The tour was recorded for television and broadcast by the BBC in 1986. It was later released on VHS and DVD.

Other productions
International productions were staged in Australia (1982) starring Reg Livermore, Madrid (1984) starring Emilio Aragón, Florida (2008) starring Brad Oscar.

In 2008, Cameron Mackintosh had reportedly voiced interest in producing a London or Broadway revival of Barnum starring either John Barrowman or Neil Patrick Harris.


Acte 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 I"--Barnum and Charity
"The Colors of My Life Part II"
"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

Acte 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)"

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 Pageant Choir and bands of every size, shape and description

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Barnum

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Barnum


Version 1

Barnum (1980-04-St. James Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: St. James Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 2 ans 2 semaines
Nombre : 26 previews - 854 représentations
Première Preview : 05 April 1980
Première: 30 April 1980
Dernière: 16 May 1982
Mise en scène : Joe Layton
Chorégraphie : Joe Layton
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Commentaires longs: Avec: Jim Dale dans le rôle titre de Phineas Taylor Barnum et Glenn Close dans celui de Chairy Barnum (du 5 avril 1980 au 2 mars 1981). 1980 Tony Award® Best Musical (nominé) -
1980 Tony Award® Best Book of a Musical (nominé) - 1980 Tony Award® Best Original Score
: music by Cy Coleman; lyrics by Michael Stewart (nominee) - 1980 Tony Award® Best Actor in a Musical : Jim Dale (gagnant) - 1980 Tony Award® Best Featured Actress in a Musical : Glenn Close (nominee) - 1980 Tony Award® Best Scenic Design : scenic Design by David Mitchell (winner) - 1980 Tony Award® Best Costume Design : Costume Design by Theoni V. Aldredge (winner) - 1980 Tony Award® Best Lighting Design : Lighting Design by Craig Miller (nominé) -
1980 Tony Award® Best Choreography : Joe Layton (nominé) - 1980 Tony Award® Best Direction of a Musical : Joe Layton (nominé) - 1980 Theatre World Award : Marianne Tatum (winner) - 1980 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical : Produced by Judy Gordon, Cy Coleman, Maurice Rosenfield, Lois F. Rosenfield (nominé) - 1980 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical : Jim Dale (winner) - 1980 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography : Joe Layton (nominé) - 1980 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical : Joe Layton (nominé) - 1980 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Music : Music by Cy Coleman (nominé) - 1980 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Set Design : Scenic Design by David Mitchell (nominé)

Version 2

Barnum (1981-03-Cirque d'hiver-Paris)

Type de série: Original Europe
Théâtre: Cirque d'hiver (Paris - France)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: Inconnu
Dernière: Inconnu
Mise en scène : Yves Mourousi
Chorégraphie : ???? ????
Producteur :
Star(s) :

Version 3

Barnum (1981-06-London Palladium Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Palladium Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 an 7 mois 4 semaines
Nombre : 655 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 11 June 1981
Dernière: 05 February 1983
Mise en scène : Joe Layton
Chorégraphie : Joe Layton
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Michael Crawford (P.T.Barnum), Deborah Grant (Charity Barnum), William C. Witter (Ringmaster), Christopher Beck (Tom Thumb), Sarah Payne (Jenny Lind)
Commentaires : This was a great personal success for Jim Dale in the Broadway production, followed by Michael Crawford in London. A new production opened in Manchester in 1984 at the Manchester Opera House and ended its tour at the Victoria Palace in 1986.

Version 4

Barnum (1984-??-Opera House-Manchester)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Opera House (Manchester - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: Inconnu
Dernière: Inconnu
Mise en scène :
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Commentaires longs: Avec: Michael Crawford et Deborah Grant.

Version 5

Barnum (1985-03-Victoria Palace Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Victoria Palace Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 an 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 14 March 1985
Dernière: 26 April 1986
Mise en scène : Peter Coe
Chorégraphie : Buddy Schwab
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Michael Crawford (P.T.Barnum), Eileen Battye (Charity Bar num), Michael Heath (Ringmaster), Paul Miller (Tom Thumb), Christina Collier (Jenny Lind), Peter & Sue Barbour, Graham Fawcett, Debbie Steel

Version 6

Barnum (1988-09-Fortis Circus Theater-Scheveningen)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Afas Circustheater (Scheveningen - Pays-Bas)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : 27 September 1988
Première: 27 September 1988
Dernière: Inconnu
Mise en scène : Joe Layton
Chorégraphie : Joe Layton
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Commentaires longs: Avec: Phineas Taylor Barnum: Mike Burstyn puis Fred Butter / Jenny Lind: Jacky van Oppen / Chairy Barnum: Marloes van den Heuvel / Bailey, Goldschmidt, spreekstalmeester: Fred Butter / Mrs. Stratton: Margot Giselle / Joyce Heth: Lils Mackintosh / Tom Thumb: Rick Somsen / Amos Scudder: Stef Avezaath

Version 7

Barnum (1992-12-Dominion Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Dominion Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 2 mois 1 semaine
Nombre : 84 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 17 December 1992
Dernière: 22 February 1993
Mise en scène : Buddy Schwab
Chorégraphie : Buddy Schwab
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Paul Nicholas (P. T.Barnum), Carol Duffy {Charity Barnum), Richard Gauntlett (Ringmaster), Simon David Trout (Tom Thumb), Clara Miller (Jenny Lind)

Version 8

Barnum (2005-05-Union Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Union Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 10 May 2005
Dernière: 04 June 2005
Mise en scène : Paul Tate • Andrew Lynford
Chorégraphie : Andrew Lynford
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Chris Coughlin (PT Barnum), Sarah-Jane Bourne (Charity Barnum), James Thomas (Ringmaster), Daniel Whiteley (Tom Thumb), Angela Brereton (Jenny Lind), Natasha Cox, Guy Newman, Debbie Chapman. Philip Giorgi, Wendy Morgan, Hannah Lindo, Charlotte Milchard
Commentaires : Attempting to stage this epic circus show in a tiny fringe theatre inevitably led to questions like where are the acrobats, the trapeze artists, the tightrope walkers? The “human” story at the heart of the show was simply too weak to carry the show on its own. The general verdict was: nicely sung, but no more.

Version 9

Barnum (2017-12-Menier Chocolate Factory-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Menier Chocolate Factory (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 2 mois 4 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : 25 November 2017
Première: 05 December 2017
Dernière: 03 March 2018
Mise en scène : Gordon Greenberg
Chorégraphie : Rebecca Howell
Producteur :
Star(s) :
Avec: Marcus Brigstocke, Danny Collins, Eamonn Cox, Tupele Dorgu, Rosie Fletcher, Harry Francis, Ainsley Hall Ricketts, Courtney Hows, Bethany Huckle, Philip Marriott, Dominic Owen, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Celinde Schoenmaker, Lucie-Mae Sumner

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