John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
ActingFreak1012
Swing Joined: 7/12/05
#1John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:07pm
Overheard at the Actor's Equity Building today that John Doyle's production of Barnum has been canceled. No explanation, but the casting notice that was posted also had a notice on it noting the cancelation.
Don't know if it is a permanent cancellation or just an indefinite postponement.
#2re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:25pmI'm glad. I read he was gonna do the actor/musician thing again.His use of actor's playing instruments was cool once, even twice-but its overkill already.
#2re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:29pm
Hmmmm. He must be reading our minds. Or our threads. 
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#3re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:29pm
Yeah, after COMPANY (which didn't work for me) He needs to direct without the instruments for a while.
Though i think BARNUM would have worked better than COMPANY cause they are circus performers and not everyday New Yorkers marching around a square playing saxophones.
Updated On: 1/12/07 at 03:29 PM
Jazzysuite82
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#4re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:30pmI felt sorry for all of the actors lugging full sized basses, french horns and Tubas in just to be told that a casting associate will conduct an open call that will then be taken over by assistants. It's not Telsey's fault. The theatre called at 1:30 to cancel the production.
#5re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:30pmAwwww, and all those poor actors who just signed up for tuba lessons.....
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#6re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:39pmCancelled because he finally figured out that you can't play an instrument AND juggle at the same time.
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#7re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:42pmor maybe cancelled because someone in a position of responsibility said, "Wait a minute, a revival of BARNUM? What the hell are we doing?" and pulled the plug on the whole idiotic idea.
#8re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:44pmHallelujah! A) Barnum is a 3rd rate musical B) the actor-musician thing is getting very tired already!
#9re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:46pmAnd like Jon said, the actors DO juggle. Some of them even have to walk a tight rope in the Act I finale. Although I guess they could strap on one of those one man band thingies.
#10re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:47pmOr playing an instrument while on the tight rope. That had workman's comp written all over it.
purpleprince101
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#12re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:49pmThe call for this was hilarious. They needed actor/musicians who were also trained circus performers. What a HUGE pool from which to cast!
#13re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:51pm
I just read it. I had a nice guffaw.
Call here
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#14re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:58pmAwwwww, Robbie.... I was so looking forward to seeing you finally get a chance to display those contortionist skills I've heard so much about.
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#15re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:01pm
You can still see it at dudesnude.com.
Uh...
wait.
circusliz
Broadway Star Joined: 11/19/05
#16re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:03pmA sad day indeed for all us singer/actor/musician/circus freaks.
#17re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:04pm
HA!
I agree that this call was ridiculous. With such diverse roles in this show, the small pool of auditioners would make this near impossible to cast ideally.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#18re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:08pmBarnum was one big, boring show. I am glad it's not coming in.
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#19re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:11pmI know. I rented the video with Michael Crawford. God, the whole enterprise felt empty and shallow. This show is clearly a vehicle. And I normally don't like shows that are designed as star vehicles. That's why, for a long time, I wasn't that crazy about Jelly's Last Jam.
Jazzysuite82
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#20re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:13pmThe acting pool may seem small but there where a good number of people waiting for the men's call. All with instruments. although I'm not sure how many have circus tricks. I personally know a couple actually. Now whether the concept worked or not no one will know now.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#21re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:25pm
That's okay. John is about to open a new production called Mahagonny at the LA Opera with Patti LaPone and Audra McDonald.
He DOES do more than just the actor/musician thing....
Mahagonny Info
#23re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:42pm
Are you sure about that TheatreDiva? This quote concerns me regarding Mahagonny:
"Now this "ferociously inventive director and designer" (The New York Times) brings his stripped-down musical-theatre-unplugged style to opera for the first time"
Stripped-Down musical-theatre-unplugged?
Read: Actors with Instruments.
#24re: John Doyle's Barnum CANCELED
Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:49pm
It does sound like he's doing it again with MAHOGANY. Let's hope he's not, for his own sake.
Lord, Lord, Lord.
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