“Barnum” Comes to Totem Pole Playhouse
Published August 6, 2013
What happens when musical theatre meets the greatest show on eart?
Clowns, jugglers, aerial acrobats take the stage at the Totem Pole Playhouse to tell the story of famed circus maven and entertainer P.T. Barnum August 6 – 18. I know it’s not in Gettysburg proper, but a show like this shouldn’t be missed.
Written by Mark Bramble with lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, the musical is based on the life of the great showman, covering the period from 1835 through 1880 and set in the various cities around the world where Barnum toured his performing companies.
Combining the spectacle of the circus with traditional musical theater, it brings a cast of over 30 (including a live marching band). Ray Ficca is cast in the lead role of P(hineas)
T(aylor) Barnum.
Need a show synopsis?
In the middle of the 19th century, Phineas Taylor (PT) Barnum introduces his circus acts as he stands in front of a tent, proclaiming “There Is a Sucker Born Ev’ry Minute”. He then introduces the oldest woman alive, Joice Heth (“Thank God I’m Old”). His wife Charity (“Chairy”) urges him to get a job in a factory, but Barnum refuses (“The Colors of My Life”). He enlists clowns to help in building a museum to house his circus collection (“One Brick at a Time”). His star attraction, Tom Thumb, appears to advise that “Bigger Isn’t Better”. However, when the famous Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind is hired, Barnum becomes enamoured of her (“Love Makes Such Fools of Us All”). He accompanies Jenny on tour, leaving Charity behind, as a marching band greets them (“Come Follow the Band”). Barnum finally returns home to Charity, and promises to live in “Black and White.” As he presents his circus acts around the world, Barnum resists joining with another circus owner, James Anthony Bailey. Finally, after his beloved wife Charity dies, he relents and joins Bailey, and they form the famous circus Barnum and Bailey.
—– from Wikipedia
There will be two shaws daily — 2:30pm and 7:30pm — and tickets are now available.
