"Barnum's the name. P.T. Barnum. And I want to tell you that tonight you are going to see-bar none-every sight, wonder and miracle that name stands for!"

The show traces the career of P.T. Barnum, America's greatest showman, from 1835 to the year he joined James A. Bailey to form The Greatest Show On Earth. From "outside the tent," Barnum tells us he's here to defend the noble art of "humbug," which he defines as the puffing up he gives the truth; the coat of varnish he puts on the hard facts of life. Whether we agree with him or not, Barnum's sure he'll be able to sell us his bill of goods, because there is a sucker born every minute! WeÕll follow him through humble beginnings as Barnum signs up his first attraction, Joice Heth, the oldest woman in the world. Joice turns out to be less of a draw than he'd hoped until he tries a bit of humbug and pitches her as the nursemaid to George Washington, making her 160 years old!

Barnum's desire to live his life in full color puts him at odds with his good wife, Chairy. She wants him to settle down, run a respectable business (a clock factory for instance) but Barnum explains that clock-making is just not the "right color" for him. So he builds a museum in New York to house growing collection of attractions. When the museum burns down Barnum takes to discovering and exhibiting sensational attractions world-wide, such as the likes of General Tom Thumb, "only 25 inches from toe to crown," and Jumbo, "the World's Largest Pachyderm."

His conflict with Chairy continues even as Barnum lands a respectable attraction at last: Swedish opera singer, Jenny Lind, who brings the Barnums great reward and poses great problems. Giving in to Chairy's wishes, Barnum eventually says "farewell to kelly green and cherry red" to live his life in black and white, running the Bridgeport Clock Factory. Barnum ultimately realizes that being a respectable businessman is not for him, and with Chairy no longer by his side, he recognizes that there is no denying what he is and always will be - the "Prince of Humbug." Enter Mr. James Bailey to suggest that they form a partnership to present "the biggest show in the country," . . . and the rest is history!

Principal singing roles include Barnum, Chairy, The Ringmaster, Joice Heth, Tom Thumb, Jenny Lind, The Blues Singer, and James Bailey. There are several featured speaking roles as well. Ensemble members will play many and multiple roles - as stage hands, circus performers, tumblers, clowns, and a marching band. Barnum features a lovely and lively score by Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart, featuring beautiful ballads, stirring marches and a finale worthy of a three-ring circus! Tumbling, juggling, clowning, trapezes and even a high-wire act make the show both challenging and hugely entertaining. While we can't expect all aspects of the circus to come to life on our stage, many of the cast will be asked to develop certain, specific talents and we hope to have as many surprises in store for you in your training this summer as Barnum had attractions!

I encourage you to pick up the 1980 Original Broadway Cast recording of Barnum, starring Jim Dale and Glenn Close. That production ran for 854 performances on Broadway and earned Tony awards for Jim Dale as Barnum, and for Costume Design and Scenic Design. There is also a wonderful DVD of the award-winning 1986 London production starring the outstanding Michael Crawford, who later gained world-wide fame as the original "Phantom of the Opera." Crawford's Barnum is a performance almost beyond belief as he masters the dramatic, comic, vocal and physical demands of the role with apparent ease. Both the CD and DVD are available at amazon.com. Use these resources as an important part of your preparation - and remember, I expect inspiration, not imitation! As you can imagine, Barnum is a show that demands a great deal of its cast - and its producer, director, musical director, choreographer, costumer and tech director! It will take an extraordinary effort of the entire WSYT team to not just bring Barnum to our stage, but to do it justice. I have no doubt that we are all up to the challenge!

Kyle will produce and direct Barnum, and Deb will of course costume and light all of our actors! Devon debuts as our Musical Director and Dina will be taking charge of teaching the choreography this year.

Here's to a great show -

the Greatest Show in Wilbraham!