THE MUSIC MAN

July 20 - August 20, 2011

There’s Trouble in River City…Yes, the critically acclaimed Broadway classic follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill, starring TV's Peter Scolari, 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. Does he stay? Does he run with the money? Featuring the award winning songs that have long become American standards: “76 Trombones,” “Till there Was You” and “Trouble.”

REVIEWS

"Extravagant! Ogunquit has gathered an excellent cast, choreographer, director, music director and orchestra! Delightful from overture to rousing finale! A resplendent production" - Theatre Mirror

"High-octane production" - Portland Press Herald

"Splendid! I can't recall a better production [of The Music Man]" - The Weekly Sentinel

"Hilarious! Heartwarming! A musical masterpiece that must be experienced by the entire family!" - Portland Daily Sun

"Dazzling! Stunning!"  - Tourist News

  • Trouble, oh we got trouble, Right here in River City! With a capital “T” That rhymes with “P” And that stands for Pool, That stands for pool. We’ve surely got trouble! Right here in River City, Right here!

    There is little evidence that American composer, musician and playwright, Meredith Willson encountered much trouble in his impressive career, which included writing the book and libretto for the beloved American classic The Music Man! He drew inspiration for the musical from his upbringing in Mason City, Iowa, where he was born in 1902. As a child he learned to play the flute and while still in high school began playing professionally. The Music Man was the first musical he ever wrote and it went on to win 8 Tony Awards in 1957, followed by a very popular film version starring Robert Preston (reprising his Broadway role), Shirley Jones, Buddy Hacket and a very young Ron Howard.

    Meredith Willson left Iowa at age 17 to study music at the Julliard School in New York City. While there he was hired as principal flutist and piccolo player for the John Philip Sousa Band and then the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. By age 27 he was conducting and composing his own works. Willson later moved to radio working as musical director at NBC, first in San Francisco and then Hollywood as a musical director and conductor for popular radio programs such as Maxwell House Coffee Time (1940-49) and Tallulah Bankhead’s (an Ogunquit Playhouse alum) The Big Show (1950-1953). During this time he wrote the theme song for Maxwell House Coffee Time (“You and I”) which became a number one hit, as well as “May the Good Lord Bless You and Keep You.” During World War II he was the Musical Director for the Armed Forces Radio Service and in 1951 he wrote the song, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” made famous by Perry Como.

    Meredith Willson had begun developing the theme for The Music Man in his 1948 memoir, And There I Stood With My Piccolo. After several unsuccessful attempts at getting it produced, Willson invited Franklin Lacey to help him edit and simplify the libretto. The Music Man opened on Broadway on December 19, 1957 and ran for 1,375 sensational performances. In addition to its 8 Tony wins, with Willson winning for Best Musical Author and Best Composer and Lyricist, the cast album won the very first Grammy Award ever presented for Best Original Cast Album. Of the award winning songs many have long become American standards: “76 Trombones,” “Trouble” and “Till there Was You,” the latter of which was performed by the Beatles on their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. It was a favorite of Paul McCartney’s and is the only Broadway show tune the “Fab Four” ever recorded. Today Sir Paul McCartney holds the rights to Willson’s song catalog.

    Meredith Willson’s impressive resume also included writing The Unsinkable Molly Brown, which opened on Broadway in 1960 and Here’s Love (a musical adaptation of Miracle on 34th Street) which opened on Broadway in 1963. In addition to his memoir that inspired the Music Man, Willson published a second autobiography, Eggs I Have Laid and a memoir about the making of The Music Man titled, But He Doesn’t Know the Territory. He died in Santa Monica on June 12, 1984 at the age of 82 and was buried in his hometown of Mason City, Iowa where a museum and entertainment complex dedicated to Willson now stands. In 1987 he was presented posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Reagan. Two revivals of The Music Man ran on Broadway, one in 1980 starring Dick Van Dyke and Meg Bussert, who graced our stage last year as Mother Abess in the Sound of Music, and the other in 2000 with Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker.

    The Ogunquit Playhouse production of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man will feature James Fouchard’s lovely sets and William Ivey Long’s costumes from the 2000 revival, with the brilliant comedic actor Peter Scolari as Harold Hill together with an all star cast, 2 groups of 30 children handpicked from local casting calls and under the direction of Ray Roderick who helmed the National Tour of The Music Man for three years and with choreography by the fabulous song and dance man, Jeffry Denman. Right here! Right here on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage! Enjoy!

  • PETER SCOLARI (Harold Hill) has appeared in over three hundred television programs including “The West Wing,” “ER,” “Family Ties,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “The Nanny,” “King of Queens,” “Reba,” “Ally McBeal,” among numerous others. Emmy Award winning Mini-Series and Telefilms include “From The Earth to the Moon,” for HBO, “The Ryan White Story,” as well as “Perfect Harmony.” Feature films include The Polar Express, That Thing You Do, Camp Nowhere, most recently The Suburban Girl, and A Plumm Summer. Favorite TV series regular runs include “Bosom Buddies,” “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” the TV Series, and Newhart, for which he was thrice Emmy nominated, one win, and with consecutive American Comedy Award honors. Mr. Scolari was the youngest founding member of New York City’s celebrated Colonnades Theater in the 1970s. More recent Broadway credits include Cole Porter’s Out of This World, Ziegfeld’s Follies of 1937, Hairspray, Sly Fox, and as Littlechap in “Stop the World, I Want to Get Off” for Showtime. It has not been too long since Peter was the winner of the Berkshires Theater Festival’s Best Actor Award for his work in The Foreigner. Accomplished Juggler, tight-rope artist, but a mediocre unicyclist.

    JULIA BURROWS (Marian Paroo) is thrilled to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut in The Music Man. Favorite credits include: Garry Marshall’s Happy Days (Lori-Beth) at Papermill Playhouse (Original Cast Recording) and then again at Goodspeed Opera House; Pirates! at Papermill Playhouse (Cornelia); Company at L.A.’s Reprise! starring Christopher Sieber and Judith Light; and Les Miserables at Northern Stage. Some other favorite regional credits include Side Show (Violet), Grease! (Sandy), Little Women (Beth) and Parade (Lucille). A big thank you goes out to her wonderful family and AMAZING friends and especially to Henderson Hogan Agency.

    BRAD BRADLEY (Marcellus Washburn) Most recently People in the Picture* on Broadway. Other Broadway credits include: Billy Elliot, Spamalot,* Annie Get Your Gun,* (Revival) Thou Shalt Not,* Steel Pier,* A Christmas Carol. (*Original Cast) First National Tour: Spamalot (Patsy) Off-Broadway: Ernest in Love (Irish Rep), Cocoanuts Encores- Bye Bye Birdie and Strike Up the Band. Graduate from USC with BFA. Made his professional debut at age 12 as a back up dancer for Michael Jackson. (Pepsi Commercial)

    WILLIAM MCCAULEY (Mayor Shinn) seen here in La Cage aux Folles & Singin’ In the Rain, was named LA Actor of the Week as the dying Benjamin Britten in Autumn Canticle and was Scrooge in LA’s musical Christmas Carol. He replaced Jerry Orbach in Chicago, playing Billy Flynn for three years, and has played Henry Higgins, Daddy Warbucks, Ben Stone, and Dick Cheney. Broadway debut in Zeffirelli’s Saturday Sunday Monday with Sada Thompson and Eli Wallach. TV: James Tyrone in PBS’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” a year on “Loving,” “Law & Order; CI,” and “30 Rock.” One of New York’s finest cabaret performers, he succeeded Mabel Mercer as resident entertainer at the St. Regis Hotel.

    BETH MCVEY (Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn) Beth is pleased to be back at the Ogunquit Playhouse after many years. Broadway: Original company of 42nd Street, Annie, Nine as Carla and Claudia, original company of Phantom, and Beauty and the Beast as Mrs. Potts. National Tours: Lend Me A Tenor as Diana, Copa Cabana as Gladys, Guys and Dolls as Adelaide, Urinetown as Ms. Pennywise. Regionally: Man of La Mancha as Aldonza with John Rait, We Have Always Lived in the Castle at Yale Rep, Carlotta in Yeston’s Phantom of the Opera, A Little Night Music as Desiree, Forum as Domina at Paper Mill Playhouse.

    LINDA CAMERON (Mrs. Paroo) is overjoyed to be returning to Ogunquit Playhouse, where she has played General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls, and Sister Bertha in The Sound of Music. National Tours – Man Of La Mancha; Rumors Off-Broadway - Dr. Sex; Eat The Runt; We’re Still Hot Regional – Rumors, Don’t Dress For Dinner (Paper Mill Playhouse); Hair (Actors Theatre of Louisville); The King and I, Brigadoon (Candlewood Playhouse); Animal Fair (Denver Center Theatre); DA (Shadow Lawn Stage). Linda attended Yale Drama School and has performed at the Opera Company of Boston, Glimmerglass Opera, and the Zurich Opera. She wishes to express her gratitude and love to her wonderful husband, Bob Knapp, and the amazing Ogunquit Playhouse family!

    KHRIS LEWIN (Charlie Cowell) is delighted to make his first appearance at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Recent work includes the Drama Desk-nominated Fêtes de la Nuit by Charles Mee at the Ohio Theatre, Prince Nikki/Achmed in My One And Only at the Goodspeed Opera House, Frank Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor at TheatreWorks, Bullingbrooke in Fight or Flight’s trapeze-based Richard II at the Tank-NYC, and the title role in Macbeth at Nebraska Shakespeare. He has also appeared on NPR’s Selected Shorts and Bloomsday on Broadway at Symphony Space. www.khrislewin.com

    ROGER PRESTON SMITH (Constable Locke) Broadway: Both the Cathy Rigby and Sandy Duncan productions of Peter Pan, Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing, Wizard of Oz starring Roseanne, Me and My Girl and Patti LuPone’s Gypsy (assistant choreographer). National Tours: Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun and Evita. TV: “Saturday Night Live,” “Today Show” and A&E’s “Peter Pan.” Regional: Houston Grand Opera, Paper Mill Playhouse, MUNY, Alabama Shakespeare, Sacramento Music Circus, Pittsburgh CLO, Houston Tuts, Westchester Broadway, Goodspeed, Arkansas Rep, Walnut Street, Mill Mtn. and Engeman Theater. Proud member of Actors' Equity.

    JEREMY PASHA (Jacey Squires) is thrilled to be spending his first summer in beautiful Ogunquit. He has toured the country with Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar (Annas) and in Seussical the Musical (Mayor). Most recently he originated the role of “The Gay” in Hot Mess in Manhattan. Other favorites include Duane in Our Country (NYMF), Dispatches (Naked Angels), and Eugene in Grease! (Forestburgh). He’s got a BFA from Syracuse University and is a professional choral singer with NYC’s Choral Chameleon. Lots of love to his family and friends. www.jeremypasha.com

    TRIPP HAMPTON (Oliver Hix) is making his Ogunquit debut! A Louisville, KY native, he’s thrilled to be in Maine and working with Ray Roderick again, after most recently working with him on the national tour of ‘S Wonderful. Tripp graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Favorite credits include: Snowboy in West Side Story (Gateway Playhouse), Bobby in A Chorus Line (Theatre by the Sea), Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre), Skimbleshanks in CATS (NKU) and performing on the RSSC Voyager, singing in over 35 countries. “Glory to the most creative Creator of them all!”

    DON REY (Ewart Dunlop) New York: City Center Encores! Pardon My English, Children And Art; Tours: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Mike Nulty) The Sound Of Music (Herr Zeller), Camelot with Robert Goulet, The Music Man, Evita. Regional includes: Fulton Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Maine State, Geva Theatre, California Music Theatre. Favorites: Peron in Evita, The Beadle in Sweeney Todd, Mr. Erlanson in A Little Night Music, Cogsworth in Beauty And The Beast. Very happy to be at the Playhouse and spending the summer in Maine!

    ANDY REDEKER (Olin Britt) is the proud holder of a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University School of Music. He is thrilled to be joining the Ogunquit Playhouse family. Past shows include: Les Misérables (Marius, Nat’l Tour); Big! (Josh u/s, 1st Nat'l Tour); Titanic (Swing, 1st Nat’l Tour). Thanks to Family & Friends for continued love and support. This (and every) show is dedicated to Mom & Dad!

    HILAIRE C. SMITH (Ethel Toffelmier) A 2010 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Hilaire is so excited to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut in Music Man. Most recently, Hilaire sang backup for Leslie Kritzer's Beautiful Disaster Live at Joe's Pub. Past credits include Car Darch in Tess: A New Rock Opera (NYMF), Svetlana in Chess (BW), Kate in See Rock City (BW), Fastrada in Pippin, and two seasons with Great Lakes Theatre Festival. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Sasha, Vicky, Scott, Ben, and The Mine.

    BLAIR ALEXIS BROWN (Alma Hix) is beyond thrilled to be back at OP where she last appeared as Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music. Recently: Donna/Oolie in City Of Angels (Gallery Players), Charlotte in A Little Night Music directed by Michael Leeds (Carbonell-nominated production at the Stage Door Theatre), and Fran in the new 40s tuner, Swing For Victory! (premiere reading at the York Theatre). Favorite regional: Master Class starring Leslie Uggams, Caroline in Titanic The Musical, Anna in The King And I, and Mimi in Michael Hollinger’s An Empty Plate In The Café Du Grand Boeuf. Blair is an active vocal coach, pianist and teaching artist. Thank you family and friends!

    JANA AUSPLAND (Maud Dunlop) is very excited to be making her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Some favorite credits include Falsettos (Trina), Oklahoma (Ado Annie), Once Upon A Mattress (Princess Winnifred), Jeffrey (all female roles), Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator), Bye Bye Birdie (Mrs. MacAfee), Oliver (Mrs. Sowerberry), and most recently Steel Magnolias (Truvy). Jana is a recent transplant from the Louisville, KY/Southern Indiana area. She has fallen in love with the beautiful state of Maine and is thankful for the excellent theatre here! She would like to thank her wonderful husband of 24 years, and her children Bailey(20) and Christian(16) for putting up with her crazy schedule.

    KERRY SCHNEIDER (Mrs. Britt) is excited to be back again at The Ogunquit Playhouse where she is exercising her mouth by repeating the words “Pick a little, Talk a little.” Regional credits: Ogunquit Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof and High School Musical; Palace Theatre, NH – Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Jeannette in The Full Monty, Mama Rose in Gypsy; Armory Theater, WI - Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret; NCCA Papermill Theatre, NH - Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, Maggie in 42nd St.; Actorsingers, NH - Emma Goldman in Ragtime; and over 15 years of zany dinner theater comedy with Stage One Productions in Manchester, NH. Love to new grandchildren, Hannah, Cora and Naomi, children Brian, Beth, and Lauren, and kisses to my biggest fan - hubby Dennis, “the light of my life.”

    BRITTE STEELE (Eunice Squires) is grateful to be making her Ogunquit debut with this wonderful production! National Tour: The Music Man (Eulalie McKecknie Shinn). Off-Broadway: Cinderella (Joy), Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding (swing), A Christmas Carol. Favorite Regional: Footloose! (Wendy Jo), Grease (Marty), Babes in Arms (Bunny), Meet Me in St. Louis (Rose), Bye Bye Birdie (Ursula), Godspell (Gilmer), Wizard of Oz (Glinda/Aunt Em). B.A Wagner College. Many thanks to the creative team, everyone working behind the scenes, and everyone who she gets to share the stage with!

    BRYAN J. CORTÉS (Tommy Djilas) Brian J. Cortés Figueroa started dancing at the age of 16 with his sister and he fell in love with it immediately. From the moment he took his first step he knew that dance was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Bryan has worked around the world with companies from “Raw Talent Creations” in Vegas, Royal Caribbean Productions in Miami and Odyssey Dance theater in Utah and around Europe. He started working in the musical theater world and has played different roles like Mark from A Chorus Line in Bellas Artes P.R., Scranton Slim from Guys and Dolls in Long Island and now he is thrilled to be playing Tommy Djilas from Music Man.

    BECCA LEE (Zaneeta) is thrilled to be making her Ogunquit debut in The Music Man. She was most recently seen in Hello, Dolly! at North Carolina Theatre. Other theatre credits: High School Musical (Gabriella), The Wedding Singer (Holly). TV: MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Becca is a former NY Knicks City Dancer and graduate of Rutgers University. Endless thanks to everyone at Bloc agency, my friends and family (especially Mom!) for all their love and support. Special thanks to the creative team for this wonderful opportunity!

    MARIA BRIGGS (Female Dancer) is grateful to be making her Ogunquit debut! Maria is arecent graduate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. REGIONAL: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Singin’ in the Rain, and Yankee Doodle. CONCERT DANCE: Swan Lake and Nutcracker at the Pantages Theatre with Continental Ballet Company and multiple showcases with TU Dance Company. She has also studied and trained at St. Paul Conservatory for the Performing Artists and Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts. Great thanks and many hugs to my family, friends, and teachers supporting my journey.

    MICHAEL BULLARD (Male Dancer) is so grateful to be making his debut at Ogunquit Playhouse in one of his favorite shows, The Music Man. Hailing from Saranac Lake, NY, Michael is a rising Junior Theatre Major with a concentration in Performance and a Minor in Dance at Wagner College. Favorite credits include On Your Toes, The Drowsy Chaperone (Gangster #2), 42nd Street, High School Musical (Ryan Evans), and Cabaret at Surflight Theatre; Little Women, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella (Steward/Ensemble), and Smokey Joe’s Cafe at Wagner.

    GREGORY DASSONVILLE (Male Dancer) Originally from West Hartford, CT, Gregory recently graduated from Syracuse University, Cum Laude, with a B.F.A in Musical Theatre. He is thrilled to be making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Syracuse University Credits: Steel Pier, And The World Goes Round, Oklahoma!, I Love You Because, and Cabaret. Regional Credits: Damn Yankees and Seussical (Weston Playhouse), They’re Playing Our Song and Gypsy (Ivoryton Playhouse). As of this fall, Gregory can be seen on the National Tour of Young Frankenstein. Many thanks to his family and friends and all who made this possible!

    AMANDA GALANG (Female Dancer) is extremely proud to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! A native of Sacramento, CA, she moved to New York two years ago to attend AMDA and is now a part of their dance faculty. Favorite credits include Eliza in The King and I (Sierra Rep), Angel George in The King and I (FCLO), and Diane Lee in bare (Artistic Differences). Thanks and lots of love to her family, friends, and Kody.

    DARYL GETMAN (Female Dancer / Dance Captain) recently performed in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, 1st National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Broadway bound Trip of Love, a new 1960’s musical. She also choreographed on ABC’s hit show Cougar Town earlier this season. Credits include: COMCAST HD promo, Singin’ in the Rain (Goodspeed Opera House), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (MUNY), Gigi, in Gigi (MGR Playhouse, NY), Thoroughly Modern Millie (LA), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pasadena Civic, CA). Also seen in La Boheme (Placido Domingo, LA Opera), and Mouse Hunt (DreamWorks, Nathan Lane). NYU –Tisch graduate and currently working on a film in New Orleans.

    TIMOTHY GRADY (Male Dancer) is thrilled to be making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Originally from Marlboro, Massachusetts, Tim’s recent credits include CTFD’s Silver Jubilee (NY City Center), A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre), 42nd Street (Riverside Theater) and Happy Days (Gateway Playhouse). Other regional credits include Carousel (w/ Shirley Jones), Singin’ In The Rain, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Grease!, and Will Rogers Follies. Tim is a recent graduate of Wagner College Theater. As always, he would like to thank his family and friends for all their support as well as the Ogunquit Playhouse for this opportunity!

    BRYAN MARDEN (Winthrop Paroo) is thrilled to be Winthrop in The Music Man as well as Peter in Pinkalicious. Recent credits: Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird (Boston Children's Theatre) and Peter Cratchit in A Christmas Carol ( North Shore Music Theatre.) Bryan started doing community theatre when he was 6. In the fall, he is heading to the 6th grade at Berwick Academy. When he is not acting, Bryan loves to visit his favorite cities; New York/Boston. A big hug to my buddy Maggie. So good to have such a great friend. I want to thank my Mom, Dad, Sammi, Gammy and Gampy for their constant and amazing support and enthusiasm. I love you all!

    ELIZABETH ELKINGTON (Amaryllis (July 20-August 7) This is Elizabeth's first Ogunquit show. This is actually her first "professional" show and she is very excited to be playing the role of Amaryllis. She would like to thank her parents for supporting her, her friends and the cast. The cast was so nice and welcomed her right into this wonderful experience.

    KYLEE BROWN (Amaryllis (August 9-August 20) is 10 1/2 and has lived in Dover, NH since she was 2. She has been singing and dancing for as long as her family can remember. For the past 2 years she has sung with Melissa Manseau's Broadway Kids. Last year she played the role of Amahl in the opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors and the role of Pooh in the musical, Winnie the Pooh. She has also danced in Northeastern Ballet's version of the Nutcracker and Midsummers Night Dream.

    RAY RODERICK (Director) directed and adapted the book for Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang national tour (UK Tour and Licensed by MTI); associate director A Christmas Carol Madison Square Garden and Broadway revival of The Music Man and director of 3 year North American Tour; co-writer/director/choreographer Irving Berlin’s I Love A Piano 3 year National Tour/Japan, writer/director ‘S Wonderful The New Gershwin Musical (National Tour, Pittsburgh CLO, Gateway Playhouse). Off-Broadway: director/co-writer The Prince And The Pauper; director/choreographer The Ark, Lamour The Merrier and The Story Goes On. Regional: director My One And Only, Singin’ In The Rain and 42nd Street at Goodspeed; co-writer/director/choreographer A Christmas Survival Guide, I Love New York, Heaven Help Us!, director/choreographer The Last 5 Years, The Taffetas, Five Course Love, and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! (Denver’s longest running show); founding artistic director Tri-State Center for the Arts; co-owner of Miracle or 2 Productions (Miracleor2.com) creating / producing / touring / licensing new musicals including Are We There Yet?, Coming To America and The Bikinis…A New Musical Beach Party! (touring 2011-20012); Creative Director Tennis Association’s “US Open Live Television” Events for ESPN and CBS and Director “Arthur Ashe Kids Day” for CBS; English writer/director “Chun Yi, The Legend Of Kung Fu” Beijing, London’s West End, international tour; director Believe, award winning Shamu Show SeaWorld, San Diego. Ray resides in New York, is married to Broadway actress Karyn Quackenbush and is the proud father of SUNY Purchase student and lighting designer Jamie Roderick.

    JEFFRY DENMAN (Choregrapher) is best known to Ogunquit audiences for playing Bobby Child in Crazy For You (2007) and Sir Robin in last season’s Spamalot. As a choreographer: YANK! (Off-Broadway, York Theatre - Lucille Lortel Award nomination and Joe A. Callaway Award finalist), Naked Boys Singing! (Off- Broadway, in its 12th year), Dancing in the Dark (NY Workshop & MusicalFare Theatre - Artie Award), Director and/or Choreographer for over a dozen Broadway By The Year concerts at the Town Hall in New York City. He is currently working with director David Cromer on a Broadway transfer of YANK!. As a performer, in the New England area: White Christmas (Boston - IRNE Award) and Crazy for You (NSMT - IRNE Award.) In New York City: YANK! (Off B’way - Drama Desk nomination), and the B’way casts of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Original cast - Astaire Award nomination), CATS, The Producers. He authored the critically acclaimed book, A Year with The Producers. Visit www.jeffrydenman.com

    KEN CLIFTON (Musical Director) returns to the Ogunquit Playhouse after Avenue Q and the paramount successes of Sunset Blvd. and Chicago in 2010. Previous Ogunquit credits include All Shook Up, Guys & Dolls, Les Misérables, The Producers, Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, The King and I, La Cage aux Folles. Hello, Dolly!, and Menopause, the Musical. He recently transplanted to Florida where he is now the resident music director for the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. Ken is a musical director, vocal coach, and composer/lyricist. He’s conducted musicals up and down the East Coast. Disney uses his writing in Orlando and Tokyo. His project appearing on the Disney Cruise Line was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. He has written two full length musicals, Midnight Clear and A Christmas Carol, both produced in Florida. Ken wrote the music and lyrics to the opening production number of 2007’s Rose Bowl Parade. He has played on “Live with Regis and Kathy Lee” and CNN’s “Larry King Live.” Ken had the great pleasure of coaching Oscar® Award winning actress, Jennifer Hudson on her final call-back for “Dreamgirls.” He has also coached at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music. And last but certainly not least Ken has even played for the Bush's at their home in Kennebunkport, ME.

    JULIE OLIVER (Assistant Music Director) This is Julie's third summer at the Ogunquit Playhouse - previous musical directing High School Musical and working as Associate Musical Director on Sound of Music. Julie is in her 8th season as Musical Director a the Palace Theatre in Manchester NH where some of her favorite shows include, Cats, Miss Saigon, Hairspray, and Wedding Singer.

    PAUL BREWSTER(Associate & Children's Director) is honored to be part of this production! Previously at Ogunquit Playhouse: Pinkalicious, Avenue Q, Chicago, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Sound of Music, All Shook Up. Off-Broadway: La Barbería, The Orphans' Home Cycle, The Punishing Blow, Forgotten World, The Living Newspaper. Paul is Ogunquit Playhouse's Education Director and will be directing Pippi Longstocking's Musical Adventure in August. BFA; Tisch. Many thanks to the creative and production teams, counselors, campers, and parents!

    JINAY L. REITZE (Production Stage Manager) is SO excited to be working on Music Man under the brilliant guidance of Ray Roderick and Jeffry Denman. Previous Ogunquit Playhouse credits include Avenue Q and last year's Spamalot and Sound of Music. Off-Broadway: Debbie Does Dallas (Jane Street Theatre), The Prince and the Pauper (Lamb’s Theatre). New York: World Premiere of Oedipus for Kids (NYMF). National Tours: Golda's Balcony (starring Tovah Feldshuh), Dora the Explorer Live!, Backyardigans Live!, Peter Pan, Urban Cowboy, Savion Glover’s Improvography II, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, St. Petersburg Ice Ballet - The Nutcracker and Cinderella. International: Grease (Turkey), Fame (China). Regional: 2 seasons with Goodspeed Musicals. Thanks to Davin, Paul, and the rest of our amazing team who helped to make this all possible. Jinay is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

    DAVIN DE SANTIS (Assistant Stage Manager) Broadway: House of Blue Leaves. Off-Broadway: Gruesome Playground Injuries. Regional: Williamstown Theatre Festival, Contemporary American Theater Festival, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Centastage, TriArts Sharon Playhouse. Tours: Rock of Ages 1st National, Are You My Mother?, Laura Ingalls Wilder. BFA Stage/Production Management from Emerson College.

    Bradford T. Kenney (Executive Artistic Director) now in his sixth season in stewardship of “America’s Foremost Summer Theatre,” Mr Kenney is proud to include many wonderful theatrical productions and the guidance of some of the most significant theatre companies in New England as part of his career. Some Ogunquit highlights include last season’s Sunset Blvd starring Stefanie Powers and the all-star production of Monty Python’s Spamalot, as well as My Fair Lady, Les Misérables, Hairspray, Lorenzo Lamas in The King and I, Rue McClanahan in Crazy for You, Sally Struthers in Hello, Dolly!, Andrea McArdle in Cabaret and Leslie Uggams in Cinderella. While at Foothills Theatre in Worcester, MA, he produced many shows including: Miss Saigon, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, Proof, Cabaret (National Regional Premiere), Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Dick and Jimmy Van Patten in The Sunshine Boys, Titanic The Musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Regional Premiere), Macbeth, Ten Little Indians, Chicago, Gypsy, Our Town and Ragtime. He is also founder of the Wachusett Theatre Company in Massachusetts with shows such as The Sound of Music, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Disney/Elton John’s AIDA (Northeast Regional Premiere), Ted Lange from “The Love Boat” in Damn Yankees; and Eddie Mekka in Fiddler on the Roof, among others. His children’s theatres have produced Disney’s Jungle Book Kids, Seussical TYA (Northeast Premiere), Willy Wonka Jr, and Disney’s 101 Dalmations Kids, and the new production, Fairy Houses, The Musical. In addition to his producing credits, Brad has appeared on stage in the title role of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcerer with Salisbury Lyric Opera, Strephon in Iolanthe with the Savoyard Light Opera, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Barrett the Stoker in Titanic, Eric Burling in An Inspector Calls, Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap, Bobby in Company, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, the King in The King and I, Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! and Oberon in Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as many other roles in shows throughout New England. He is a fourth generation artist, having studied at Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art and Maine College of Art. For Tucker, Max and Ryan Francis Curtis.

    JAYME MCDANIEL (Associate Producer) is most happy and grateful to return to the wonderful Ogunquit Playhouse after he directed and choreographed Singin’ in the Rain here in 2009 and received an IRNE nomination for his choreography. Previously he acted as the Associate Artistic Director at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St Paul, MN where he had the fortunate opportunity to produce and direct several highly acclaimed and commercially successful productions. As a Stage Director, he directed/choreographed Joseph… at North Shore Music Theatre, Singin’ in the Rain, Grey Gardens, Yankee Doodle and The Rocky Horror Show at the Ordway; The Student Prince at Paper Mill Playhouse; Zorba & HMS Pinafore for the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Violet, Candide & Drood with Connecticut Repertory; It’s a Fabulous Life, Chicago, Zombie Prom, The Merry Widow, People Like Us, They’re Playing Our Song and many others. As an Associate Director and/or Choreographer: Laughing Room Only(Broadway), White Christmas, Wonderful Town, Sound of Music, (5th Ave Theatre), Yankee Doodle Dandy (5th Ave), Dallas Summer Musicals (Theatre of the Stars) Camelot and Rags (Paper Mill), Nefertiti (Parker Playhouse), Crazy for You (Musical Theatre West) and The Music Man (CLOSBC). He’s also enjoyed a career on the stage as well. Most notably in the final national tour of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing. In 2007 the Minneapolis Star Tribune lauded him as the Outstanding Director of a Musical.

    Brent M. Bruin (Costume Design Coordinator) is pleased to be back at the Playhouse for his second season. He originally hails from Indiana where he received his B.A. in theatre technology for Indiana-Purdue University. He began his career at the Utah Shakespeare Festival where he worked alongside former Barbara Matera drapers. Currently he is working on his master’s degree at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts for Costume Technology. Brent would like to thank Brad and Jayme for the wonderful opportunity they have given him here at the Playhouse.

    RICHARD LATTA (Lighting Designer) Recent credits: Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, The Devils’ Music, Meshugganuns. Projection Design team for: The People in the Picture and Thurgood (Broadway); Moby Dick (Dallas, San Diego, Sydney, San Francisco Operas) Visual research for the film “The Magic of Heineken,” Mazeppa (Met Opera NYC) Distracted (Mark Taper LA) Artistic and Technical Consultant for American Ballet Theatre. Ogunquit Playhouse employee since 1985.

    JEREMY OLEKSA (Sound Designer) is really excited to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse. His Ogunquit Playhouse design credits include The Sound of Music and Sunset Boulevard. He has designed popular shows like Jekyll and Hyde, and Nunsense, and has engineered many others, Nunsense! 25th Anniversary Tour, National Tour of Peter Pan, and 75th Anniversary of Porgy and Bess. He also has worked on Anything Goes at Musical Theatre West and Arizona Broadway Theatre, Brigadoon, Man of La Mancha, as well as all of the 2009 season for the Ogunquit Playhouse. He would like to thank his friends and family and the Ogunquit Playhouse staff including Becky Shelton for all of their support.

    EMILIA MARTIN (Hair & Makeup Designer) is happy to be returning to the Ogunquit Playhouse for her 5th season. Previous designs include Sunset Boulevard, Chicago, My Fair Lady and The Producers. Recent New York credits include, Broadway: Jerusalem, La Bete, God of Carnage, Off-BWay: 2nd Stages Vera Stark, Vanities, and The Spoon River Project with 22Q Productions. While not running a show Emilia is adjunct faculty for Wagner College, and this past spring at the Juilliard School. She is also a proud member of IATSE 798 as a Hair stylist. Emilia would like to thank Brad and Jayme, for making the Ogunquit Playhouse one of her favorite places to be!

    GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) returns for his fifth season supervising the wonderful sets that grace the Ogunquit Playhouse stage. In addition to his management skills, Geof brings a hands-on knowledge of the workings of stage scenery and mechanics, carpentry and welding, and is now taking on some design and re-design credits, most particularly with last season’s Chicago. Geof also serves as the Technical Supervisor for our Children’s Theatre shows. For the past four winters he has been the Assistant Technical Director at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre in Florida. Having grown up in a theatrical family (his mother a Theater educator, his father a professional actor/director) he continues the tradition here. His wife, Cheryl, is the Charge Scenic Artist and his daughter Ashlynn is an active participant in the Children’s Theatre.

    MEREDITH WILLSON (Book, Music, Lyrics, Story) was born in 1902 in Mason City, Iowa. He learned to play the flute as a child and began playing semi-professionally while still in high school. After high school he left Iowa to study at the Damrosch Institute of Musical Art (later the Julliard School), receiving flute instruction from Georges Barrere, the world-renown flutist. While still attending the Institute, he was hired as principle flutist and piccolo player for the John Philip Sousa Band. He later joined the New York Philharmonic Orchestra where he was 1st flutist. He became musical director for various radio programs throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, including Tallulah Bankhead’s program, The Big Show, for which he wrote the hit song “May The Lord Bless and Keep You.” He composed the scores for the movies The Great Dictator and The Little Foxes, as well as symphonic, band, and choral works, including The Jervis Bay: Symphonic Variations on an American Theme and Anthem of the Atomic Age. Willson wrote three Broadway musicals: The Music Man, his first and most successful; The Unsinkable Molly Brown (music and lyrics), and Here’s Love (book, music and lyrics). As an author he has published two autobiographical works (And There I Stood with My Piccolo and Eggs I Have Laid), one novel (Who Did What to Fedalia) and a memoir about the making of The Music Man (But He Doesn’t Know the Territory).

    MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI) is one of the world’s leading dramatic licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatrical organizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.

    Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States.Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence

    wwwactorsequityorg.

  • In the early summer of 1912, aboard a train leaving Rock Island, Illinois, Charlie Cowell and other traveling salesmen engage in a heated argument about consumer credit ("Rock Island"). They eventually turn to another topic: a con man known as "Professor" Harold Hill, whose scam is to convince parents he can teach their musically disinclined children to play musical instruments. On the premise that he will form a band, he takes orders for instruments and uniforms. But once the instruments arrive and are paid for, he skips town without forming the band, moving on before he is exposed.[10] Upon the train’s arrival in River City, Iowa, a stranger stands up and declares, "Gentlemen, you intrigue me. I think I shall have to give Iowa a try." Retrieving his suitcase, clearly labeled "Professor Harold Hill," he exits the train.

    The townspeople of River City describe their reserved, "chip-on-the-shoulder attitude" ("Iowa Stubborn"). Harold stumbles across his old friend Marcellus Washburn, who has "gone legit" and now lives in town. Marcellus tells Harold that Marian Paroo, the librarian who gives piano lessons, is the only trained musician in town. He also informs Hill that a new pool table was just delivered to the town's local billiard parlor, so to launch his scheme, Harold convinces River City parents of the "trouble" that will be caused by that pool table ("Ya Got Trouble"). Harold follows Marian home, attempting to flirt with her, but she ignores him. At home, Marian gives a piano lesson to a little girl named Amaryllis while arguing with her widowed mother about her high "standards where men are concerned", telling Mrs. Paroo about the man who followed her home ("Piano Lesson/If You Don't Mind My Saying So"). Marian's self-conscious, lisping 10-year-old brother Winthrop arrives home. Amaryllis, who secretly likes Winthrop but teases him about the lisp, asks Marian whom she should say goodnight to on the evening star, since she doesn't have a sweetheart. Marian tells her to just say goodnight to her "someone" ("Goodnight, My Someone").

    The next day is Independence Day, and Mayor Shinn is leading the morning festivities in the high school gym, with the help of his wife, Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn ("Columbia, Gem of the Ocean"). After Tommy Djilas, a boy from the wrong side of town, sets off a firecracker, interrupting the proceedings, Harold takes the stage and announces to the townspeople that he will prevent "sin and corruption" from the pool table by forming a boys' band ("Ya Got Trouble [Reprise]/Seventy-Six Trombones"). Mayor Shinn, who owns the billiard parlor, tells the bickering school board to get Harold's credentials, but Harold teaches them to sing as a Barbershop Quartet to distract them ("Ice Cream/Sincere"). Harold also sets up Zaneeta, the mayor's eldest daughter, with Tommy, and persuades Tommy to work as his assistant. After another rejection by Marian, Harold is determined to win her, telling Marcellus that she’s the girl for him ("The Sadder But Wiser Girl"). The town ladies are very excited about the band and the ladies' dance committee that Harold plans to form. He mentions Marian, and they intimate to him (falsely, as it turns out) that she had an inappropriate relationship with deceased old miser Madison, who gave the town the library, but left all the books to her. They also warn Harold that she advocates the "dirty books" by "Chaucer, Rabelais, and Balzac" ("Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little"). The school board arrives to collect Harold's credentials, but he leads them in song and slips away ("Goodnight, Ladies").

    The next day, Harold walks into the library, but Marian ignores him yet again. He declares his unrequited love for her, leading the teenagers in the library in dance ("Marian the Librarian"). For a moment, Marian forgets her decorum and dances with Harold. He kisses her, and she tries to slap him. He ducks, and she hits Tommy instead. With Tommy's help, Harold signs up all the boys in town to be in his band, including Winthrop. Mrs. Paroo likes Harold and tries to find out why Marian is not interested. Marian describes her ideal man ("My White Knight"). She tries to give Mayor Shinn evidence against Harold that she found in the Indiana State Educational Journal, but they are interrupted by the arrival of the Wells Fargo wagon, which delivers the band instruments ("The Wells Fargo Wagon"). When Winthrop forgets to be shy and self-conscious because he is so happy about his new cornet, Marian begins to see Harold in a new light. She tears the incriminating page out of the Journal before giving the book to Mayor Shinn.

    The ladies rehearse their classical dance in the school gym while the school board practices their quartet ("It's You") for the ice cream social. Marcellus and the town's teenagers interrupt the ladies' practice, taking over the gym as they dance ("Shipoopi"). Harold grabs Marian to dance with her, and all the teenagers join in. Regarding Winthrop's cornet, Marian later questions Harold about his claim that "you don't have to bother with the notes". He explains that this is what he calls "The Think System", and he arranges to call on Marian to discuss it. The town ladies ask Marian to join their dance committee, since she was "so dear dancing the Shipoopi" with Professor Hill ("Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little" [Reprise]). They have reversed their opinions about her books, and they eagerly tell her that "the Professor told us to read those books, and we simply adored them all!"

    That night, the school board tries to collect Harold's credentials again, but he gets them to sing again and slips away ("Lida Rose"). Marian, meanwhile, is sitting on her front porch thinking of Harold ("Will I Ever Tell You?"). Winthrop returns home after spending time with Harold and tells Marian and Mrs. Paroo about Harold's hometown ("Gary, Indiana"). As Marian waits alone for Harold, traveling salesman Charlie Cowell enters with evidence against Harold, hoping to tell Mayor Shinn. He has to leave on the next train, but stops to flirt with Marian. She tries to delay him so he doesn't have time to deliver the evidence, eventually kissing him. As the train whistle blows, she pushes him away. Charlie angrily tells Marian that Harold has a girl in "every county in Illinois, and he's taken it from every one of them – and that's 102 counties!"

    Harold arrives, and after he reminds her of the untrue rumors he's heard about her, she convinces herself that Charlie invented everything he told her. They agree to meet at the footbridge, where Marian tells him the difference he's made in her life ("Till There Was You"). Marcellus interrupts and tells Harold that the uniforms have arrived. He urges Harold to take the money and run, but Harold refuses to leave, insisting, "I've come up through the ranks... and I'm not resigning without my commission". He returns to Marian, who tells him that she's known since three days after he arrived that he is a fraud. (He said he was a graduate of Gary Conservatory, Gold-Medal Class of '05, but the town wasn't even built until '06!) Because she loves him, she gives him the incriminating page out of the Indiana State Educational Journal. She leaves, promising to see him later at the Sociable. With his schemes for the boys' band and Marian proceeding even better than planned, Harold confidently sings "Seventy-Six Trombones". As he overhears Marian singing "Goodnight My Someone", Harold suddenly realizes that he is in love with Marian; he and Marian sing a snatch of each other's songs.

    Meanwhile, Charlie Cowell, who has missed his train, arrives at the ice cream social and denounces Harold Hill as a fraud. The townspeople begin an agitated search for Harold. Winthrop is heartbroken and tells Harold that he wishes Harold never came to River City. But Marian tells Winthrop that she believes everything Harold ever said, for it did come true in the way every kid in town talked and acted that summer. She and Winthrop urge Harold to get away. He chooses to stay and tells Marian that he never really fell in love until he met her ("Till There Was You" [Reprise]). The constable then handcuffs Harold and leads him away.

    Mayor Shinn leads a meeting in the high school gym to decide what to do with Harold, asking, "Where's the band? Where's the band?" Marian defends Harold. Tommy enters as a drum major, followed by the kids in uniform with their instruments. Marian urges Harold to lead the River City Boys' Band in Beethoven's Minuet in G; despite a limited amount of traditional quality, the parents in the audience are nonetheless enraptured by the sight of their little boys playing music. Even Mayor Shinn is won over, and, as the townspeople cheer, Harold is released into Marian's arms ("Finale").

    - From Wikipedia

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