The Music Man Parades Into St. Louis Sept. 5

By Adam Hetrick
05 Sep 2008

Music Man stars Graham Rowat and Christy Morton
Music Man stars Graham Rowat and Christy Morton
Photo by Bill Stover

Meredith Willson's The Music Man, starring Graham Rowat and Christy Morton, begins performances at Stages St. Louis Sept. 5.

Under the direction of Stages artistic director Michael Hamilton, the production will run through Oct. 5 at the Kirkwood Civic Center.

Rowat (Lovemusik) and Morton (The Visit) are unlikely lovers Harold Hill and Marion Paroo, respectively, in a cast that also features Edward Juvier (Les Miserables) as Marcellus Washburn, Whit Reichert as Mayor Shinn, Gretchen Hewitt as Mrs. Shinn, Peggy Billo as Mrs. Paroo and David Schmittou as Charlie Cowell.

Rounding out the Music Man cast are Nic Thompson, Mike Dowdy, John Flack, Steve Isom, Bill Lynch, Ben Nordstrom, Abigail Isom, Tracy Tang, Kyle P. Gunby, Lynn Humphrey, Karin Berutti, Michele Burdette Elmore, P.J. Palmer, Spencer Milford, Berklea Going, Kellie Frohnert, Drew Redington, Erin Kelley, Lindsay Kraemer, Jake Pfarr, Lisa M. Ramey, Matthew Howard, Miranda Miller, Lisa Fiebert, Gabriel Lawton and Justin P. Wingenroth.

Creative duties are handled by Dana Lewis (choreography), Al Fischer (musical direction), Mark Halpin (scenic design), Dorothy Marshall-Englis (costume design), Matthew McCarthy (lighting design) and Stuart M. Elmore (orchestral designer).

Featuring book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, The Music Man follows traveling salesman Harold Hill, who cons the citizens of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he vows to organize. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian.

The Music Man opened on Broadway in 1957 starring Robert Preston and Barbara Cook, both of whom earned Tony Awards for their work. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical features the songs "My White Knight," "Goodnight My Someone," "Till There Was You," "Seventy-Six Trombones," "Gary, Indiana," "The Wells Fargo Wagon" and "Trouble."

Stages St. Louis presents its productions at the Kirkwood Civic Center, located at 111 South Geyer Road in St. Louis, MO. Tickets are available by calling (314) 821-2407 or by visiting www.stagesstlouis.org.