BARNUM SCRIPT

Barnum: ....Barnum’s the name, P.T. Barnum, and I want to tell you that tonight, on this stage, you are going to see - bar none - every sight, wonder, and miracle that name stands for! (Continuing excitedly as company starts quietly out right and left) Including Jumbo, the Largest Elephant in the World; the Amazing Great White Whale from Labrador; General Tom Thumb, only twenty-five inches from toe to crown; Joice Heth, the Oldest Woman Alive; the Rarest and Most Beautiful Bird in Captivity, the Swedish Nightingale; plus a Company of Hundreds - no Thousands - including Marching Bands, Standing Bands, Tumbling Bands, Flying Bands, Bands of Every Size, Shape and Description... and here they are! ....Oh, I know what you’re thinking, you don’t see any Nightingales or Flying Bands or Twenty-Five Inch Men - but like I told you Barnum’s my name and miracles are my game - and they’re all up there, mark my word!

NICEST KIDS IN TOWN

From ‘Hairspray’

Oh, every afternoon When the clock strikes four
(Bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba)
A crazy bunch of kids Crash through that door, yeah
(Bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba)

Oh, they throw off their coats And leave the squares behind
And then they shake it, shake it, shake it Like they're losing their mind
You'll never see them frown 'Cause they're the nicest kids in town

Oh, every afternoon You turn your T.V. on, huh
(Na, na, na, na, na, na-na-na-na)
And we know you turn the sound up When your parents are gone, yeah
(Na, na, na, na, na, na-na-na-na)

And then you twist and shout For your favourite star
And when you've practiced every step That's in your repertoire
You better come on down And meet the nicest kids in town, woo!

Nice white kids Who like to lead the way
And once a month We have our "Negro Day!"
And I'm the man who keeps it spinnin' round Mr. Corny Collins With the latest, greatest Baltimore sound!

So every afternoon Drop everything, woo!
(Bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba)
Who needs to read and write When you can dance and sing?
(Bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba)

Forget about your Algebra And Calculus
You can always do your homework On the morning bus
Can't tell a verb from a noun They're the nicest kids in town

R-r-r-roll Call!
I'm Amber! Brad! Tammy! Fender! Brenda! Sketch! Shelley! I.Q! Lou Ann! Joey!
Mikey, Vicki, Becky, Bix, Jessie, Darla, Paulie!
Noreen!
Doreen!
And I'm... Link!

So, if every night you're shaking As you lie in bed
(Pony-pony, ooh, pony-pony) Shake it baby!
And the bass and drums Are pounding in your head
(Pony-pony, ooh, pony-pony)

Who cares about sleep When you can snooze in school?
They'll never get to college But they'll sure look cool
Don't need a cap or a gown When you're the nicest kids in town

They're the nicest, nicest
They're the nicest, nicest
Well, they're the sugar and spice-est
Nicest kids in...
Kids in town, woo!

WHEN YOU BELIEVE

 From ‘The Prince of Egypt’

Many nights we've prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song we barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains long before we knew we could
There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail it's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe

In this time of fear when prayer so often proved in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
With heart so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words I never thought I'd say

There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail it's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe


There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail it's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
Now you will
You will when you believe

You will when you believe

THE LIFE I NEVER LED

I've never talked back, I've never slept late, I've never sat down
when told to stand straight
I've never let go and gone with the flow, and don't even know, really, why.
I've never asked questions, or taken a dare.
I've never worn clothes that might make people stare.
I've never rebelled, or stood up and yelled, or even just held my head high.
And all of the feelings unspoken, all of the truths unsaid, they're all I have left
of the life I never led.
I've never gone surfing, or ran with a crowd. Or danced on a table,
or laughed much too loud.
I've never quite dared to leave myself bared - I've just been too scared I might fall,
I've never seen Paris, swum naked, been kissed.
I've never quite realised just how much I've missed
And what did I get for hedging each bet? Another regret, and that's all.
And all of the wishes unasked for, All of needs unfed -
They're all that remain of the life I never led.
And now... now that you've given me one little taste of it -
And now... now that I know what I know -
Well how... how can I go on ignoring the waste of it?
After all of the years that I've clung to my fears. Won't you help me let go?
Help me let go!
I want to be brave, I want to be strong. I want to believe I'm where I belong.
To stand up and say "I'm seizing the day" To not just obey, but to choose.
And I may not surf, I may not see France. but I want to knowI still have the chance.
And maybe I'll make a painful mistake. It's mine though, to take or refuse.
And all of the doors yet to open, all of the rooms ahead - They're beaconing bright,
scary and new - But I'm standing tall, and I'm walking through.
What's gone may be gone, but I won't go on playing dead!
It's time to start living the life I never led.

YOU CAN’T STOP THE BEAT

You cant stop an avalanche As it races down the hill
You can try to stop the seasons, girl But ya know you never will
And you can try to stop my dancin' feet But i just cannot stand still
'Cause the world keeps spinning 'Round and 'round
And my heart's keeping time To the speed of sound
I was lost til i heard the drums Then i found my way
'Cause you can't stop the beat

Ever since this old world began A woman found out if she shook it
She could shake up a man And so i'm gonna shake and shimmy it
The best that i can today 'Cause you cant stop The motion of the ocean
Or the sun in the sky You can wonder if you wanna
But i never ask why And if you try to hold me down
I'm gonna spit in your eye and say That you cant stop the beat!

You can't stop a river As it rushes to the sea
You can try and stop the hands of time But ya know it just can't be
And if they try to stop us, seaweed, I'll call the n - double-a - c - p!
'Cause the world keeps spinning 'Round and 'round.
And my heart's keeping time To the speed of sound
I was lost till i heard the drums Then i found my way
'Cause you can't stop the beat

Ever since we first saw the light A man and woman liked to shake it On a saturday night
And so i'm gonna shake and shimmy it With all my might today
'Cause you cant stop The motion of the ocean Or the rain from above
They can try to stop the paradise We're dreaming of
But they cannot stop the rhythm Of two hearts in love to stay
'Cause you cant stop the beat!

You cant stop my happiness 'Cause i like the way i am
And you just can't stop my knife and fork When i see a christmas ham
So if you don't like the way i look Well, i |ust don't give a damn!
'Cause the world keeps spinning 'Round and 'round
And my heart's keeping time To the speed of sound
I was lost til i heard the drums Then i found my way 'Cause you cant stop the beat

Ever since this old world began A woman found out if she shook it She could shake up a man
And so i'm gonna shake and shimmy it The best that i can today
'Cause you cant stop The motion of the ocean Or the sun in the sky
You can wonder if you wanna But i never ask why
And if you try to hold me down I'm gonna spit in your eye and say

That you cant stop the beat!