Barnum Revival fast tracked?

[bdn223]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 10:13am

Does anyone think a Barnum revival will be fast tracked now that Ringling Brothers is taking down the tent after 146 years? 

[hes16]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 11:25am

I really hope so!!

 

I wonder who should play the title role though?

Updated On: 1/15/17 at 11:25 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 11:43am

If anything wouldn't this suggest public interest is low?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 11:46am

No, I don't think one thing will effect the other. 

(I wouldnt mind a revival, though.  & Hugh Jackman, since you asked.)

 

And I had the same thought, if people aren't  the GOING to the circus, why would they go see a musical about it?

Updated On: 1/15/17 at 11:46 AM

[The Josh]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 11:59am

Neil Patrick Harris please!!!

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 11:59am

The Josh said: "Neil Patrick Harris please!!!

 

"

Wow. yes. 

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 12:09pm

I think NPH would be a good choice too as long as he didn't mug the part. In the original cast, Jim Dale was so charming and he did it effortlessly. He was perfection in the role. Michael Crawford, on the other hand, brought his bloated hamminess to the part which just made it vulgar in comparison.

[littlemouse921]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 12:20pm

Maybe it could be fast tracked to coincide with the release of High Jackman's The Greatest Showman movie at the end of the year

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 12:25pm

What if they did to PT Barnum, what they did with the leading Player? I would love to see a female Barnum. 

[hes16]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 12:32pm

Matthew Morrison?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 12:45pm

Christian Borle? 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 12:59pm

Having only seen the revival of Pippin, and only seeing trailers of the recent London Barnum - are the two properties very similar or does it just seem this way because of these two stagings?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 1:08pm

Was the Chichester production starring Christopher Fitzgerald ever planning to transfer?

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 1:17pm

I vote Joseph Gordon-Levitt for Barnum. He'd be great and he can already juggle and has high wire training from his movie The Walk. He did a bit of the wire work in that movie himself.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 3:14pm

Cats, that would probably be an awful idea. Actors who have no stage experience are smart to start off with an ensemble show. Acting on the stage is very different than acting in movies or TV and a lot of screen actors can't make that transition, let alone do it in a role that has to carry the show.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 3:39pm

Yes, it's different....but that doesnt mean many GOOD actors couldn't do it.  

[Pernigraniline]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 4:06pm

The Chichester production, in a big tent whilst the theatre at Chichester was been rebuilt, was created by Cameron for world-domination. It got poor reviews and flopped, and never made it to the West End.
A second production, also by Mackintosh, went on tour around the UK with Brian Conley (TV comedian) and Linzi Hateley (Carrie....) - and did alright.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 5:38pm

Not that it matters, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt does have some stage experience having appeared in an Off-Broadway play in 2001. He also has a Tony Award nomination, albeit as a producer and not an actor. I still think he'd be a great choice for Barnum.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 7:07pm

Joshua Henry. If only to see him potentially shirtless/in tight pants.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 7:10pm

Wait, when does PT Barnum  ever go shirtless? Did I forget that when Jim Dale did it in 1980?

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 11:19pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Not that it matters, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt does have some stage experience having appeared in an Off-Broadway play in 2001. He also has a Tony Award nomination, albeit as a producer and not an actor. I still think he'd be a great choice for Barnum.

 

"

He also grew up performing a sitcom in front of a live, studio audience. Not precisely the same technique, but a lot closer than anything Daniel Radcliffe had done.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/15/17 at 11:39pm

Cynthia Erivo. 

[bdn223]

Posted: 1/16/17 at 2:01pm

Considering Barnum is about the Life of PT Barnum and actual person.....and is considered one of the Great Male Roles up there with  Tevye, Sweeney, and Don Quiote/Miguel Cervantes I don't think they would go the route of Pippin with Leading Player. As well as the fact that there is an actual love story in Barnum that Barnum takes part in unlike Leading Player.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/16/17 at 3:11pm

I hope any planned revival would use the updated "Barnum's Lament" that replaced "The Prince of Humbug" in the last U.K. tour. I didn't see it but I really like the piano demo recording of it. It's a far more elaborate eleven o'clock number for Barnum more along the lines of "Rose's Turn." Though I do wonder who wrote it. Most of the music is pulled from the existing score. I'm curious to know if Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart wrote it before they died or what? Where they ever working on revisions?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/16/17 at 3:37pm

bdn223 said: "Considering Barnum is about the Life of PT Barnum and actual person.....and is considered one of the Great Male Roles up there with  Tevye, Sweeney, and Don Quiote/Miguel Cervantes I don't think they would go the route of Pippin with Leading Player. As well as the fact that there is an actual love story in Barnum that Barnum takes part in unlike Leading Player.

 

Yeah, uh, I wasn't being serious.