Directed by Marc Bruni with choreography by Liza Gennaro, the cast is headed by James Clow as Harold Hill and Kate Baldwin as Marian Paroo with Anthony Cummings as Charlie Cowell, James Anthony as Mayor Shinn, Rich Knight as Ewart Dunlop, Eric Dalbey as Oliver Hix, Chris Hallam as Olin Britt, Tim Waurick as Jacey Squires, Jeb Brown as Marcellus Washburn, Drew Humphrey as Tommy Djilas, Donna English as Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn, Parker Donovan as Winthrop Paroo, Lora Lee Gayer as Ethel Toffelmier, Nicole Hren as Zanetta Shinn, Olivia Prosser as Amarylis, Georgia Engel as Mrs. Paroo and Alyssa Wolf as Gracie Shinn.
The Music Man, according to press notes, "follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he vows to organize - despite the fact he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef! His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian. . . who transforms him into a respectable citizen."
The Music Man opened on Broadway in 1957 starring Robert Preston and Barbara Cook. Both actors won Tony Awards for their work (the musical also nabbed the Tony for Best Musical, beating West Side Story; New Girl in Town; Oh, Captain!; and Jamaica), and Preston repeated his role in the 1962 film opposite Shirley Jones. The classic score includes such tunes as "My White Knight," "Goodnight My Someone," "Lida Rose," "Till There Was You," "Seventy-Six Trombones," "Gary, Indiana," "Marian the Librarian," "The Wells Fargo Wagon," "Trouble" and "The Sadder But Wiser Girl." A recent TV version featured Tony Award winners Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth.
The creative team also includes musical director James Moore, set designer Michael Anania, lighting designer David Lander, sound designer Jason Kreuger, stage manager Tim Eaker, assistant stage manager Megan Dittmann and associate producer Mike Bosner. Paul Blake produces for The Muny.
Performances will continue through July 26. The Muny season also includes Godspell (July 13-19), Camelot (July 27-Aug. 2) and Hairspray (Aug. 3-9).
For more information call (314) 361-1900, ext. 550 or visit www.muny.org.
