About Music Man

 
 
 

THE play is set mainly in the little town of River City, Iowa, in 1912, but the opening scene is on a moving train in which the dialogue of travelling salesmen and the musical background beautifully simulate the bouncy rhythm of the jogging train. Aboard this train the salesmen are discussing the selling powers of one Harold Hill, without realizing that he is also one of the passengers. Harold Hill gets off at River City and comes to the centre of the town. There an old crony, Marcellus Washburn, tells him he will never be able to work his racket in this town: Harold Hill's racket is to go from town to town and influence its citizens to start a boys' band; then to abscond with the money the townspeople give him for the purchase of instruments and uniforms. Marcellus further informs Harold that the main obstacle in River City is the town librarian/music teacher, Marian Paroo, a "stuck up" sort of girl, who can be counted upon to see right through Harold's chicanery. Undaunted, Harold Hill proceeds to arouse the town's enthusiasm for starting a boys' band by pointing out the corrupt influence on their children of the local pool parlour ("Trouble"). When Marion Paroo appears, Harold tries to win her over with his charm, but she brushes him off rudely. But Marian is a soft and sentimental girl, as she reveals by speaking to the stars ("Goodnight, My Someone").

Inside the gymnasium of Madison High School a patriotic tableau is being given; Mayor Shinn follows with an address. Harold Hill demands the attention of the audience and starts once again to expound his ideas about a boys' band until the kids become infected with his enthusiasm ("Seventy-Six Trombones"). Later the same evening, Harold Hill goes to the library to win Marian over to his cause. He tries to impress her by telling her he is a "professor" of music, a graduate of the Gary, Indiana University, in the gold medal class of 1905. But Marian tells him in no uncertain terms that he cannot mesmerize or hoodwink her the way he had done the rest of the townspeople. Thus brushed off unceremoniously, Harold consoles himself with the idea that, after all, he has no possible interest in a girl as prim and conventional as Marian. ("The Sadder but Wiser Girl"). Nevertheless, he makes another effort to win over Marian, by sneaking up to her desk at the library and trying to convince her that he is infatuated with her ("Marian the Librarian").

But all the while, Harold keeps alive the enthusiasm for his band project, and goes about town signing applicants. Cuttingly, Marian asks him why he does not use his gift to greater advantage at a carnival. She knows he is a fraud, and thus will have no traffic with him, even though she is not the kind of girl who waits for a knight in shining armor ("My White Knight"). The reason Marian knows he is a fraud is because she has consulted the Indiana State Educational Journal and has discovered that Gary, Indiana University, had not even been founded in 1905. She is about to bring this information to the leading citizens of the town when Wells Fargo arrives with the musical instruments and uniforms, creating so much enthusiasm and excitement among her neighbors that she simply does not have the heart to disillusion them about Harold Hill. Indeed, now that Harold has, indeed, delivered the instruments and the uniforms without absconding with the money she is much more sympathetic to him; and there is no question in her mind that he is a man of considerable charm. Her resistance to him is finally broken: She comes to tell Harold she is in love with him ("Till There Was You"). Now Harold Hill gives himself up completely to making a success of the boys' band. In a stirring finale the boys appear in full regalia and sound their first raucous notes as members of the town band.



 

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Book, Lyrics & Music by MEREDITH WILLSON

Based on a story by MEREDITH WILLSON and FRANKLIN LACY

First produced at the Majestic Theatre on December 19, 1957, with Robert Preston as "Harold Hill" and Barbara Cook as "Marian





Broadway Premiere

Theatre: Majestic Theatre, Broadway Theatre

Opening Night: Dec 19, 1957

Total Performances: 1375

Original Cast: Robert Preston, David Burns, Barbara Cook, Pert Kelton, Danny Carroll, Eddie Hodges,Helen Raymond, Paul Reed, Adnia Rice, Marilyn Siegel, Barbara Travis, Dusty Worrall, Iggie Wolfington

Director: Morton Da Costa

Choreographer: Onna White

Producer: Kermit Bloomgarden and Herbert Greene

Musical Director: Herbert Greene

Orchestrations: Don Walker

Scenic and Lighting Design: Howard Bay

Costume Design: Raoul Pène Du Bois

Broadway Premiere

Theatre: Majestic Theatre, Broadway Theatre

Opening Night: Dec 19, 1957

Total Performances: 1375

Original Cast: Robert Preston, David Burns, Barbara Cook, Pert Kelton, Danny Carroll, Eddie Hodges,Helen Raymond, Paul Reed, Adnia Rice, Marilyn Siegel, Barbara Travis, Dusty Worrall, Iggie Wolfington

Director: Morton Da Costa

Choreographer: Onna White

Producer: Kermit Bloomgarden and Herbert Greene

Musical Director: Herbert Greene

Orchestrations: Don Walker

Scenic and Lighting Design: Howard Bay

Costume Design: Raoul Pène Du Bois


1959 Tony Award Nominations
Best Stage Technician - Sammy Knapp

1958 Tony Award Nominations
Best Musical
Best Actor in a Musical - Robert Preston
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - David Burns
Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Barbara Cook
Conductor and Musical Director
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Iggie Wolfington
Best Choreography
Stage Technician - Sammy Knapp
Best Director

1958 Theatre World Award Nominations
Eddie Hodges

1981 Theatre World Award Nominations
Meg Bussert

2000 Tony Award Nominations
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Actor in a Musical - Craig Bierko
Best Actress in a Musical - Rebecca Luker
Best Scenic Design
Best Costume Design
Best Choreography
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Orchestrations

2000 Theatre World Award Nominations
Craig Bierko

2000 Drama Desk Award Nominations
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Craig Bierko
Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Rebecca Luker
Outstanding Choreography
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Outstanding Orchestrations
Outstanding Set Design of a Musical
Outstanding Costume Design




 

THE MUSIC MAN