The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
The Meridian Little Theatre will hold auditions for Meredith Willson's award winning musical “The Music Man.”
Needed is a large cast of 35, ages 8 and up.
“If you ever thought about being in a show, “The Music Man” is it,” says Director Jimmy Pigford. “There is a role for everyone, from age 8 to 80.”
Auditions are Monday, Aug. 2 and Tuesday, Aug. 3, 7 p.m., at the MLT Playhouse on Hwy 39 North. All will be asked to read a selection from the script and to sing. Music from the show will be provided, along with a piano accompanist.
Based on the Tony Award winning Broadway show, “The Music Man” is an affectionate salute to Smalltown, U.S.A. of a bygone era. The story 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 — this 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 by curtain’s fall.
Some of the characters include:
• Harold Hill – a conniving, effervescent con man. He should have the energy and reality needed for the part that can razzle-dazzle the townspeople. He has an open face and a great frustration, which could only be satisfied by taking the easy way out – 'smooth talking” (Baritone)
• Marian Paroo – the pretty and sophisticated female lead. She suspects the brash music man of some foul doings right from the moment she meets him, while at the same time being attracted to him. To this actress will fall some of the musical's most lyrical melodies, including the memorable “Goodnight My Someone” and “Till There Was You.” (Soprano)
• Winthrop Paroo – Marian's lisping brother. He has a set, sullen face and is extremely shy at the beginning of the show, but happily, changes due to Hill's influence. His age is between 8 and 11. Winthrop has two show-stopping numbers to sing — “Gary, Indiana,” and “Wells Fargo Wagon” (Alto)
• Mrs. Paroo – Marian's red-haired Irish mother has a big role, however this actress will not have a solo. (Mezzo-Soprano)
The show's comic leads are Mayor Shinn (a small-town sputtering politician with a comic sense) and his wife. The mayor is middle-aged and extremely stubborn, but has a likable soft streak. His gushing wife, Eulalie Shinn, pries into everyone's business. She sings with the ladies group. The Shinns' pretty daughter, Zeneeta (ages 14-17), falls in love with Tommy Djilas (ages 14-17), thought to be the town hoodlum but who turns out to be the school's band major.
Olin, Oliver, Ewart, and Jacey are a quartet who stroll in and out of the action on stage and provide barber shop harmonies. They are extremely important to the play.
Hill's comic sidekick is Marcellus Washburn, while Charlie Cowell, a salesman himself, is the sworn enemy of Hill.
Amaryllis – Marian's piano student, is a young girl aged 8-11, who is very smart and a thorn in Winthrop's side. (Alto)
The four comic, gossiping, well-dressed townswomen are Alma Hix, Maud Dunlop,, Ethel Toffelmier and Mrs. Squires. They sing together in one of the show's funniest numbers.
Other characters include the conductor, Constable Lock, Gracie Shinn, newspaper readers, River City Kids and Townspeople, and traveling salesmen. Some of these have small speaking parts. Approximately 8-10 boys will be needed for the small marching band. They will not have to know how to play an instrument.
“The Music Man” will be directed by Jimmy Pigford, with music director David Benson. Choreography will be by Meridith Jones and Heather LaCoste of the Mary Alpha School of Dance. The family-style musical will run Oct. 7-13.
