Barney's Big Surprise


Barney's Big Surprise was Barney the Dinosaur's first national tour. The show started in 1996 and played in 60 cities, with a program of 28 old and new Barney songs. Originally planned for theaters, it was revised to become more like a rock concert for young children; most of the venues were small arenas with around 5,000 seats, with some larger arenas used as well. A video of the show, which had been taped at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, was released in 1998.

Cast

The cast list below is taken from the video release and does not show all cast members that have performed in this show.

Act 1 songs

  1. Barney Is A Dinosaur
  2. If You're Happy And You Know It
  3. Welcome To Our Treehouse
  4. The Baby Bop Hop
  5. Happy Birthday To Me
  6. The Airplane Song
  7. My Kite
  8. Car Sing-Along Medley
  9. Mr. Knickerbocker
  10. Tinkerputt's Song
  11. We Are Little Robots
  12. The Rainbow Song

    Act 2 songs

  13. Hey Look At Me! I Can Fly!
  14. Ducks That I Once Knew
  15. Happy Birthday To Me
  16. If All The Raindrops
  17. Old McDonald Had a Farm
  18. I'm Mother Goose
  19. Nursery-Rhyme Medley
  20. Old King Cole
  21. Happy Birthday To You
  22. I Love You

    Reception

Los Angeles Times critic Lynne Heffley noted that the "feel-good formula" for the stage show was similar to a Barney television episode: "hugging, singing, dancing, more hugging and a little advice", and she found the result to be "lively, expertly staged and a lavish visual treat", although she suggested earplugs given the loud volumes. In the Chicago Tribune, Eric Fidler commented that "Judging Barney through the eyes of an adult is pointless. For an adult unable to relax and suspend judgment, the show was a vision of some twisted hell. But kids were in heaven."