Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Characters
Narrator
(Can be same person as Candy Store Owner)
P.T. Barnum (plain and fancy top hat, coat with tails, white gloves, cane)
Song 5 (Other Side), 6 (Never Enough), 7 (From Now On)
Young Barnum (brown/black/grey clothes, suspenders, dirty)
Song 1 (Million Dreams)
Charity Barnum (dress, hair clips, sophisticated)
Song 6 (Never Enough)
Jenny Lind (fancy/sparkly dress, upper class)
Song 6 (Never Enough)
Phillip Carlyle (suit, or expensive looking)
Song 5 (Other Side)
Charles aka General Tom Thumb (military or farm clothes)
Song 3 (This is Me)
Performers (variety based on abilities of actors - All sing Song 3 (This is Me))
Tattooed Person (temporary tattoos or washable felt)
Contortion / Gymnastic person
Dog Boy / Beast (facial hair or face paint)
Tree (sauna tube in paper to look like birch bark, leaf, branch hat)
Albino / Zombie Dancer (face paint, torn clothes)
Strong Person (suspenders, large muscles under shirt)
Juggler (bright clothes)
Hula Hooper (hula hoop)
Bearded Lady (Solo in song)
Props
❏ Raffle Box and Last Ticket
❏ Top Hats (plain, fancy/shiny)
❏ “Mirror” silhouette with rich Barnum
❏ “Idea” Cardboard Light Bulb for holding above hat/head
❏ Streamer Launcher (yogurt container with balloon bottom)
❏ Red and Golden Buzzers
❏ Fake heavy weights
❏ Backdrop (run down house)
❏ Backdrop (fixed up house)
❏ The World’s Greatest Show banner (nice)
❏ The World’s Greatest Show banner (burned/tattored)
❏ Candy Corner Store/Bar Sign
❏ Candy Backdrop (paint paper jars and stuff and tape to backdrop)
❏ Bank Sign (simple - just to alert audience to location)
❏ Table with 2 chairs (or stools)
❏ Jars of Wine Gums (just print colour picture liner)
❏ Bucket/Large Jar of Sour Keys (can just print colour picture liner)
❏ Jars of Jelly Beans
❏ Jars with Lollipops (cardboard) sticking out
❏ Poster: “Will pay for people with unique abilities.”
❏ Prompt Signs: WOW, Ha Ha Ha, Booo, Cheer, Awww, Applause
❏ Fake Weights
❏ Juggling Balls
❏ Hula Hoop
❏ Streamer/Confetti Launcher
❏ Money Bags
❏ Large Gold Coin
❏ Glow Sticks or Flashing Wands or finger lights
Media
❏ Ba Dum Ching sound
❏ Red Buzzer Sound
❏ Wah Wah Wah sound
❏ Golden Buzzer Sound (disco music?) - optional
❏ Fire Truck (old style) sound
❏ Song Soundtracks
❏ Songs Karaoke Videos? (to play on laptop for singers to see)
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Prologue (5 minutes)
Narrator (or P.T. Barnum), Charity
Narrator wearing a plain top hat enters the audience area. This is mainly improve as an
effort to “sell” a ticket. You may want to plant an audience member with $2 in case
nobody buys a ticket.
NARRATOR: There is one ticket left for the $1000 raffle - only $2 for the last ticket.
Get someone from the audience to buy it and then draw a random paper.
CHARITY: Don’t you know that lotteries are now illegal for people to run and that only
the government is allowed to steal money from people that way. Give that person their
money back.
CHARITY: (Charity makes the Narrator give the $2 back.)
NARRATOR: Well, if people can’t sell false hopes anymore; maybe they can sell false
joy.
Young Barnum (tattered and poor) finds a windblown top hat and puts in on (kind of like
a Frosty the Snowman kind of moment).
PROP PERSON 1: Throws top hat in from the side of the stage.
YOUNG BARNUM: (picking up hat off ground) Thank my lucky stars! This is a sign for
my future.
Young Barnum puts it on his head and looks into a “mirror” (paper with a silhouette
drawing of a rich successful adult Barnum) and stands with back to audience in the
same pose of the mirror.
SONG 1: A Million Dreams (Young Barnum and with Barnum; Charity optional)
Young Barnum turns from mirror towards audience to sing - option change the words
from “we” to “I”?
0:38 They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I've lost my mind
I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy
We can live in a world that we design
P.T. BARNUM Enter stage (from behind mirror? Or just from the side) and sing
together.
Young Barnum leaves as Charity enters and puts a jacket on Barnum and sings.
3:00
However big, however small
Let me be part of it all
Share your dreams with me
You may be right, you may be wrong
But say that you'll bring me along
To the world you see
To the world I close my eyes to see
both singing:
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world we're gonna make
6
Young Barnum walks off at end of song as Charity walks on stage carrying a nice
jacket. She puts the jacket on Barnum while saying her line:
CHARITY: There's still a chance for you …. 'Cause there's a spark in you. You just
have to ignite the light and let it shine.
Barnum and Charity are walking (backdrop of a run down house off to one side of the
stage) and P.T.Barnum finds a large gold coin on the ground.
P.T. BARNUM: (picking up the large gold coin) Thank my lucky stars!
P.T. BARNUM: (rubbing coin between finger and thumb) I PROMISE you Charity, I will
get you FORTUNE and a fancy house!
CHARITY: All that matters is that we are together. The greatest riches come from being
with people you love.
They walk separate ways… Charity goes off stage and Barnum goes to a bank chair.
Barnum is sitting on a chair waiting to see a banker when Charles (person who is very
short (walking on knees?) and his parent walk on past.
PARENT: (complaining loudly with Charles trying to keep up) Banks only want to lend
money to people who have money!
PROP PERSON 1: Hold a large cardboard/paper light bulb above Barnum’s hat to show
that he has an idea as he stares at Charles.
Note: A “sign” person stands to the side and lifts up cheers, boos, awwww signs to
prompt the audience. Each performer quickly enters, does a “trick” and exchange lines
accordingly.
TATTOOED PERSON: I have lots of birthmarks (large wink) that look like tattoos.
P.T. BARNUM: Oooh. I like it. Very shocking.
10
SHORT PERSON (CHARLES): I am short for my age … but my dreams are BIG.
SOUND EFFECT: ♪Badum Ching♪
P.T. BARNUM: You’ve come to the right show.
DOG BOY: Just because I look like a dog doesn’t mean I should be treated RUFF.
SIGN PERSON: sign #2 - Ha Ha Ha
P.T. BARNUM: Everyone loves a good groaner.
ALBINO/ZOMBIE DANCER: (enters with a groove walk “singing badly”) I’ve got the
moves like Jagger ….
P.T. BARNUM: I hope you didn’t eat that Jagger. You’re in.
PROP PERSON 1 and 2: Drag a very “heavy” set of weights on to the stage.
STRONG PERSON: I am strong. Picks up the weights easily.
P.T. BARNUM: How can I say no? You’re in.
Three Roughians appear from the opposite side of the stage as Bearded Lady enters
BEARDED LADY: People tell me that I don’t belong here, that I am out of place.
ROUGHIAN 1: That’s right! You don’t belong here.
ROUGHIAN 2: You’re a Freak!
ROUGHIAN 3: Yeah, freak!
P.T. BARNUM: They are small minded people. Why do you care what they say?
BEARDED LADY: You have never had somebody look at you the way they look at me.
P.T. BARNUM: That is true. Let’s see your talent.
BEARDED LADY:
I am not a stranger to the dark; Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars; Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are; But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us;
For we are glorious
BEARDED LADY:
We are bursting through the barricades and
Reaching for the sun
Oh-oh-oh-oh - everyone
Oh-oh-oh-oh - Audience
Oh-oh-oh-oh - everyone
Oh-oh-oh-oh - Audience
13
BEARDED LADY:
3:00 When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
P.T. BARNUM: (Speaking to the performers.) I PROMISE you, I will get you RESPECT
from the world!
P.T. BARNUM: (Announcing loudly.) Together we will make the World’s Greatest Show
on Earth!
P.T. BARNUM: (Facing the audience.) All we need now are some elephants!
SONG 4: “Elephants Have Wrinkles” (Division 4 - Kindergarten Class enter and set up
on stage while wearing paper elephant hats. They do the body motions and stomp feet
on the percussion parts.)
Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJonGSbUWXE
CHORUS:
Elephants have wrinkles, wrinkles, wrinkles.
Elephants have wrinkles, wrinkles everywhere.
CHORUS
CHORUS
CHORUS
CHORUS
P.T. Barnum enters carrying a fancy/shiny top hat and the Person Dressed as a Tree is
standing sadly … like a tree.
P.T. BARNUM: (Bemoaning to his hat.) Well, hat, I have finally acquired riches. Why
can’t I get the respect and rank of the upper class that I desire?
TREE: (Waddles over to Barnum) I couldn’t help but overhear you talking to your hat.
TREE: I know a guy...
(perhaps slightly in the style of the Marvel movies?? without the swear)
Examples - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugKVeoYmk4k
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4UF1OFAc_g
TREE: (Speaking quickly.) He was born James McGinnes but he soon became an
orphan and started traveling with a circus and made a lot of money and then changed
his name to James Bailey. He is a master at management. ... Now his name is
Phillip Carlyle and he has snuck into high society leaving his circus secretly behind.
….
P.T. BARNUM: (Stare blankly with mouth open at Tree.) ...
TREE: You should talk with him.
TREE: You can probably find him at the Candy Store Bar.
Tree walks off stage and Phillip Carlyle enters and sits on a stool at the candy store
“bar” (wearing a dress shirt and nice top hat). P.T. Barnum walks up to Phillip Carlyle.
SONG 5: “Other Side” (P.T. Barnum, Phillip, singing together, Candy Store bartender)
Change “Oh Damn.” to “Oh Yeah.” and “Whiskey” to “Wine Gums” - start music at 2:00
P.T. BARNUM: Going up to Philip (who is sitting at the bar with a jar of wine gums) I
can cut you free and get you out of the drudgery of your life.
P.T. BARNUM: You can trade your typical life for something colorful …Don't you wanna
get away from the same old part you gotta play? I can take you to the other side.
PHILIP: You want to cut me in… Well I hate to tell you, but it just won't happen; 'Cause
I quite enjoy the life you say I'm trapped in. I admire you, and that -whole show you do-
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You're onto something. But, I live among the swells, and we don't pick up peanut
shells!
P.T. BARNUM: Now is this really how you like to spend your days? “Wine Gums” and
misery, and parties, and plays?
PHILIP: If I were mixed up with you, I'd be the talk of the town. Disgraced and disowned
- another one of the clowns.
2:29
PHILIP: Well it's intriguing, but to go would cost me greatly. So, what percentage of the
show would I be taking?
P.T. BARNUM: Fair enough, you'd want a piece of all the action. I'd give you seven,
we could shake and make it happen?
PHILIP: Fifteen.
P.T. BARNUM: I'd do eight
PHILIP: Twelve.
P.T. BARNUM: Maybe nine
PHILLIP: (saying to P.T. Barnum) You have the ability to draw an audience and their
money, and with me as your partner, I can introduce you to High Society.
P.T. BARNUM: (Loudly, as they walk off together) We need more respectable
performances.
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PHILLIP: (introducing Barnum to Jenny Lind) May I introduce you to “The Swedish
Nightingale.”
JENNY LIND: I am famous in Europe and I give most of my money to charity. Why
should I perform for you?
P.T. BARNUM: People come to my shows for the pleasure of being hoodwinked; for
once I’d like to give them something real.
P.T. BARNUM: I promise that you will be even MORE FAMOUS ... WORLD FAMOUS.
Barnum walks over to other side of stage to meet Charity walking on and they go for a
stroll arm in arm. (Phillip and Jenny step off stage.) Barnum is trying to convince
Charity that new act he is checking out is good for everyone and that the unique
performers will be fine without him there.
CHARITY: You have a beautiful home, a beautiful family, and yet you still want more.
CHARITY: Why do you need to tour the country?
SONG 6: “Never Enough” (Div 2, Charity, Barnum, and Jenny Lind, Together)
Charity and Barnum together on one side of the stage and Division 2 as backup singers
to sing the whole song other than the last “For Me”).
JENNY LIND and P.T. BARNUM: Walking in from other side of stage and joins in.
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but
It'll Never be enough
Never be enough
For me
JENNY LIND:
Never enough
Never enough
Never enough,
For me
For me,
For me!
2:37
JENNY LIND: Never, never P.T .BARNUM: (Never Enough)
JENNY LIND:
Never, for me
For me
Never enough
NARRATOR: Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you learn what really
matters.... Jenny Lind realizes that Barnum was using her to get fame for himself and
quits. Fire destroys the theater and makes the circus performers homeless and Barnum
loses his fortune and his respect all in one night. Barnum goes back to the candy store
and orders a bucket of sour keys.
P.T. BARNUM: (Looking depressingly up at Parent) But… Putting folks of all kinds on
stage. All colors, shapes, sizes. Presenting them as equals. It should be ‘a celebration
of humanity'.
PARENT: Well, I hope you'll rebuild. (Walks off stage as Performers enter in a line.)
P.T. BARNUM: Folks if you have come to get paid, the money's gone. All of it.
P.T. BARNUM: Nothing left to give…
JUGGLER: And now you are giving up on us too. Maybe you are fraud. Maybe it was
just empty promises and making a buck. But you gave us a real family. And the circus…
P.T. BARNUM: I apologize to everyone for making everything about me. I wanted
money, respect, and fame and tried to get it by profiting off of others: Off of you.
(optional) SIGN PERSON: sign #5 - Awwww
P.T. BARNUM: I see now that we can all work together and that it will be fine regardless
of the trials; as long as we have love.
PHILLIP: (Holding up and shaking two big money bags) Oh, and thank goodness for the
profits I saved from the shows. We'll be fine.
Div 2: Enter on to the stage as Performers and Philip exit the stage.
3:01 (1:48) And let this promise in me start; Like an anthem in my heart
From now on, From now on Optional Barnum From now on
22
DIVISION 2: repeat 3x
3:22 (2:08) And we will come back home
And we will come back home
Home, again!
3:45 Barnum From now on
DIVISION 2:
And we will come back home
And we will come back home
Home, again!
DIVISION 2: repeat 3x
3:56 (2:42) And we will come back home (rhythm sounds?)
And we will come back home
Home, again!
DIVISION 2:
And we will come back home; And we will come back home
Home again!
(Crouched ….)
And we will come back home; And we will come back home
Home again!
(Standing up ….)
And we will come back home; And we will come back home
Home again!
MUSIC PERSON: STOP music at 5:23
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Finale (5 minutes)
Tree, Everyone
Tree enters from the side and comes to stage center to announce line and then exits
off.
TREE: Everything you ever need is the people RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
P.T. Barnum: Standing at back of stage facing mirror and back to audience. Div 2 still in
two lines at front of stage from finishing From Now On song (blocking Barnum).
SONG 8: “The Greatest Show” (Choreograph the first minute and then form two groups
- one on each side of stage - like gates that open for actors to come through and bow.)
P.T. Barnum: After choreograph lines open up to reveal Barnum: Barnum turns and
faces audience entering through the opening made by the choreography.
P.T. Barnum: Stepping forward and a slight bend with arm extended to the side and
then wraps around to back of stage.
0:55 Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for (woah)
1:02 Bows and Applause ...until 1:44 - music just playing in background - NOT karaoke)
ROUGHIANS 1 and 2
ROUGHIAN 3 and HULA HOOPER
CANDY STORE OWNER and PHILIP
PARENT and CHARLES
TATTOOED PERSON and CONTORTIONIST
DOG BOY and ALBINO ZOMBIE DANCER
STRONG PERSON and JUGGLER
TREE and PROP PEOPLE
BEARDED LADY and CHARITY
JENNY LIND
YOUNG BARNUM and P.T. BARNUM
SIGN PERSON (carrying sign #6 Applause)
Point to Sound and Lights
Been searching in the dark, your sweat soaking through the floor (woah)
And buried in your bones there's an ache that you can't ignore
Taking your breath, stealing your mind; And all that was real is left behind
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Stop at 3:37