Camille Gavin: Circus comes to Stars Theatre with 'Barnum'
| Tuesday, Mar 10 2009 05:38 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 25 2009 06:16 PM
Stars Theatre Restaurant opens its new season Friday evening with “Barnum,” a lively musical about the famous circus showman P.T. Barnum.
Veteran director Jon Johannsen said this is the first time the show has been staged in Bakersfield. The musical traces Barnum’s career from 1835 to 1890 when he teamed up with James Bailey.
“I’ve wanted to do ‘Barnum’ ever since I saw it in (Southern California) a couple of years ago. It has such energy, right from the moment the show starts,” said Johannsen, 64, a retired high school teacher who last taught at Ridgeview. “At my point in life, I don’t want to do anything I don’t have a passion for.”
In Johannsen’s opinion, the character of Barnum is the key to the show’s success. “Phineas T. Barnum carries the entire show,” he explained, “If Jason McClain hadn’t moved back to town, I would never have done it. Jason is the only actor I know of who can do it.”
McClain, who now is affiliated with Morgan Stanley, moved away from Bakersfield for several years but has since returned. He has been a standout in a number of shows here, most notably as Che Guevara in Bakersfield Music Theatre’s “Evita.”
Johannsen said “Barnum” is the most challenging show he’s ever had to mount, partly because “it needs to have splash and trash — all the glitz and glamour” but mainly because putting a replica of a circus on a stage as small as Stars isn’t easy.
“And then,” he added, “you’ve got to have all the things Barnum was famous for — Tom Thumb, who’s only 25 inches high; Jennie Lind, the famous Swedish opera singer; and Jumbo, the pachyderm, although we won’t have any live animals.”
Others in the cast are Helen Prine, Paige Kanady, Gary Johnson, Leslie Lane and Kenneth Whitchal. Cindy Hicks is the music director and the band includes multi-talented Jim Page at the piano.
Johannsen said he thinks the lineup for the new season is one of the best he’s ever seen. In addition to “Barnum,” he’s slated to direct two other shows: ”Into the Woods,” and “Sound of Music.”
STEINMAN RETURNS
Singer-songwriter Kevin Steinman, who’ll perform at Fishlips Thursday evening, has done plenty of traveling since his last appearance at the 18th Street restaurant about four months ago.
In an e-mail the former West High student Steinman said “I've just wrapped up a month of heavy touring, in Norway, London, Seattle, New York, Minneapolis, Duluth and Eau Claire, Wisc. I, will be heading out to (California) via car with shows in Kansas and Colorado on the way.”
‘Barnum’
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Stars Theatre Restaurant, 1931 Chester Ave.
ADMISSION: $50 to $54, dinner and show; $25, show only
INFORMATION: 325-6100
Folk-rock singer Kevin Steinman
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Fishlips, 1517 18th St.
ADMISSION: Free
INFORMATION: 324-2557
Dukes Concert Series
WHAT: Classical guitarist Tim Callobre
WHEN: 4 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: First Congregational Church, 5 Real Road
ADMISSION: Free
INFORMATION: 327-1609
Stars Theatre Season
“Barnum,” March 13 to April 4
“Steel Magnolias,” April 24 to May 16
“Honky Tonk Angels,” June 5 to 20
“Into the Woods,” July 17 to Aug. 8
“Anniversary Gala,” Sept. 4 to 26
“Arsenic and Old Lace,” Oct. 9 to 24
“On Golden Pond,” Nov. 12 to 22
“Christmas Show,” Dec. 4 to 23
“Sound of Music,” Jan. 15 to Feb. 6
Season tickets range from $252 to $390. Price depends on location of seating and the number of shows you choose to attend.
For details, call 325-6100.
