Totem Pole Playhouse Presents BARNUM, Now thru 8/18

By: BWW News Desk Aug. 06, 2013

P.T. Barnum, arguably American history's most celebrated showman, said in his 1880 book The Art of Money-Getting, or, Golden Rules for Making Money, "Let your motto then always be 'Excelsior,' for by living up to it there is no such word as fail." To say that Barnum did everything the biggest and best he possibly could would be an understatement. From his earliest days in show business to becoming king of the circus big top, everything Barnum did was over-the-top. There's only one way to tell the story of the life and loves of the man behind the greatest show on earth - with jaw-dropping spectacle and unprecedented grandeur - the way the award-winning Broadway musical Barnum, playing today, August 6-18 at Totem Pole Playhouse does.

"Barnum is by far the largest, most complex production that has ever been seen on the Totem Pole stage," said Ray Ficca, the theatre's artistic director who is also performing the role of P.T. Barnum himself. "In fact," Ficca added, "we can't even contain the whole show on the stage; the audience will literally have the chance to experience the atmosphere of a circus as if they were in the center ring." Combining all of the excitement of a musical drama with the spectacle of the circus, Barnum features a cast of over 30 actors and performers including tightrope walkers, jugglers and clowns plus a marching band and an accomplished opera singer.

Weaving from his first foray into showmanship to his partnering with James Bailey to form the famous Barnum and Bailey Circus that lives on to this day, Barnum also delves into P.T. Barnum's other love, his wife Charity and the challenges their relationship overcame when the famous Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind came into the picture. Along the way many of the now-legendary figures from Barnum's history, including world's oldest woman Joice Heth, and the world's smallest man Tom Thumb, are brought to life with over twenty musical numbers.

Written by Michael Bramble with Music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Michael Stewart, the original Broadway production of Barnum ran for over two years, earning three Tony Awards, one Drama Desk Award and one Theatre World Award and numerous additional nominations including a Tony for actress Glenn Close in her role as Charity. Returning to Totem Pole to play the same role is Traci Lyn Thomas. Thomas has been seen nationally in tours of Les Miserables, Civil War, and Mama Mia and has directed Totem Pole's summer theatre camps as well as its production of Cinderella in the past. Totem Pole favorite Wil Love returns for the second time this season in the role of Amos Scudder, Barnum's museum partner. And since any story about the circus would not be complete without elephants, the one and only "Mr. Ed" Gotwalt has joined the cast with a jumbo-sized surprise contribution to the show that is directed by noted Washington D.C. area actor and director J.J. Kaczynski.

"We are more excited about Barnum than words can even express," said executive director Nathan Rotz. "Not only is this show the biggest we've ever put on, it's filled with great musical numbers, it has elements that you don't normally get to see in a stage production, it's historical, it's a love story, it's family friendly and it gives the audience a whole new perspective on the circus in a way that has to be experienced live," he added, "and for a non-profit summer stock theatre that is as intimate as Totem Pole is, Barnum is going to be a spectacular experience."

Barnum runs today, August 6 through 18. Tickets start at $39.50. As always fifty percent student and twenty-five percent group discounts are available and 100% of every ticket goes toward the production of the show. Tuesday through Saturday evening shows begin at 7:30 pm and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 pm. Tickets and information for this and all upcoming shows are available by calling the box office at 888-805-7056 or visiting online at TotemPolePlayhouse.org.

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