News Archive; February 22,
2001
“Barnum”
Opens Next Thursday Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages, come prepared to have a good time at the showing of Barnum. ICC Theatre Department will present “Barnum” next Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Inge Theatre on campus. The story is about the life of the creator of the “GREATEST SHOW IN THE WORLD,” P. T. Barnum, and the people he made famous. Those stars include Joice Heth, the oldest woman in the world, General Tom Thumb, a midget partner in production with Barnum, and Jenny Lind, a European opera singer who became famous in America as the “Swedish Nightingale.” Ringmaster Rich Browning says the play will be a lot of fun for the audience as well as the performers. The William Inge Theatre will become Barnum’s Big Top. Some of the performers, including eight to ten “specialty dancers” from area elementary schools along with a number of clowns, will perform in the crowd during the show and in the lobby before the start of the play. Practice for the play has been challenging. Most all of the performers were unfamiliar with the story of Barnum, and had never heard the songs, says Browning, a community member and ICC alumni. He says the songs are fast-paced and have been difficult to learn. Dan Frizane, ICC musical instructor and director of the orchestra, says practices with the performers have gone smoothly and he expects the play to “fire-up” the crowd. P.T. Barnum will be played by Keegan Reid, Independence. Also starring in major roles are Marian Grieve, Neodesha, as Charity Barnum; Brianna Winesberry, Cherryvale, as Joice Heth; John Cinningham, Altamont, as General Tom Thumb; Terri Barbera, Independence, as the Blues Singer, and Tabor Porter, Independence, as Jenny Lind. Other cast members include Reuben Jones, Kansas City; David Fink, Independence; Cheryl Settles, Independence; Eric Cole, Independence; Kosumi Fujita, Japan, and AJ. Abdurasulov, Kyrgystan. Women’s Chorus members include Elise Fink, Tricia Friesan, Kosumi Fujita, Sarah Boyer, Leslie Coder, Ivory Porter, Cheryl Settles, Kimberly Smith, Jessica Thompson, Sally Tucker, and Megan Williams. Men’s Chorus members include Eric Cole, Ramon Cunningham, Jeremiah Dewey, David Fink, Reuben Jones, Wyatt Harper, and John Cunningham. Specialty Dancers include Reanna Browing, Sarah Coder, Eric Cole, Allison Emmott, Emily Jabben, Jerad Gorman, Maggie Gorman, Maggie Schabel, and Kelsey Stelting. Tickets can be bought at the Box Office in the theater before the play.National Trio Day Friday, Students Invited to Share Copyright 2002 / Independence Community College |