"The Music of The Music Man" Concert Plays the Kennedy Center Nov. 27-28

By Andrew Gans
27 Nov 2009

Shirley Jones
Shirley Jones
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Shirley Jones, who played Marian in the film of The Music Man, and Rebecca Luker, who played that same role in the musical's recent Broadway revival, take part in "The Music of The Music Man" concert Nov. 27-28 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Patrick Cassidy stars in the title role.

In addition to Jones as Mrs. Paroo, Luker as Marian Paroo and Cassidy as Harold Hill, the performances also feature Todd A. Horman as Marcellus and Joseph Serafini as Winthrop.

The artists are backed by the National Symphony Orchestra, which is conducted by Marvin Hamlisch. The City Choir of Washington is also part of the event celebrating the Meredith Willson musical.

Show times are Nov. 27 at 1:30 and 8 PM and Nov. 28 at 8 PM.

The Pops performance will begin with a medley of Willson's best-known tunes. After the intermission, a line-up of Broadway stars — including Luker and Jones — will offer tunes from The Music Man, including "Seventy-Six Trombones," "My White Knight" and more.

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 TV version featured Tony Award winners Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth.

For more information visit www.kennedy-center.org.