Barney's BIG Surprise! is a stage show that was originally directed and choreographed by Penny Wilson, written by Stephen White with songs in the show written by various individuals. It was the first national stage show tour based on Barney. The show made its world premiere on September 10, 1996 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.[1]
The show's original run ran from 1996 until 1998. Originally meant to tour in sixty cities, the tour performed in over eighty cities during its original run. Barney's BIG Surprise! sold nearly two million tickets during the original run.[2] Along with performances in the US and Canada, the show also toured in Mexico and the United Kingdom in its initial run in 1998. Subsequent productions of the show were performed in Asia from 2004 to 2005 and Latin America from 2005 to 2007. A portion of the proceeds from the tour benefited the Starbright Foundation, which aids seriously ill children.[3][4]
On May 19, 1998, Barney's BIG Surprise! was released on VHS, having the show filmed at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from December 13-14[5], 1997.
The show opens with a Barney plush doll sitting on a stool in the spotlight. The announcer announces that this show is made possible by the audience's imagination. As smoke fills the stage, the "Barney Theme Song" builds and erupts, in which Barney arrives. When he arrives, he greets the audience as he skips. After the song ends, Barney notices that he has so many friends in the audience, that he can’t see everyone’s smiles, leading him into the song, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, so he knows that everyone is happy.
Barney and the children welcoming the audience to the treehouse.
BJ sings "Happy Birthday to Me".
After the song, Barney says that it would make him happy if he introduced the audience to some other friends of his. He then takes the audience to the treehouse where they’re introduced to Kevin, Cindy, Tony, and Rachel respectively. After introductions, the children show the audience what things they were doing in the treehouse before they arrived, queuing the song “Welcome to Our Treehouse”. After the song, Baby Bop skips onto the stage but proceeds to hide behind Barney due to her being shy in front of the audience. Barney proceeds to tell her that the people in the audience are friends, making her more comfortable in front of them. Soon, Baby Bop wonders if the audience his here for the big surprise, in which Barney tells them that they don’t know about it. Excited that the audience doesn’t know what the surprise is, she proceeds to hop up and down wanting to tell them, leading into “The Baby Bop Hop” joined by two bunnies. After the song, Barney tells Baby Bop that it’s okay to tell the audience what the surprise is. She proceeds to tell the audience that they’re having a birthday party that everyone is invited to. Soon, BJ comes out on stage with a big drum, giving everyone a clue that it’s his birthday. With each bang on a drum, BJ tells the audience that he’s turning seven. BJ, Barney and the children then proceed to sing “Happy Birthday to Me”.
After the song, Barney and the children tell BJ to stand away from them so they can discuss plans for BJ’s birthday party. As they discuss, BJ tells the audience that he wants a red scooter for his birthday. After Barney and the children finish discussing, BJ wonders if it’s time for his party to start. He discovers that it’s not, as they still have a show to do. Upon realizing this, BJ decides that it would be fun for the audience to pretend to be flying in an airplane, leading into “The Airplane Song”. After pretending to fly, it becomes windy. Due to the wind, Barney gets the idea for everyone to fly kites, leading into the song “My Kite” as everyone flies kites on stage. After the song ends, everyone goes to put their kites away.
Barney, BJ and Baby Bop in The Barney Mobile, on their way to Professor Tinkerputt's toy factory.
Barney then gets a call on the treehouse telephone from Professor Tinkerputt who has a surprise for BJ. Barney then goes to get The Barney Mobile to pay him a visit, bringing along BJ and Baby Bop for the ride. The children decide to stay and decorate the treehouse for BJ’s birthday party. As the dinosaurs drive along, they sing the “Driving Medley”. As the song ends, they arrive at Professor Tinkerputt’s toy factory. When they arrive, Professor Tinkerputt comes out on stage to greet them. Professor Tinkerputt proceeds to ask if anyone else came with the dinosaurs, in which Barney lets him know that the audience is behind him. Surprised by the audience, he greets them, and then asks if they like “Mr. Knickerbocker” and would like to sing it. Coming from parking The Barney Mobile, Barney, BJ and Baby Bop come back on stage to sing along. After the song, Professor Tinkerputt shows the audience his toy factory, leading into the song “Tinkerputt’s Song”.
Robots dancing during "We Are Little Robots".
Barney and his friends are in Professor Tinkerputt's toy factory. This scene appears on the back cover of the original VHS release.
After the song, Professor Tinkerputt shows everyone around his toy factory, leading into his newest invention which is dancing robots. As Barney and Professor Tinkerputt turn them on, they sing “We Are Little Robots”. After the song, they gang gets into the topic of BJ’s birthday party, in which Professor Tinkerputt tells Barney that he’ll need his car to drive BJ’s surprise back to the treehouse due to its size. Barney agrees to lend Professor Tinkerputt his car, which makes Baby Bop wonder how they’ll get back to the treehouse. Professor Tinkerputt explains that they’ll fly back with balloons. He tells them that thanks to his balloon machine, they can chose any color balloon they like, leading into the song “The Rainbow Song”. After the song, BJ wonders where the balloons are. Professor Tinkerputt tells them that they’ll be out in a couple of minutes, leading into intermission.
Act 2[]
After intermission, Barney, BJ and Baby Bop come out on stage in a hot air balloon singing “Hey, Look at Me! I Can Fly!”. After the song, Baby Bop squeezes a duck call, in which four ducks come out on stage. The dinosaurs proceed to sing “Four Little Ducks” as the ducks dance on stage. After the song, they land the hot air balloon on the ground.
When they land, the curtains open to see that the children have decorated the treehouse for BJ’s birthday. Everyone proceeds to sing a reprise of “Happy Birthday to Me”. Everyone then wonders if they can proceed to eat some party treats. Seeing that not all the guests are here, Barney suggests that they imagine eating treats instead, leading into the song “If All the Raindrops”. After the song, BJ wonders if they can play some party games. Barney goes backstage and comes back out dressed as a farmer. Everyone goes backstage to get ready for the next game, in which then BJ comes out with a banjo, Kevin comes out in a corn costume, and everyone sings “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”. During the song, all the children come out in corn costumes, along with Baby Bop, holding up signs of various farm animals. After the song, Barney suggests to everyone that they need to put away their toys. Everyone proceeds to exit in a line, with Baby Bop being the last one.
Due to her being the last in line, Baby Bop proceeds to question as to why she’s in the back and seeing it as unfair. She then asks the audience if she should be the last in line. The audience proceeds to tell her that someone else is behind her. She gets frightened and the thing behind her runs away. Everyone comes back out on stage trying to chase whatever was behind Baby Bop. Baby Bop notices that it went in the treehouse. When they open the door, they are greeted by Mother Goose. Mother Goose informs everyone that it was Clarence they were chasing as he was on the loose. Barney then suggests that Mother Goose introduce herself to the audience as they might not know her. She then sings “I’m Mother Goose”. After the song, they proceed to have more fun with Mother Goose’s rhymes, leading into “Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme Medley” and Old King Cole arriving to the party to sing his self-titled song.
Everyone sings "I Love You".
After the songs, Professor Tinkerputt arrives with his surprise. BJ assumes that he brought a red scooter for him. BJ discovers that the reason Professor Tinkerputt didn’t get him a red scooter is because that’s what Barney and the others got him. Professor Tinkerputt proceeds to bring the big surprise in which it’s a giant cake. After the cake grows, everyone sings “Happy Birthday” to BJ. After the song, everyone helps BJ blow out the candles, including the audience, given the massive size of the cake. After the candles are blown out, confetti shoots out and the gang proceeds to sing “I Love You”. Everyone waves goodbye after the song and Barney blows a kiss to the audience, drawing the show to a close.
The 1996-1997 cast and crew of Barney's Big Surprise.
The original cast of Barney's Big Surprise performed from September 10, 1996 to May 4, 1997. This is also the cast that appeared in the show program adaptation.
Dancers (Camille Pritchett, David Larson, Tracy Reese)
*While credited, David Franks and Elizabeth Fry were understudies. Fry would serve as an understudy for "Cindy" or "Rachel" in any event the lead actresses weren't available. Franks was the understudy for Barney's voice in any event the audio for the show would stop working.
The 1997-1998 cast of Barney's Big Surprise.
The 1997-1998 cast of Barney's Big Surprise during the Mexican run.
The following cast of Barney's Big Surprise performed from September 19, 1997 to June 7, 1998. This was also the cast that performed on the home video release.
Dancers (Camille Pritchett, Heather Brown, Jay Benson)
Additional Player (Seth "Humpty" Goldstein)
*When the tour performed in Mexico in 1998, Courtney Cook Chavera returned to reprise her role of "Cindy" since Mallory Lineberger wasn't able to extend to the Mexican tour for unknown reason.[6] The performances in Mexico were also dubbed in Spanish, meaning that the voices of Barney, Baby Bop and BJ were done by José Carlos Moreno, Elsa Covián and Love Santini respectively. The voice of Professor Tinkerputt was done by Blas García as well, while Barry Pearl would still be on stage. Prior to the Mexican performances, the Spanish version of the show would premiere on February 19, 1998 in Miami, Florida.[7]
The following cast of Barney's Big Surprise performed from in the United Kingdom in 1998.
Dancers (Camille Pritchett, Heather Brown, Jay Benson)
Child performers (Nicola Bland, Jenny Cachero, Stacie Damps, Yasmin Hickson, Richard Bleach, Kye Laurence Hughes, Thomas Redman and Joseph Williams)
*It's unknown as to which child actors portrayed which specific characters as their title was only referred to as child performers in print for the cast personnel. Chaperones for the cast included James Harrington and Lorna Harrington.
Barney, BJ, and Baby Bop pose on the set of Barney's Big Surprise.
After Barney Live! In New York City, Coleman went to Dick Leach, who helped launch Barney, to suggest making the Barney live events bigger. Coleman requested one million dollars and the best Rock ‘n’ roll tour manager he can find, which became the basis for Barney's Big Surprise.[8]Dick Leach, the chairman of Lyrick Studios (the company that owned Barney at the time), and his daughter, Sheryl Leach, the creator of Barney, at first envisioned a show that would play in theaters, much like the performance at Radio City Music Hall in 1994, however, Barney's Big Surprise was too big to play in theaters.[9]
After doing the music for the attraction A Day in the Park with Barney, Joseph Phillips was approached by Sloan Coleman to do the music for the tour of Barney's Big Surprise. Phillips (and his crew) mixed and edited the show while it was being rehearsed at the same time.
David Voss, who was the original Barney costume actor, served as the Dance Captain and Cast Manager for the tour. Following the original run in the US, Pablo Glattli and Esteban Grossy choreographed and directed the show for the South American run while Kym Halpin directed the Asian run of the tour. Penny Wilson, the original director and choreographer of the tour, directed for the Mexican run in 2006, alongside David Voss.
Casting[]
Sloan Coleman auditioned 100 professional child actors from the Dallas area between the ages of ten to twelve who look seven to eight years old to be in the children's cast.[10] Initially, Erica Rhodes was asked to be apart of Barney's Big Surprise but was eventually swapped to be a series regular on Barney & Friends portraying Kim.[11]
Barney's BIG Surprise (retitled Barney's BIG Surprise! Live on Stage for re-releases) was an album that featured songs from the stage show of the same name. The album was originally sold on November 6, 1996 during the tour. A retail version of the album was released on May 6, 1997 (the same day as Barney's Musical Scrapbook).
La Gran Sorpresa de Barney is a soundtrack that was based on Barney's Big Surprise, but in Spanish. It was released in 1998 when the show toured in Mexico, and was later released in Colombia in 2000 and in 2005 when the show toured in Argentina.
Adaptation[]
Cover of the book adaptation for Barney's Big Surprise.
Originally, this video was supposed to released on VHS in June 1998, but the release was set back to May 19, 1998. It was the third Barney live show to be released on home video following Barney in Concert and Barney Live! In New York City. Barney's BIG Surprise was later re-released on VHS in 2000.
With a minor suggestion for earplugs due to the show's volume, Los Angeles Times critic Lynne Heffley found Barney's Big Surprise similar to a Barney & Friends episode, with the result being "lively, expertly staged and a lavish visual treat" noting that alongside the television show, the stage show provides a "feel-good formula".[12] In the Chicago Tribune, Eric Fidler commented that the show primarily aims at the five-and-under group, citing that "Judging Barney through the eyes of an adult is pointless....kids were in heaven".[13]
Gallery[]
Performances[]
United States & Canada[]
The stage curtains before the show.
The Barney doll sitting on a stool during the beginning of the show.
Barney comes to life on stage
Barney greets the audience.
Barney sings "If you're Happy and you Know it"
Barney and the kids jumping for joy.
Barney and his friends at the treehouse
Baby Bop greets the audience.
Barney, Baby Bop and the kids dance to "The Baby Bop Hop"
BJ begins to count how old he is turning.
Baby Bop yelling at BJ "It's too Loud!!!".
BJ sings "Happy Birthday to Me"
Barney and the kids singing "Happy Birthday to Me" in the earlier run of the show in 1996. Note the slight differences in set design.
Barney and the kids singing "My Kite".
Barney pulls up in the Barney Mobile.
Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ sing along to the "Driving Medley".
Professor Tinkerputt stands in front of the Barney Mobile.
Professor Tinkerputt greets the audience.
Barney, Baby Bop, BJ and Professor Tinkerputt at the Toy Factory.
BJ and the robots.
Barney, Baby Bop, BJ & Professor Tinkerputt singing "The Rainbow Song".
Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ in the hot air balloon
Barney, Baby Bop & BJ are flying in the hot air balloon and sing "Hey Look at Me, I Can Fly"
The dinos take a ride in a hot air balloon.
Happy Birthday to Me (Reprise)
(Left to right) Cindy, Baby Bop, BJ, and Barney
Barney playing the fiddle in "Old MacDonald Had a Farm".
Mother Goose gives BJ a birthday present.
Mother Goose and Clarence The Goose.
Everyone singing "Humpty Dumpty".
Professor Tinkerputt, Mother Goose, and Tony.
Everyone singing "Nursery Rhymes Medley".
BJ, Professor Tinkerputt, and Barney.
BJ's birthday cake.
Everyone sings "Happy Birthday to You" for BJ.
Barney, BJ, Rachel, Baby Bop, Mother Goose and Tony.
BJ and his friends celebrating his birthday as confetti rains down.
Everyone singing "I Love You".
Everyone hugging each other.
(Left to right) BJ, Barney, Baby Bop, Mother Goose, Tony, and Clarence on stage during "I Love You".
Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ singing "I Love You".
Barney blows a kiss goodbye
The confetti paper hearts rain down as the show ends.
United Kingdom[]
A photo taken from the UK tour.
Mexico (1998)[]
Barney standing in front of the treehouse on stage, taken from a performance in Monterrey, Mexico.
Asia[]
Barney greeting the audience
Barney standing in front of the treehouse.
Barney and Baby Bop.
BJ arrives with his big drum.
Barney singing "My Kite".
Barney and Baby Bop flying kites.
Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ in the Barney Mobile.
Professor Tinkerputt greeting BJ and Baby Bop.
Barney and Professor Tinkerputt.
Everyone singing "Tinkerputt's Song".
Barney and Professor Tinkerputt in the factory.
Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ flying in a hot air balloon.
(Left to right) Baby Bop, Mother Goose, and Barney.
Baby Bop plays the fiddle.
Humpty Dumpty
Little Miss Muffet.
Latin America[]
Mexico (2006)[]
Barney, Baby Bop, BJ, and Professor Tinkerputt singing "We are Little Robots".
BJ receives his red scooter.
A photo of the cast from the 2006 Mexican production.
Behind the scenes[]
The stage show truck used to transport elements of the show around
Starting with this live show onward (excluding the filmed performance of Barney's Colorful World!), a child with his/her voice being heard off-screen would usually say their introductory lines before Barney comes to life through the curtains as he greets the audience.
This is the first live show to be performed and filmed in an arena.
Although BJ receives a red scooter for his birthday in this video, he was previously seen riding it in Barney's 1-2-3-4 Seasons. It's possible that this stage show took place before that video due to it being a continuity error.
Everyone sings Happy Birthday to BJ in E major, but when the candles are blown out, everyone sings the last two lines of the song in F major.
A group photo of the original cast and crew of Barney's Big Surprise
In the original 1998 VHS release, there is no FBI Warning Screen, only the Interpol Warning screen at the start. This was fixed in the 2000 VHS rerelease.
Characters[]
This live show / video marked:
The only appearances of Kevin, Cindy, Tony, and Rachel. This is also the first Barney live show to feature kids that never appeared in the television series.
The audio track on the screener version of the video was a work in progress, as the final audio wasn't completed yet at the time. The same version also has no text in the credits and it also has different audio.
Occurrences[]
This live show / video marked:
The first live show to feature a Barney doll at the beginning. It is also the first live show to feature The Treehouse. The next one to do the latter would be Barney at Alton Towers.
"Mr. Knickerbocker" was part of the "Driving Medley" in when the show toured in Fall 1996 and Spring 1997. It then became solo for the Fall 1997 and Spring 1998 shows. It is unknown if this was a permanent change for the international tours.
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