About the work
Barnum is a musical by Cy Coleman (music) and Michael Stewart (lyrics) with a book by Mark Bramble, premiered on Broadway in 1980. It depicts the life of the legendary American showman P. T. Barnum as a spectacular circus performance.
Plot
The musical follows the life of the great prince of humbug, Phineas Taylor Barnum, who shaped nineteenth-century American show business with bold hoaxes, cabinets of curiosities, and breathtaking attractions. Between his irrepressible drive for greatness and spectacle and the down-to-earth good sense of his wife Chairy, the story of his career unfolds—from the museum of wonders through the marketing of the Swedish singer Jenny Lind to the founding of the greatest circus on earth.
Cultural significance
Barnum is famous for its fusion of musical and genuine circus artistry: the performers juggle, walk the tightrope, and execute acrobatic feats. The title role demands an exceptionally versatile performer. With numbers such as The Colors of My Life and Come Follow the Band, the work celebrates American ingenuity and the seductive power of spectacle.