Past Productions - Barnum

Music by Cy Coleman, Lyrics by Michael Stewart, Book by Mark Bramble.

Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th October 2003 at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage.
at 7:45pm, and 2:30 Saturday Matinee

We are proud to present this Circus Spectacular show as we move into our second Century of performing.

Synopsis - THE STORY OF BARNUM

Phineas Taylor Barnum was destined to become the richest and most famous impresario of his age. He is perhaps the most famous showman of all time although entertainment was not in Barnum's blood.

Barnum was born on 5 July 1810 in Bethel, Connecticut and, whilst his family were everyday New England people, he was born a landowner. His grandfather had made over to him the deeds of a small piece of land to celebrate the birth. At the age of six, Barnum went to survey his property only to discover that it was a useless piece of swampland. This was one of the many lessons his grandfather had given to the youngster, to instruct him in the realities of life - lessons that stayed with him throughout his life.

By the age of fifteen Barnum had already earned sufficient money from selling sweets to support himself, and, three years later, he set up in business running his own store. A year later he married Charity Hackett; within another year the first of their three daughters was born and Barnum looked like settling into an ordinary routine - but this was not to be.

Barnum set up his own weekly newspaper and the Herald of Freedom was soon the main radical voice of the region. In 1834, now aged twenty four and with a decade of work experience behind him, Barnum moved to New York.

In July 1835 a Connecticut friend, Coley Bartram, told Barnum of the interest he had once owned in an old black woman, Joice Heth, who claimed to be 161 years old and the former nurse of George Washington. Her present owner was keen to sell his rights and Barnum jumped at the opportunity. Joice Heth was a fantastic success, reaping huge financial rewards for Barnum.

On 1 January 1842 Barnum took control of the American Museum with freaks and oddities from the animal and human world. Charles Stratton was only four years old but was thrown into stardom. He was fifteen pounds in weight and a mere twenty five inches tall. Renamed Tom Thumb, Barnum gave him lessons in acting then toured all over the States and was a success. He earned another fortune by taking 'The Swedish Nightingale', Jenny Lind, to the States.

By 1881 he was working with James Bailey and they were selling out as Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth...

Musical Numbers

The action takes place all over the United States of America from 1830 through to 1880

ACT 1

Interval of 20 minutes

ACT 2

Cast List

LADIES' ENSEMBLE

LUCY MILLER-WHITE, KATY BONJA, JEAN AUSTIN, ANNA HALLETT, SARAH MORLEY, PAT STAFF, NATASHA STAFF, VIV TADMAN, ZOE STUBBS, CAROLYN ROBERTS, MICHELLE GRIFFIN, MARGARET KENDLE

MEN'S ENSEMBLE

RON BURTON, TREVOR COULTART, MATTHEW GREENBANK, JACK LARDENT, STEVE MONAGHAN, NICK MORGAN, MARK SAVAGE, JOHN MADDOX, TOM DODD, CLIFF GULBIS

DANCERS/SHOWGIRLS

HOLLY ANN BOHME, RACHEL BOND, CAROLINE BONJA, MARIE KNIGHT, SARAH PEPPER, MICHELLE RUTHERFORD, SAMI-JO LATTER, RACHEL LATTER

The Company:  Click to see larger photos.

Jonathan Underwood, Tracey Gwynne, Harriet Alban and Howard Salinger	Charlotte Roberts and Mirander Bartlett	Paul Adams, Arthur Warne, Mike Butler	Howard Salinger
Tanzin Choudhury and Kier Home	Harriet Alban	Jonathan Underwood	Tracey Gwynne

Rehearsal Photos: Click to see larger photos.

Rehearsal Videos

Read Reviews of Barnum:

Comet - 02 October 2003 | Comet - 09 October 2003

Photographs from the show: Click to see larger photos.
 

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