Home Culture Theater DSU’s theater department presents ‘Barnum’

DSU’s theater department presents ‘Barnum’

November 1, 2015

DSU theater Barnum — All photos courtesy of DSU

Starting in November, Dixie State University will bring the Washington County community “Barnum,” the outstanding musical about the founders of “The Greatest Show on Earth,” referring to the classic Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus extravaganza that swept the nation with amazing feats of acrobatics and freakish entertainment like no other.

“Barnum” plays in the Dolores Dore Eccles Fine Arts Center Mainstage theater on the DSU campus Nov. 5 to 7 and Nov. 10 to 14. “Barnum” uses the book by Mark Bramble, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and music by Cy Coleman through special arrangements with Tams-Whitmark, Inc.

In “Barnum,” Phineas Barnum attempts to create a circus in which the main attractions are freaks of society. Eventually, to appease his wife, he gives up the show. After she dies, Barnum returns to the business, forming a partnership with James Bailey, to bring us “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

The cast comprises students and community members who are currently working with professional aerial trainers across the country on lyra, silk, and trapeze skills for the production. The spectacle alone is not to be missed. Couple that with the raw acting talent of the theater department students as they learn to commit to bold and challenging choices, develop rich characters, and work together as an ensemble to bring their audience their “Greatest Show on Earth” and you have this years winner for the community.

DSU’s theater department presents “Barnum” as the debut performance of the production’s director, Dr. Kathryn Syssoyeva, the DSU theater department’s newest assistant professor of theater performance studies and dramaturgy.

The production is rated PG. For tickets, call (435) 652-7800 or order online at dsutix.com. Join DSU theatre publicity on Facebook. Tickets are $10. All productions begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.

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