Western Playhouse, the summer theatre company at Missouri Western State University, presents “The Music Man” June 20-28 in the Potter Hall Theater. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. June 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 and 2 p.m. June 22. Tickets may be purchased in advance in person at the Western Institute, Spratt Hall room 105, by phone at 816-271-4100, or online at www.westernplayhouse.com. Opening night will include a Gala Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 20 in the Enright Community Room, Spratt Hall rooms 214-216. Tickets to the dinner are $16 and must be reserved by noon Tuesday, June 17 by calling 816-271-4100.
An affectionate paean to Smalltown, U.S.A., of a bygone era, Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” 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 original Broadway production won five Tony Awards in 1958, including Best Musical, and ran for more than 1,300 performances.
The production is directed by Tee Quillin, who co-founded Western Playhouse and directed the company’s “Miss Saigon” in 2013 and “Barefoot in the Park” in 2012. He also performed in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in 2012.
Harold Hill is played by Dallas Henry, another co-founder of Western Playhouse. Henry directed “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” and starred in “Barefoot in the Park” in 2012.
Other cast members include:
- Marian Paroo – Melissa Perry
- Eulalie Shinn – Leah Swank-Miller
- Zaneeta Shinn – Danielle Davilla
- Marcellus Washburn – Ray Johnson
- Mayor Shinn – Erik Burns-Sprung
- Mrs. Paroo – Judy Simmons
- Tommy Djilas – Joseph Kellogg
- Winthrop Paroo – Carson Gaddie
- Charlie Cowell – Paul Kunz
- Amaryllis – Anna Bracciano
- Gracie Shinn – Morgan Quillin
- Alma Hix – Anna Brockman
- Maud Dunlap – Megan Gill
- Ethel Toffelmier – Alanna Lovely
- Mrs. Squires – Jessica Love
- Constable Locke – Danny Kellogg
- Quartet: Ewart Dunlop – Caleb Hazelwood; Oliver Hix – Jacob Mills; Jacey Squires – Jagger Bowers; Olin Britt – Ian Fast
- Chorus – Sebastian Smith, Riley Bayer, Antonio Daniels-Braziel, Derek Thompson, Ali Fowler, Lauren Bergman, Nerissa Lee, Alyssa Cavazos
- Children – Hailey Meyer, Daniel Love, Amanda Nabors, Ashlynn Ford, Natalie Stover, Riley McKune
Henry and Simmons are members of the Actors’ Equity Association.
Tickets will cost $22.50 for adults and $9.50 for the first two youth 17 and under, then $1 for each additional child. There are discounts available for group ticket sales and for Missouri Western faculty and staff.
“The Music Man” is the first of two shows comprising the third season of Western Playhouse. “Mother Divine,” an award-winning new musical, will be produced July 11-19.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.