Barnum is an American musical with a book by
Mark Bramble, lyrics by
Michael Stewart, and music by
Cy Coleman. It is based on the life of showman
P. T. Barnum, covering the period from 1835 through 1880 in America and major cities of the world where Barnum took his performing companies. The production combines elements of traditional musical theater with the spectacle of the
circus. The characters include
jugglers,
trapeze artists and
clowns, as well as such real-life personalities as
Jenny Lind and
General Tom Thumb.