“The Prince of Humbug gives you a musical tour of his life!”
Barnum the musical traces Phineas Taylor Barnum's career from 1835 to 1881 when he joined James A. Bailey to form the circus which was called The Greatest Show on Earth. Barnum is a defender of "the noble art of humbug" with a philosophy, and has a free wheeling ambition to make a fortune. He buys the oldest woman in the world, named Joyce Heath, as a sideshow attraction. Barnum builds a museum of curiosities supported by his wife Charity, who would like him to settle down.
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Cast
21 people
Michael Crawford
Phineas Taylor Barnum
Known for
Hello, Dolly!
Condorman
Eileen Battye
Charity 'Chairy' Barnum
Also in
WPC 56
Michael Heath
The Ringmaster
Known for
Oliver Twist
Christina Collier
Jenny Lind
Also in
Mr. Love
Sharon Benson
Joice Heth
Paul Miller
Tom Thumb
Peter Barbour
Ensemble
No other roles listed
Sue Barbour
Ensemble
Also in
The Old Curiosity Shop
Michael Cantwell
Ensemble
Also in
Microphysics
Perry Davey
Ensemble
Also in
Victor/Victoria
Dempsey and Makepeace
James Francis Johnston
Ensemble
No other roles listed
Graham Fawcett
Ensemble
No other roles listed
Terry Hughes Director · John Sillitto Editor Theoni V. Aldredge Costume designer
First release December 26, 1986 · Produced in United Kingdom · Production BBC Entertainment
Production
BBC
Production
BBC Entertainment
Production
United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United Kingdom · December 26, 1986
TV
No release date listed for United States.
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Some details come from TheTVDB.