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On Friday evening, June 6, the Sherman Community Players will open their final show of the 2007-2008 Season with Meredith Willson’s all-American musical comedy THE MUSIC MAN, which celebrates the bygone era of Smalltown, USA.
The show is based on Willson’s recollections of his own childhood in a small Iowa town. After working for eight years and creating 30 drafts and 40 songs, Willson crafted his boyhood memories into what has become one of the most popular and widely-produced musicals of all time.
THE MUSIC MAN is the story of fast-talking Professor Harold Hill, who cons the good citizens of River City, Iowa into buying musical instruments by promising to create a boys’ band. Not knowing a clarinet from a saxophone, Hill expects to skip with cash in hand, only to be caught in the arms of the beautiful Marian the librarian who transforms him into a reformed rogue and respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.
The role of Harold Hill was initially offered to several Broadway stars, including Danny Kaye, but when none were available to do the role, it was offered to a little known, non-singing actor named Robert Preston, who took the part that made him a Broadway legend. Sherman actor Tom Bryson stars as Harold Hill with Sylvia Rivers as Marian, and local ventriloquist L.A. Hudson is the comical befuddled Mayor.
The fifty member cast of all ages, plus a 22 piece orchestra, conducted by Scottie Johnson, will bring the popular musical score to life with such musical favorites as Seventy-six Trombones, You Got Trouble, Till There Was You, Pick-a-little, Goodnight Ladies, and many more. Choreographer Amy Dean leads the cast through dance numbers such as Shipoopi! and Marian, the Librarian.
Colorful characters, a barbershop quartet, rousing marches and beautiful ballads make for great family entertainment! Early reservations are recommended, and discounted group rates are available.
THE MUSIC MAN opens June 6 and runs through June 29. The box office opens for season member reservations Monday and Tuesday, June 2 and 3 at 9 a.m. Tickets for the general public go on sale Wednesday, June 4 at 10 a.m. The box office is located at 313 W. Mulberry, directly behind the Finley Theatre. The phone number is 903-892-8818
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