COME FOLLOW THE BAND AND JOIN THE CIRCUS!
Music by Cy Coleman Book by Mark Bramble Lyrics by Michael Stewart
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15-16, 2013 AT 7:30pm AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012 AT 2:00pm (Snow Dates: February 22-24, 2013)
AUDITION DATES: OCTOBER 29, 30 AND NOVEMBER 1, 2012 "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. We’re going to be looking for all sorts of talents when we transform MNMS into the Greatest Show on Earth! Actors, Singers, Dancers, Tumblers, Jugglers, Acrobats and Gymnasts as well as an AMAZING crew are all needed!
CAST INFORMATION
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 - female alto James A Bailey - Small circus owner 2 Ringmasters - Circus performers 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 "crowd" in general, the Bridgeport Pageant Choir and bands of every size, shape and description! SYNOPSIS
To start we. are outside the tent and Barnum 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 COLORS 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 colors 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 COLORS OF MY LIFE.
After Charity's passing, Barnum realizes 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 tent pole 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.
Musical Numbers
1. There's A Sucker Born Every Minute - Barnum 2. Thank God I'm Old - Joice Heth 3. The Colors of My Life - Chairy and Barnum 4. One Brick At A Time - Chairy and chorus 5. Museum Song - Barnum 6. I Like Your Style - Chairy & Barnum 7. Bigger Isn't Better - Tom Thumb 8. Love Makes Such Fools of Us All - Jenny Lind 9. Out There - Barnum 10. Come Follow the Band - Barnum, Ringmaster and chorus 11. Black and White - Chairy, Barnum, Blues Singer and chorus 12. The Prince of Humbug - Barnum 13. Join the Circus - Barnum, Bailey and chorus
THERE IS A GREAT DVD OF THE SHOW AVAILABLE STARRING MICHAEL CRAWFORD. THIS SHOW IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF HARD WORK AND A BIG COMMITMENT, BUT WE KNOW YOU GUYS CAN HANDLE IT! WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SUCH A BLAST!