Franklin Lacey News

Pioneer Theatre Company brings a heightened reality and nostalgia to the classic musical THE MUSIC MAN in its satisfying new production.

Today in 2000, the second Broadway revival of The Music Man openened at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran for 699 performances. The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with the cash. In 1957, the show became a hit on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and running for 1,375 performances. The cast album won the first Grammy Award for 'Best Original Cast Album'. The show's success led to revivals and a popular 1962 film adaptation and a 2003 television remake.

?Pioneer Theatre Company presents The Music Man, May 1 - May 16, 2015.

Meredith Willson's beloved family musical, THE MUSIC MAN, returns to the stage in an all-new concert staging starring the Marian of the classic film, Academy Award winner Shirley Jones, who will not only essay the role of Mrs. Paroo, but will serve as host and narrator. She will be joined on stage by her son, Patrick Cassidy as Prof. Harold Hill. A little known bit of Hollywood history: Shirley was pregnant with Patrick during the filming of The Music Man. Performances begin, appropriately enough, in Willson's home town (and model for River City) Mason City, Iowa tonight, September 18th.

Meredith Willson's beloved family musical, THE MUSIC MAN, returns to the stage in an all-new concert staging starring the Marian of the classic film, Academy Award winner Shirley Jones, who will not only essay the role of Mrs. Paroo, but will serve as host and narrator. She will be joined on stage by her son, Patrick Cassidy as Prof. Harold Hill. A little known bit of Hollywood history: Shirley was pregnant with Patrick during the filming ofThe Music Man.

Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Betsy Wolfe, Andrew Samonsky, John Ellison Conlee, Ann Harada and more starred in Transport Group's concert presentation of THE MUSIC MAN last week. Hosted by Joe Iconis, the evening included 58 actors, and the original orchestration featuring 20 instruments, conducted by Joey Chancey, original choreography by Jeffry Denman. Check out highlights below!

Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Betsy Wolfe, Andrew Samonsky, John Ellison Conlee, Ann Harada and more starred in Transport Group's concert presentation of THE MUSIC MAN. Hosted by Joe Iconis, the evening included 58 actors, and the original orchestration featuring 20 instruments, conducted by Joey Chancey, original choreography by Jeffry Denman. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photo coverage below!

Betsy Wolfe, Andrew Samonsky, John Ellison Conlee, Ann Harada and more join Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana and more in Transport Group's concert presentation of THE MUSIC MAN. Hosted by Joe Iconis,the evening will include 58 actors, and the original orchestration featuring 20 instruments, conducted by Joey Chancey, original choreography by Jeffry Denman, to The Irene Diamond Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center tonight, August 11th, 2014. The evening will be directed by five-time Drama Desk nominee, Jack Cummings III.

Betsy Wolfe, Andrew Samonsky, John Ellison Conlee, Ann Harada and more complete casting for Transport Group's concert presentation of The Music Man. Hosted by Joe Iconis,the evening will include 58 actors, and the original orchestration featuring 20 instruments, conducted by Joey Chancey,original choreography by Jeffry Denman,.to The Irene Diamond Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center on Monday August 11th, 2014. The evening will be directed by five-time Drama Desk nominee, Jack Cummings III.

Initial casting for Transport Group's concert presentation of The Music Man has been announced. The evening will feature Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Alexandra Silber, Mary Testa, Jill Paice, Heather Mac Rae, Jeffry Denman, Stanley Bahorek, David Greenspan, and D.C. Anderson. Complete casting will be announced at a later date. The concert will be held at the Irene Diamond Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42 Street, on Monday, August 11, 2014, directed by five-time Drama Desk nominee, Jack Cummings III.

To accommodate high ticket demand, Transport Group's concert presentation of The Music Man will move to The Irene Diamond Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center on Monday August 11, 2014. The evening will be directed by five-time Drama Desk nominee, Jack Cummings III. Casting will be announced at a later date.

Following the sold out concert sensations Baby and Once Upon a Mattress, Transport Group Theatre Company proudly presents The Music Man in concert on Monday, June 23 at 8pm at the The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre in The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street. The evening will be directed by five-time Drama Desk nominee, Jack Cummings III. Casting will be announced at a later date.

What do the 1950s have in common with 1912? Ages of innocence, both. When Meredith Willson wrote his story with Franklin Lacey about a con artist bamboozling an Iowa town in 1912, which formed the substance of his musical The Music Man (1957), the effect became like that of N. Richard Nash's The Rainmaker. People were jubilant, ecstatic and welcomed Professor Harold Hill, as they craved a good old-fashioned love story coated with ironic excitement. He was a charmer, and they saw way past his bad side. Now in a jubilant new production at GCT, the company pulls out all the stops and yet presents a delightfully down.to.earth show that keeps the flavor of Meredith Willson in tact. With fast-paced direction from Valerie Rachelle and a terrific cast led by Brent Schindele, The Music Man offers a refreshing look at the way life should be.

The last production in Town Hall Arts Center's 2013-2014 Season will be The Music Man, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, Story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey. The Music Man is directed by Christopher Willard, recently at Town Hall directing the 2013 production of 9 to5: The Musical. Musical direction is by Donna Kolpan Debreceni, Henry Award Winner, The Who's Tommy and choreographed by Kelly Kates, most recently here for the 2013 production of Annie.

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who were behind NBC's Sound of Music, may be on tap to head up the Meredith Wilson classic.

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt has announced at this morning's upfront presentation that the network has inked a deal for a live television production of the classic 1957 musical THE MUSIC MAN.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, April 27, 2014 - Sunday, April 27, 2014.

Today in 2000, the second Broadway revival of The Music Man openened at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran for 699 performances. The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with the cash. In 1957, the show became a hit on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and running for 1,375 performances. The cast album won the first Grammy Award for 'Best Original Cast Album'. The show's success led to revivals and a popular 1962 film adaptation and a 2003 television remake.

What do the 1950s have in common with 1912? Ages of innocence, both. When Meredith Willson wrote his story with Franklin Lacey about a con artist bamboozling an Iowa town in 1912, which formed the substance of his musical The Music Man (1957), the effect became like that of N. Richard Nash's The Rainmaker. People were jubilant, ecstatic and welcomed Professor Harold Hill, as they craved a good old-fashioned love story coated with ironic excitement. He was a charmer, and they saw way past his bad side. Now in a colorful new production at Musical Theatre West (MTW) in Long Beach, this company pulls out all the stops and presents a delightfully bigger-than-life show that would do Willson proud. With super direction from Jeff Maynard and a divine cast led by Davis Gaines, The Music Man offers a refreshing take on the way life should be, whether 1912, 1955 or 2014.

Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.