Music Man - Information
Mitchell Theatre, November - 2002
The Music Man is the story of a travelling
salesman/confidence trickster Professor Harold Hill who visits the small
Iowa town of River City in 1912 to ply his trade.
With his fast-talking style, "Professor" Harold Hill convinces the town that unless they adopt his revolutionary music program, "The Think System", the morals of the youngsters of River City will be forever doomed. He cons the parents into buying instruments and expensive uniforms in order to form the River City Boys Band. Chaos ensues as Hill's credentials are questioned and he is called upon to prove himself to the citizens of River City.
This all-American family musical is guaranteed to entertain, featuring an entire score of classic hit songs including "Til There was You", "Gary, Indiana", "Lida Rose" "Trouble" and of course, "Seventy-six Trombones".
Originally produced on Broadway in the 1950s it ran for 1,375 performances, starring Barbara Cook and made a star of Robert Preston.
A classic film version of the musical also starred Robert Preston, Shirley Jones and a very young Ron Howard.
Before achieving success as a Broadway writer,the author, Meredith Willson,was a popular radio personality and bandleader who occasionally worked with Frank Loesser (who wrote Guys and Dolls). Loesser so believed in this show that he backed it for years of development and produced the original production.
The Music Man is unquestionably one of the most beloved shows of all time.