Music Man

The Music Man, the Broadway hit and five time Tony award winner that has been revived countless times on stage and film, has come to MHS. The show, well-known for its musical masterpieces such as: Seventy-Six Trombones, Marian, and Gary Indiana comes as a grand reinstatement of musicals at our school. Madison drama club hasn’t performed a musical since Barnum of spring 2006. The show also exhibits elaborate dance scenes and captivating theatrics made famous by the likes of Robert Preston with Barbara Cook on stage, and Mathew Broderick with Kristin Chenoweth in film. Though the show is a difficult feat, thespian troup 4592 is up to the challenge.

The story line follows slick con-man Harold Hill in his trip to the conservative River City Iowa in the year 1912 where, if all goes well, he plans to steal money from the families there by means of a fake boys band. Hill orders instruments, music books, and uniforms with a down payment up front and plans on skipping town with help from an old friend who lives there, Marcellus Washburn, untill he falls in love with the town’s piano instructor/librarian, Marian Paroo. She will not be swindled so easily however. From her extensive collection of books she discovers his inconsistancy and plans to reveal him to the town. The plot rolls along as gossiping ladies hurry to fill the newcommer in on the librarian’s past, a no-nonsense mayor demands to see Hill’s references, a young boy faces his troubling past, and so much more.

The Madison production, directed by Mrs. Brandi Robertson and Ms. Amy Brannon, takes place April 18th through the 20th. Brad French plays Hill, Allison Thaeler as Marian, Ashley Ferguson as Mrs. Paroo, Jordan Hawthorn as Winthrop Paroo, and a great cast of thespians and tech crew alike. The choreography is provided by Luaren Hawkins, a professional dancer who attends John 23rd, and Kevin Ferguson serves as tech director.

Parental involvement has been key in this show. Parents lead the costume department, set construction would be unthinkable without them, and transportation of course! The cast practices 3-4 days a week for 2-5 hours a practice, tech configuring and set construction often last longer. “Its really fun, I’d say its definitly worth all the work we put into it,” says Allison Thaeler, a first year actress in the high school theater scheme.

The whole cast really seems to enjoy coming to practice and singing along to the songs that have been performed by thousands before them. Though snow days have set them about fifteen hours behind schedule, they are coming along remarkably well and are excited to show the world that Madison does indeed perform musicals, great ones.