Music: Cy Coleman
Lyrics: Michael Stewart
Book: Mark Bramble
Before there was the movie smash THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, there was BARNUM, the Tony® Award-winning the story of P.T. Barnum, who combined razzle-dazzle with brass and charm to sell humbug to cheering crowds. A joyful and moving musical portrait of the nineteenth century’s greatest showman, BARNUM is a colorful, dynamic spectacle with heart and a landmark Cy Coleman score (‘Come Follow The Band,’ The Colors of My Life,’ and ‘Thank God I’m Old’).
BARNUM premiered at Broadway’s St. James Theatre in 1980 starring Jim Dale and Glenn Close and played for 854 performances. It was nominated for 10 Tony® Awards with wins for Mr. Dale as Best Actor plus scenic and costume design. Its 1981 West End premiere starred Michael Crawford. BARNUM was recently revived at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2018.