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Barney Live! in New York City (also known as Barney Live! at Radio City prior to the video release) is a stage show that was directed by Bruce Deck, performance directed and choreographed by Penny Wilson, written by Stephen White with songs by Philip Parker alongside traditional tunes. The show was exclusively performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, making it's premiere on March 5, 1994 and running until March 13, 1994. On opening night, the show became the second fastest sell-out in Radio City history, coming behind Bette Midler's[1] show at Radio City Music Hall that performed a year prior. One performance sold out in twenty-one minutes.[2] In total, twelve shows were sold out[3] in less than two hours.[4] For the performance on March 8, the show was in benefit to five charities, which included the National Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, Camp WIN, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therap Foundation, LIFEbeat and NARAS Foundation.[5] In addition, thousands of children from charitable organizations in the New York area attended the benefit concert for free, courtesy of The Lyons Group. The show marked being Barney's second major stage show after Barney in Concert in 1991 and the first major stage production based on Barney & Friends. Barney...Live at Radio City! was later released on video on August 3, 1994, which became the first Barney video in the Classic Collection series. For the home video release, it was re-titled to Barney Live! In New York City.

Plot[]

Act 1[]

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Barney in front of the audience at Radio City Music Hall

The show opens with the announcer announcing Barney on stage, but as the curtain opens, Barney is nowhere to be seen. Then, a kid explains over the loudspeaker that the only way to make Barney appear is to use your imagination. The announcer tells the audience to imagine, and announces Barney again. Barney's theme song then starts playing as a white smoke cloud appears on stage. Then, Barney arrives, much to the audience's delight. Then, after greeting the audience, Barney sings "The More We Get Together" before thanking the audience for coming to play. He then introduces Kathy, Julie, Derek, Carlos, Kelly, Tosha, Min, and Shawn, before they all encourage the audience to get up and dance to "Mr. Knickerbocker".

Barney and Baby Bop listen to what the kids are making

Barney and Baby Bop listen to what the kids are making in the clubhouse.

Then, Barney decides to head with the kids to the backyard to go and play. The curtain opens to reveal a playground with a slide, a sandbox, a swingset, and a clubhouse. Then, Barney and the kids play "Ring Around the Rosie", before they hear the sound of a tricycle bell. It turns out to be Baby Bop riding her tricycle she got from Barney and his friends. She admits that there are a lot of friends in the audience (and that there are much more than 10). Then, Baby Bop takes out her blankey before the kids surprise her. After that, Baby Bop sings "My Yellow Blankey" before the kids get an idea to make something for the audience: a special surprise! They all work together to make their special surprise for the audience using items from "The Barney Bag". But before they are able to share it, a new visitor, The Winkster, sneaks away with the bag! After the Winkster introduces himself through song, Barney, Baby Bop, and the kids catch him with the bag, and then give chase. Barney and his friends are going to need lots of help to catch the Winkster. So Barney asks the audience if they can help them. Fortunately, the audience agrees to help. Then, Barney tells the audience to point and shout "There he is!" whenever they see the Winkster. Just then, the Winkster shows up and the gang starts chasing him. But the Winkster is too fast, and they can't catch him.

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Everyone plays baseball on stage at Radio City Music Hall.

The Winkster then says "Time for me to go bye-bye! But I'll be back!" and speeds away, the kids remark him as silly. Then Barney and his friends sing "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" before Baby Bop comes in and says "Toot, toot!" Just then, they all hear someone whistling a tune. BJ zooms in on his scooter to join the party, and sings his very own song. Then they all decide to play baseball while singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", but just then, it starts to rain, ending the game. The kids want the rain to go away, but Barney seems to be enjoying it as he dances around. He then cheers the kids up with "If All the Raindrops", and then they all join in. The rain then stops, and then they sing "The Green Grass Grows All Around" and meet a cute little bird. Then they hear a marching band coming before seeing BJ and Baby Bop leading the band. Then the kids grab some instruments and perform "I Am a Fine Musician". Then everyone marches around as Barney tells the audience that it's time to take a break, and to stay tuned. Then they all march to the circus.

Act 2[]

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Barney sings "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" on the stage of Radio City Music Hall.

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Barney sings and dances to "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy" on stage at Radio City Music Hall.

After the intermission, Barney appears dressed as a ringmaster, welcoming the audience to "Barney's Imagination Circus". Then the kids arrive dressed as fun-loving clowns singing "Boom Boom, Ain't it Great to be Crazy?" before Barney then asks them if they got to the circus in Kelly's clown car. Derek then reveals that they actually got here on the "Clown Bus". It turns out that he was right! BJ and Baby Bop arrive on the bus and sing "The Wheels on the Bus" before Baby Bop decides to do an act on her own. She sings "Three Little Monkeys" with the help of Doctor Shawn. Then, Barney and the kids meet a real live elephant, and sing "Do Your Ears Hang Low". Just then, some clowns bring a dumbbell and drop in on Baby Bop's blankey! "Derek the Incredible" comes to help get the blankey back, but can't seem to be able to lift the dumbbell, much to Baby Bop's dismay. She then lifts the dumbbell herself and throws it high into the sky. The audience cheers for Baby Bop, and then Barney announces that it's time for a flight in an airplane. BJ comes in as an airplane pilot, and he joins Barney and the kids in singing "Flying in an Airplane". After that, Kathy sings "Me and My Teddy", and dances with some dancing bears. Then, Barney sings "Four Little Ducks" with the kids dressed as ducks. Then, BJ arrives as "BJ the 'Human' Cannonball". He then explains his act, before pushing the button on his remote control, causing the act to go horribly wrong, as the Winkster flies out of the cannon, ending the circus with another chase.

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Kathy and the bears sing "Me and My Teddy" on the stage of Radio City Music Hall.

The kids chase the Winkster across the stage, but Barney thinks he can catch him. He soon ends up making a wrong turn as he ends up all the way across from the Winkster, who laughs and makes fun. The Winkster then heads on stage to boast to the audience that it's impossible to catch him. Barney and the kids then sneak up on him and almost catch him, but the Winkster speeds through the curtain. The kids think that it's hopeless, and that they'll never catch the Winkster. But Barney thinks that they'll get an idea if they're all happy. He then cheers the kids up by singing "My Aunt Came Back". Then they head back to the backyard to play London Bridge with BJ and Baby Bop. Then they realize that it's getting dark. They then all get together to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" before Baby Bop makes a wish on a star. They then hear the Winkster doing the same.

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Barney and friends sing "Please & Thank You" on the stage of Radio City Music Hall.

The Winkster then confesses that he took the bag in order to make friends. Barney and the gang forgive him for his misdeeds and remind him that he just needs to ask to be friends. They then sing "Please and Thank You" and the Winkster gives the Barney Bag back, much to everyone's delight. Barney then unveils the surprise to the audience: a glittered stuffed heart. The Winkster says that the stuffed heart is rather small and will need to be bigger to share with everyone. Barney knows the Winkster has a point and puts the heart back inside the bag. He then asks everyone to use their imaginations to help make the heart bigger. Suddenly, a giant version of the stuffed heart lowers down to the stage for everyone to see! After the unveiling of the bigger heart, Barney, BJ, Baby Bop, Winkster, and the kids wrap up the show by thanking the audience for their help, and singing "Everyone is Special" before taking a bow with the whole cast. Barney then appears from the curtain, forgetting one last thing: a kiss goodbye. He then blows a big kiss to the audience, before saying goodbye, and heading back to join his friends, bringing the show to an end.

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The cast and crew of Barney Live! In New York City.

Cast[]

Backstage with Cast At Barney Live In NYC

Bruce Deck and the cast members backstage.

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Director, Bruce Deck (far left) and choreographer Penny Wilson (front center) with the cast who played the marching band.

Dancers[]

  • Barbara Angeline
  • Joe Bowerman
  • Tina Bush
  • Garland Days
  • David DeCooman
  • Vivien Eng
  • Raymond Harris
  • Steven Petriollo
  • Carolyn Ockert
  • Michelle Robinson
  • Amy Shure
  • Kristin Willits
  • Dana Zell.

Songs[]

Act 1[]

  1. "Barney Theme Song"
  2. "The More We Get Together"
  3. "Mr. Knickerbocker"
  4. "Ring Around the Rosie"
    Barney4d

    Poster Cover

  5. "My Yellow Blankey"
  6. "The Barney Bag"
  7. "The Winkster's Song"
  8. "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain"
  9. "BJ's Song"
  10. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
  11. Rain Medley: ("Rain, Rain, Go Away"/"It's Raining, It's Pouring")
  12. "If All the Raindrops"
  13. "And the Green Grass Grows All Around"
  14. "I Am a Fine Musician"

Act 2[]

  1. "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy?"
  2. "The Wheels on the Bus"
  3. "Three Little Monkeys"
  4. "Do Your Ears Hang Low?"
  5. "The Airplane Song"
  6. "Me and My Teddy"
  7. "Four Little Ducks"
  8. "My Aunt Came Back"
  9. "London Bridge"
  10. Star Medley: ("Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"/"Star Light, Star Bright")
  11. "Please and Thank You"
  12. "Everyone is Special"

Production[]

A concert taking place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York based on the children's television series Barney & Friends was first announced in November 1993, with scheduled performances to be from March 5-13, 1994.[6]

Writing[]

Creators of Barney & Friends, Sheryl Leach, Kathy Parker and Dennis DeShazer, planned to write the show themselves, however, given the little time to spare, they assigned Stephen White to write the show from scratch. To prep for the show, White was flown out to New York and watched the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes. Afterwards, he returned to Texas and immediately went to the library seeking out books on how to stage a school play, given that he knew nothing about writing live performances. White drew out initial designs for the stage layout on his dining room table and assembled them from a poster board using his young daughter's fruit-scented markers. Victor DeNapoli, a set designer and builder, looked at the designs and reluctantly approved them, citing that nothing else could be changed given the short amount of time. The show was written about a month before it officially premiered.

Rehearsal[]

A full dress rehearsal never occurred for the production. When the show first premiered however, the show went smoothly.[7] Originally, there was going to be a Barney doll appearing at the beginning of the live show. But during rehearsals, both the Barney doll and the Barney costume ended up being onstage at the same time, thus scrapping the idea.

Performances[]

  • According to a Variety review, Min was absent from the March 6th performance.[8]
  • According to Bob West, in one performance, he once forgot to introduce Hope Cervantes (Tosha) for when Barney brings out the kids from behind the curtains by name. [9]
  • In the filmed performance, Tosha had her hair up in a bun in some shots, but in other shots, she also had her hair up in a ponytail with curly strands.
  • Alan Bruce served as Barney's understudy for this live show, when Bob West was unable to voice him but he never had to fill in. Carol Farabee was the understudy for BJ and Baby Bop if at any point Julie Johnson and or Patty Wirtz was unable to fill in.

Release[]

Tickets[]

In December 1993, before tickets to Barney...Live at Radio City! officially went on sale, tickets to the performances were sold. Hundreds of people tried to purchase tickets directly from the box-office but were turned away at 10:50AM, about an hour and a half after sales opened. The Lyons Group, owners of the Barney franchise at the time, had no control over the sales.[10] It was later discovered that the $30 tickets to the show was being sold for as high as $200 through ticket scalpers.[11] Prior to the ticket scalpers, a few tickets were offered to Barney Fan Club Members in advance.[12] Through Radio City Music Hall and The Lyons Group, additional tickets went on sale to the public for the performances of March 9-13, through a random mail order drawing. Tickets for those performances were initially blocked off due to concern with obstructing the stage view with the cameras for filming.[13]

Video[]

Showstoppers from- Barney Live!

Title card for Showstoppers from...Barney Live! in New York City.

Broadcast[]

Highlights of the show were broadcasted on PBS during a pledge drive in August 1994 as Showstoppers from...Barney Live! in New York City. Barney Live! In New York City later aired on PBS in 1995, being the second Barney Home Video to be televised. When this video was aired during the PBS Pledge drives in 1995, the "Barney Theme Song", "The More We Get To Together", "Mr. Knickerbocker", "Rain Medley", "If All the Raindrops", "And the Green Grass Grows All Around", "Me and My Teddy" weren't sung. This is also the one and rarest times that the "Barney Theme Song" wasn't sung/edited out during the Pledge Drives.

Home media[]

The circus scenes were included as a bonus feature on the Barney's Super Singing Circus DVD.

Barney Live In New York City YouTube Thumbnail

Thumbnail for Barney Live! In New York City for the official Barney YouTube channel.

Streaming[]

On May 21, 2022, the official Barney YouTube channel, managed by 9 Story Media Group at the time, uploaded Barney Live! In New York City on the platform. The video uploaded by the channel came from a Barney fan upload on YouTube.

Releases[]

Gallery[]

Behind the scenes[]

Scenes[]

Stills[]

Trivia[]

Promotional Artwork for Barney Live! In New York City

Promotional artwork for Barney Live! In New York City.

  • This is Bob West's favorite Barney Home Video.
  • Barney Live! In New York City Poster
    This live show marked:
  • Unlike future Barney stage shows, all of the dialogue from the dinos was live for every performance. The songs, however, were pre-recorded.
  • Rather than confetti, Sheryl Leach originally wanted to get paper hearts made by schoolkids from across the country; however, given the short amount of time during production and development, it couldn't be done.
  • While present for the show, Kelly's only line was "Hi, everyone!", when Barney introduced her to the audience.
  • In the home video release, BJ can be seen for a brief second standing to the side of the stage waiting for his stage debut entrance.
  • During "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain", if you look really closely behind the kids we can see people running to the side of the stage behind while Barney and the kids sing.
  • During "The Winkster", a kid can be seen wearing a "We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story" t-shirt.

Appearances[]

  • This video marked:
    • The first appearance of Carlos.
    • The final appearance of Derek as a regular cast member, and the only time he and Carlos appeared together.
    • The final time Kathy is seen with her teddy bear.
    • The final time Derek appeared with Julie and Shawn
    • The only appearances of Kelly and the Winkster.
    • BJ's first live performance on home video.
    • The final video appearances of the 1993-1994 Baby Bop costume and the 1994 BJ costume. Both costumes would later be used in Barney books and other live appearances until 1995.
    • The final appearance of the prototype season three Barney costume. The costume would later be used in other live appearances until 1998.
    • David Voss' return to the franchise after portraying Barney for the first six Backyard Gang videos.

Releases[]

Barney Live! In New York City - Now Available Promo
  • The US, Australian, Malaysian/Singaporean and Thai releases feature Barney in illustrated form on the front cover while the UK and Spanish releases use his live-action form.
  • In the Spanish dub, almost every scene showcasing the audience is heard differently. Also, a unique sound effect is used when the Barney Bag first appears.

Songs[]

  • "I Love You" wasn't sung in order to give the show its own identity, as Lyons' lawyers often stated. A lawsuit involving the song discouraged them from using it in the live show.[14]
  • During "Please and Thank You", BJ lip-syncs to the lyrics, though he does not sing the song.
  • After the "Please and Thank You" song, a camera angle shows Kelly giving her sign to someone backstage.
  • During most of the "Four Little Ducks" number, Julie (dressed as one of the ducks) had some untied shoelaces until the final part of the song.
  • The vocals for the "Barney Theme Song" are slightly different compared to the ones that were used in the TV series for the first three seasons with the cartoony sound effects omitted. It also marks the first time this song was shortened on video by removing the second and third verses which would eventually become a thing for future US stage shows.

Video[]

Trailer[]

See also[]

References[]


v - e
Barney Home Video (Wink Gif)
Barney & The Backyard Gang
The Backyard Show (1988) • Three Wishes (1988) • A Day At The Beach (1989) • Waiting for Santa (1990) • Campfire Sing-Along (1990) • Barney Goes To School (1990) • Barney in Concert (1991) • Rock with Barney (1991)
1990s
1992: Barney's Magical Musical AdventureBarney's Birthday

1993: Barney's Best MannersBarney Rhymes with Mother GooseBarney's Home Sweet HomesLove To Read, With Barney

1994: Let's Pretend with BarneyBarney's Alphabet ZooBarney Live! In New York CityImagination Island

1995: Barney's Families are SpecialBarney SafetyMaking New FriendsBarney's Birthday / Home Sweet HomesRiding In Barney's CarBarney Songs

1996: Barney's All Aboard For SharingBarney's Talent ShowBarney's Fun & GamesBarney's Exercises Circus / Barney's Parade of NumbersBarney's 1-2-3-4 SeasonsOnce Upon A Time

1997: Barney's Sense-Sational DayBarney's Colors & ShapesBarney's Musical ScrapbookCamp WannarunnaroundBarney's Adventure BusBarney's Stu-u-upendous Puzzle Fun!Barney's Good Day, Good Night

1998: It's Time For CountingDown on Barney's FarmBarney in Outer SpaceMy Party with BarneyBarney's Big SurpriseBarney's Halloween PartyBarney's First AdventuresBarney's Good, Clean Fun! / Barney's Oh, Brother...She's My Sister

1999: Sing & Dance With BarneyWhat A World We ShareWalk Around The Block With BarneyLet's Play School!Barney's Night Before ChristmasMore Barney Songs

2000s
2000: Barney's Rhyme Time RhythmBarney's Super Singing CircusCome on Over to Barney's HouseBe My Valentine Love, Barney

2001: Barney's Musical CastleA to Z with BarneyBarney's Dino Dancin' TunesLet's Go To The ZooBarney's Pajama Party

2002: You Can Be Anything!Barney's Beach PartyRound and Round We GoBarney's Christmas Star

2003: Barney Songs from the ParkRead With Me, Dance With MeBarney's It's A Happy Day!It's Nice To Meet YouBarney's Red, Yellow and Blue!Barney's Numbers! Numbers!Barney's Best Manners: Your Invitation to Fun!Happy Mad Silly Sad

2004: Movin' and Groovin'Let's Pretend with BarneyNow I Know My ABCsBarney's Colorful World!Ready, Set, Play!

2005: Let's Go to the FarmJust ImagineEveryone Is SpecialThe Land of Make BelieveCan You Sing That Song?

2006: Let's Make Music

2007: Let's Go To The FirehouseShake Your Dino Tail!Dino-Mite Birthday

2008: Celebrating Around The WorldBarney's Animal ABC'sHi! I'm Riff!The Best of Barney

2009: Once Upon A Dino TaleTop 20 CountdownLet's Go on VacationSharing is Caring!Barney's Jungle FriendsWe Love Our Family
2010s
2010: Please & Thank YouEgg-Cellent AdventuresLet's Play OutsideFurry FriendsA-Counting We Will GoBest Fairy Tales

2011: Musical ZooShapes & Colors All AroundI Can Do It!1-2-3 LearnBig World AdventureA Very Merry Christmas

2012: I Love My FriendsClean Up, Clean Up!Planes, Trains & CarsAll About OppositesMost Loveable MomentsLet's Go to the Doctor

2013: Let's Go To The MoonPlay with BarneyDance with BarneyImagine with BarneyMost Huggable MomentsPerfectly Purple

2014: Story Time with BarneyHappy Birthday, Barney!A Super-Dee-Duper DayThis Is How I Feel

2015: Tee-rific Bugs & AnimalsIt's Showtime with BarneyBarney's Worldwide Adventure!

2016: Dinos in the Park

2017: Playground Fun
Other releases
Feature film: Barney's Great Adventure

Blockbuster: Play and Learn with BarneyBarney's Time for SchoolBarney's Rockin' Rhyme TimeBarney's Favorite SongsBarney's Big Top FunBarney's Valentine AdventureMovin' & Groovin' with BarneyBarney's Learning Round-UpBarney's Island SafariBarney's Night-Light StoriesBarney's Summertime FunGoing Places With BarneyOn The Move with BarneySing-Along Fun!

Re-releases: Barney's ABC's and 123'sBarney's Outdoor Fun!Let's Go to the BeachBarney's Book FairFun on WheelsMother Goose Collection



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