Welcome to the Whatsonstage.com Theatre Club

Cameron Mackintosh finds lead for Chichester Barnum?

Date: 11 January 2013

Cameron Mackintosh has reportedly cast American actor Christopher Fitzgerald to play the title role in his forthcoming revival of Barnum, which premieres at Chichester later this year ahead of a likely West End transfer.

"It needs an actor who can sing, dance, juggle, be a clown and an acrobat - and this man can do all of that," Mackintosh told the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye.

Fitzgerald's Broadway credits include Young Frankenstein, Finian's Rainbow and Wicked.

Barnum is reportedly being staged in a temporary 1400-seat theatre tent while Chichester's main venue undergoes a £22million development.

The role was originated on Broadway by Jim Dale, while Michael Crawford starred in the 1981 West End premiere at the London Palladium. The musical, which centres on 19th century American showman PT Barnum, has music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart and a book by Mark Bramble.

Got some goss? Contact gossip@whatsonstage.com

Related Content

External Links
	Daily Mail article
	The Stage article

Reader Comments

Comment	Date
Oh no! Not that dreary show again! What a disappointment after such a great run of musicals at Chichester. What a pity it is not "Finian's Rainbow" instead. - Hendrik	16 Jan 13

Why do we have to have an American actor taking the title role of Phineas Taylor Barnum? I have seen it in both London and suburban theatres. Starring, Michael Crawford, Paul Nicholas, Andrew O'Connor. As the English actor Jim Dale originated the musical in America, there must be a good actor in our own country who could play the part fantastically!! - Wendy Salter Williams	16 Jan 13

Write a Comment
Give us your opinion on this entry
Comment:
Name:	Required, will appear on website
Email:	Required, will not appear on website
Confirm:	Please type in
	Please enter this number > SEVENTY-EIGHT < Just the two digits only, without any spaces.

Buy Tickets

Click here to visit the Whatsonstage.com Ticket Central

The best availability & the best prices for London theatre.

Free Newsletter

Subscribe to our free newsletter

Featured Video

Twitter

Follow @whatsonstage

Featured Editor's Picks

	Infographic: The economic impact of Arts & Culture in the UK When Culture Secretary Maria Miller called for the arts to make their "economic case" for subsidy, t...

	Plays Cast: Harry Potter star in Southwark Moment, more for Branagh's Macbeth Bonnie Wright, best known for playing Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films, will make her stage d...

	Brief Encounter with ... The Kite Runner's Ben Turner Ben Turner stars in the stage version of the bestselling book The Kite Runner, which runs at Liverpo...

	Titus Andronicus (RSC) This latest production of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, to borrow from football punditry, is a p...

	Take Five: Britain's outdoor theatres With half-term approaching, the weather (hopefully) set to improve for the bank holiday weekend and ...

	West End Live returns to Trafalgar Square next month West End Live, a weekend of free entertainment from top London shows, will return to Trafalgar Squar...

	Robert Sean Leonard: 'I carry the ghost of Gregory Peck on my shoulders' Actor Robert Sean Leonard is currently playing Atticus Finch in Timothy Sheader's production of To K...

	To Kill A Mockingbird Twenty years ago, a young Robert Sean Leonard appeared on the London stage with Alan Alda in...

	X Factor musical titled I Can't Sing!, opens Palladium March 2014 The forthcoming X Factor musical will be called I Can't Sing! The Musical and will premiere at the L...

	Donmar stages Nick Payne premiere, Wesker's Roots & Tom Hiddleston in Coriolanus The Donmar Warehouse has announced its new season, which features the premiere of Nick Payne's new p...