Barnum: Full Cast Announced

The full cast has been announced for Barnum, which returns to Australia in an all-new production directed by Tyran Parke at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre for a strictly limited time from April 27 2019. 

As previously announced starring in this new Australian production as America’s legendary circus impresario and unparalleled showman, P.T. Barnum will be Todd McKenney. Rachael Beck will play the devoted wife of P.T. Barnum, Charity whilst Suzie Mathers will return home to Australia as the Swedish Nightingale Jenny Lind and playing Joice Heth, is Akina Edmonds. 

Starring alongside them will also be Kirby Burgess as the Ringmaster and Joshua Reckless as Tom Thumb. Joining them are the ensemble cast including Embla Bishop, Robbie Curtis, Sarah Gray, Matthew Hamilton, Stephen McDowell, Vanessa McGregor and William Meagher.

Based on the life of P.T. Barnum, Barnum is a colourful, dynamic spectacle with heart, where audiences shall witness the wonders of the world including Jumbo, the largest elephant, Joice Heth the oldest woman to ever live, a great white whale from Labrador, General Tom Thumb only twenty-five inches from toe to crown, and the rarest and most beautiful bird in captivity the Swedish soprano, Jenny Lind. 

Barnum is full of great music, circus, magic and comedy; not to mention Barnum’s tight-rope scene.  In collaboration with the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), the brand new Australian production is produced by StoreyBoard Entertainment bringing together some of the creative team from its critically acclaimed production Follies, In Concert.

Barnum debuted on Broadway in 1980 where it played for almost 900 performances. A West End production premiered in 1981 at the London Palladium before a successful UK tour in 1985-1986. The first Australian production premiered in Sydney in 1982 starring Reg Livermore. 

With a book by Mark Bramble (42nd Street), lyrics by Michael Stewart (Hello Dolly!), and music by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity). Barnum covers the period from 1835 through 1880 in America and major cities of the world where Barnum took his performing companies. 

This reimagined Australian production of Barnum will be directed by Tyran Parke, with the all Australian creative team also including Choreographer and Musical Staging Kelly Aykers, Musical Director Stephen Gray, Circus Direction Zebastian Hunter, Set and Costume Design Dann Barber, Lighting Design Rachel Burke, Sound Design Michael Waters and Associate and Resident Director Caroline Kaspar.

barnumthemusical.com.au

MELBOURNE

Comedy Theatre

From April 27, 2019

ticketmaster.com.au or Ph: 1300 11 10 11

Images: Todd McKenney and Rachel Beck (photographer Jeff Busby) and Kirby Burgess (photographer Ben Symons).

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