The Music Man FREE summer show at Miller Outdoor Theater July 18-23

Theatre Under The Stars is delighted to announce one of America’s favorite musicals, The Music Man, as its annual free show, which will play nightly at 8:15 p.m. from July 18-23 at the Miller Outdoor Theatre (100 Concert Drive). Featuring a book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, The Music Man includes such treasured songs as "Goodnight My Someone," "Till There Was You," "Seventy-Six Trombones," and "Gary, Indiana." This free production of The Music Man will be co-produced with Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars and marks TUTS’ forty-fifth production at the Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey, the show revolves around Professor Harold Hill, a con-man who in order to sell band instruments convinces the citizens of River City, Iowa that he can teach their children to play in a magnificent marching band. However, Hill doesn’t count on falling in love with the town librarian, and instead of skipping town before the instruments arrive, he is convinced to stay.

Written as a tribute to Willson’s hometown, The Music Man features the Broadway hit and fictitious "River City," which is based on places and people in Mason City. Famous works by Willson include The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Here’s Love, and many hit songs including "It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" and "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You." Willson died in June 1984, and was buried in "River City," his hometown of Mason City, Iowa.

The Music Man opened at the Majestic Theatre on December 19, 1957 and ran for 1,375 performances with Robert Preston playing the role of Harold Hill and Barbara Cook as Marian Paroo, the town librarian. Preston reprised his role in the 1962 film version. The Music Man became one of the fifth longest running musicals in Broadway history and winner of eight Tony Awards, including "Best Musical," beating off competition from other nominees such as West Side Story. The show also won the first Grammy Award for "Best Original Cast Album."

In 1962, The Music Man hit the big screen and became one of the most successful musicals ever filmed. The incomparable Robert Preston was one of the few Broadway cast members to star in the movie and was joined by a stellar movie cast that included Shirley Jones as Marian Paroo, Buddy Hacket as Marcellus Washburn, and a very young Ronnie Howard as the ‘lithping’ Winthrop Paroo. In 2003, another version of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man aired on ABC’s Wonderful World of Disney starring Tony Award-winners Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth.

The movie was nominated for several Academy Awards and won for "Best Musical Score." Beatle Fans may remember Paul McCartney singing the love ballad "Till There Was You" on their 1964 album Meet The Beatles. Willson later wrote a memoir about the making of The Music Man entitled, "But He Doesn’t Know the Territory."

 

Source:  http://www.tuts.com