George School's musical theater class will perform Barnum--a lively circus musical that won three Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award when it premiered on Broadway in 1980--on Thursday, May 26, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 28, at 8:00 p.m. The performances, which will be held in Walton Center Auditorium at George School, are free and open to the public.

Barnum is based on the life of P.T. Barnum (1810-1891), whose circus, known as "The Greatest Show on Earth," opened in Brooklyn, New York, in 1871 and became the most famous circus in the United States. "There's a really life-affirming energy to the message of this show," said Maureen West, stage and artistic director. The message, she said, is not only "to dream and to dream big," but to have positive energies motivate one's dreams. The central character of P.T. Barnum, who is driven by his love for his wife and family and the desire to entertain people, she said, embodies this message.

Jackie Coren, director of music for the show, added, "His way of looking at life and looking at the world was so colorful." The song "The Colors of My Life," she said, uses the idea of color in a metaphorical way as Barnum and his wife, Chairy, describe their very different personalities in terms of colors. Maureen said that she encouraged the cast to view this song as the emotional core of the show. "It's a relationship between two individuals who are polar opposites but make a love and a life together," she said. George School senior and Levittown, Pennsylvania, resident Faith Brutus, who will play the role of Chairy, agrees. "They're very contrasting people and it's kind of odd that they're together, but they both love each other," she said. Chairy, she said, is "very grounded and schoolteacher-like," while Barnum is "colorful and outgoing."

Among the other student performers are Holicong, Pennsylvania, resident Sean Bye, who will play Barnum, and Lawrence, New Jersey, resident Kristin Catena, who will play Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind. Catie Kelly of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, is stage manager. Sean, Kristin, and Catie are all George School seniors.

With a score by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Michael Stewart, Barnum boasts music that is "upbeat" and "very sprightly," Jackie said. Moreover, in addition to mastering their lines, songs, and dances, Barnum cast members have had to learn magic tricks, tumbling, and juggling. "This is a big, physical show," Maureen said. "It's like a P.E. class up there."

Musical theater became a regular course at George School, rather than an extracurricular activity, three years ago. Students rehearse four to five days a week after school for one term. Maureen and Jackie said that this allows for a strong sense of continuity in the rehearsal process, which can be difficult to achieve for a musical theater production in a high school setting.

As with all musical theater productions at George School, costumes are by Liz Lukac, choreography is by David Abers, and sets are designed by Scott Hoskins and built by his stagecraft classes. For more information about the show, please call 215-579-6568.

All George School students take four year-long courses in the arts. In addition to theater arts, the arts department offers courses in vocal and instrumental music, dance, video production, journalism, painting and drawing, woodworking and furniture design, ceramics, and photography. The arts department encourages students to be creative and enjoy themselves while they practice and appreciate a specific art form. In addition, students learn to be discriminating when they evaluate their own and others' work. 

About George School 
George School, founded in 1893 by members of the Society of Friends (Quakers), teaches that each person shares a responsibility for helping to make the world a better place. The student body is diverse, representing twenty states and thirty foreign countries and a variety of ethnic, racial, religious, academic, and economic backgrounds. Each year more than $4 million in need-based financial aid is provided to eligible students.