Barnum: In Concert

Showtunes! Theatre Company, the Puget Sound arts organization devoted exclusively to mounting book-in-hand, concert stagings of lost, forgotten, and lesser known musicals, brings its 2006-2007 season to a close with the Tony award winning musical Barnum.

This vibrant show features a book by Mark Bramble, music by Cy Coleman, and lyrics by Michael Stewart. Claudia Zahn directs, with music direction by Mark Rabe and circus, aerial and musical staging by Bobby Hedglin-Taylor.

Barnum details P.T. Barnum’s colorful and quirky professional life as an impresario, which climaxed with his teaming with James Bailey to create “the Greatest Show on Earth,” the Barnum and Bailey circus. Behind the scenes, Barnum juggled a long marriage to his understanding wife Charity. But what is a musical without some romantic conflict? “Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind is portrayed as the “other woman” in Barnum’s life, though this was largely book writer Bramble’s use of dramatic license.

As an added attraction, Showtunes! is excited to be partnering with Seattle’s School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts. SANCA students will be demonstrating their skills and providing a lively circus atmosphere for the production.