Totem Pole often boasts that its seasons have "something for everything." In the third musical of the summer, The Playhouse hopes that they have a show about one thing everyone loves – the circus! Musical theater runs off and joins the circus with Barnum, a magical musical about the improbable life of P.T. Barnum. Clowns, jugglers, tightrope walkers and even a world renowned opera singer weave through the love story of Barnum and his wife Charity. The original New York production ran for over 850 performances and won three Tonys - one for Jim Dale as Barnum - and the very first Tony nomination for a young Glenn Close. And with legendary Broadway creators Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, City of Angels, Will Rogers Follies) and Michael Stewart (Carnival!, Hello, Dolly, 42nd Street), a spectacle like this figure to be the greatest show on earth!
Even though you may have never heard her name, legendary Brill Building songwriter Ellie Greenwich helped shape the sound of a generation, penning such doo-wop classics as 'Be My Baby,' 'Chapel of Love,' Leader of the Pack,' 'Da Doo Ron Ron' and 'River Deep, Mountain High.' The Tony nominated musical, Leader of the Pack highlights this songwriter's work, which was an important element in the 1960s' "Wall of Sound" and were recorded by artists like Darlene Love, The Ronettes and Tina Turner. This musical re-telling of her life and music was one of the very first of the 'jukebox musicals,' and given the familiarity and energy of her songs, it's no surprise that it's still one of the most performed to this day.