Coming soon on November 7th through November 16th at Lincoln’s Black Box Theater is a spectacle of epic proportions. Come one, come all, to experience for yourself the sharp musical numbers, the intricate choreography, and the dangerous circus feats seemingly impossible to the average human. Welcome to the world of Lincoln Performing Arts’ production of “Barnum”.

“Barnum” chronicles the life and escapades of P.T. Barnum and his wife Chairy. The “humbugging” Barnum aspires to be an entertainer, but is continuously tested in his aspirations, while in the process of gathering a collection of unique acts and sideshows from around the world.

A show so huge requires an equally huge amount of work.  Ever since the first weeks of school, the actors, directors, musicians, designers, and crew have poured their energy into the production. Barnum has not been so effortless to produce as it might appear to an audience member seeing it for the first time on opening night. Here is a look into the hard work behind the on-stage magic:

Learning the Circus Tricks

Barnum is a musical based on one man’s dream to build a circus, so it is, of course, slated to include a healthy amount of ring and silk acrobatics, tight rope walking, unicycling, and, everyone’s favorite, the elusive sport of juggling. In preparation for showcasing these feats to an audience, students have transformed themselves into jugglers, aerialists, tight-rope walkers, unicycle riders and masters of stilts. In the early months of the play, cast members attended circus skills workshops led by professionals in the field, introducing them to the basics of what it takes to be a member of a circus. Since then, they have practiced tirelessly, developing their skills to the point where they will be able to pull them off without a hitch on opening night. These intricate routines require the utmost precision; if one tiny aspect is not correct, or not executed quickly enough, the whole scene can suffer.

Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Originally from 4:00 to 6:00 on weekdays, the cast gathered each day to learn their lines, stage directions, songs, and dances. Different cast members were called in each day to rehearse, so the directors could focus specifically on certain scenes or numbers with a smaller group of actors. The teachers involved in directing the production include Mr. Manthe, Ms. Katemopoulos, and Mr. McKenzie, along with other collaborators, Rebecca Bullard (choreography), Sarah Novotny (aerial arts), and Anthony Sutton (technical direction), who brought their expertise to the show. The cast began each rehearsal with a series of physical exercises such as stretching, followed by vocal warmups. As time progressed, and the shows approached, the full cast worked longer hours and ran through Act 1, Act 2, and eventually the whole show each rehearsal day. On Monday, October 28th, the full live band, or “the pit,” entered the Black Box theater for a Sitzprobe, a rehearsal designed for the band to become oriented to the show, and learn which cues to play on. Ever since, the cast and band have been rehearsing together as one unit. The week beginning November 4th, the full cast, band, and crew will be in the theater as late as 10pm, enduring last-minute preparations for opening night on Thursday, November 7th.

Building the Set

The Technical Theater class had a hand in building platforms, painting set pieces and floor, decorating walls with fabric, hanging lights according to the master lighting plot, and creating props, among other tasks under the direction of Mr. Manthe and two outside theater technicians who both graduated from Lincoln. The crew not only worked during their 4th period class time, but also gathered on Saturday, October 26th for a full workday. They are currently racing to finish every prop and set piece, from a giant chair to a giant elephant. Audience members can expect the set to be full of bright colors and lights.

After all, it is a circus.

Tickets can be purchased now at: http://www.lincolnperformingarts.com/LPA/Box_Office.html