BWW Reviews: MUSIC MAN Marches Melodically Onto Moonlight Stage
by Don Grigware - Jul 17, 2015
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 spirited new production at Moonlight Amphitheatre, Vista , 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 John Vaughn and a splendid cast led by David Engel as Hill , The Music Man offers an unrealistic yet refreshing look at the way life should be.
THE MUSIC MAN Closes Roxy Regional Theatre's 32nd Season, Starting Today
by BWW News Desk - Jul 17, 2015
Seventy-six trombones close the Roxy Regional Theatre's 32nd season with a nostalgic bang when Meredith Willson's great American musical classic THE MUSIC MAN marches onto the mainstage, beginning today, July 17. The production will continue through August 22.
Maine State Music Theatre's THE MUSIC MAN Opens Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Jul 15, 2015
Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) presents Meredith Willson's beloved all-American classic THE MUSIC MAN. This six-time TONY Award-winning musical has been entertaining audiences since 1957. THE MUSIC MAN runs tonight, July 15, through August 1, 2015.
Photo Flash: The Theatre Group at SBCC's THE MUSIC MAN Begins Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Jul 10, 2015
The Theatre Group at SBCC will open the 2015/16 anniversary season with the well-loved musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN, Book, Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson, Story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey. Directed by R. Michael Gros and Musical Direction by David Potter, The Music Man will perform tonight, July 10, through July 25, 2015 in the beautiful Garvin Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!
Maine State Music Theatre's THE MUSIC MAN Opens 7/15
by Tyler Peterson - Jul 7, 2015
Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) presents Meredith Willson's beloved all-American classic THE MUSIC MAN. This six-time TONY Award-winning musical has been entertaining audiences since 1957. THE MUSIC MAN runs July 15 - August 1, 2015.
Sierra Repertory Theatre Presents THE MUSIC MAN, Now thru 8/16
by BWW News Desk - Jun 26, 2015
Barbershop quartets, Fourth of July celebrations, ice cream socials and marching bands find a home at Columbia State Park's Fallon House Theatre when Sierra Repertory Theatre presents The Music Man, tonight, June 26 - August 16.
Photo Flash: Sneak Peek at The Theatre Group at SBCC's THE MUSIC MAN
by BWW News Desk - Jun 19, 2015
The Theatre Group at SBCC will open the 2015/16 anniversary season with the well-loved musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN, Book, Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson, Story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey. Directed by R. Michael Gros and Musical Direction by David Potter, The Music Man will perform July 10-25, 2015 in the beautiful Garvin Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!
Sierra Repertory Theatre to Present THE MUSIC MAN, 6/26-8/16
by Tyler Peterson - Jun 12, 2015
Barbershop quartets, Fourth of July celebrations, ice cream socials and marching bands find a home at Columbia State Park's Fallon House Theatre when Sierra Repertory Theatre presents The Music Man, June 26 - August 16.
STAGE TUBE: On This Day for 6/8/15- Robert Preston
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 8, 2015
Happy Birthday, Robert Preston! best remembered for his performance as 'Professor' Harold Hill in Meredith Willson's musical The Music Man (1962). He had already won a Tony Award for his performance in the original Broadway production, in 1957. In 1965 he was the male part of a duo-lead musical, I Do! I Do! with Mary Martin, for which he won his second Tony Award. He played the title role in the musical Ben Franklin in Paris and originated the role of Henry II in the original production of The Lion in Winter. In 1974 he starred alongside Bernadette Peters in Jerry Herman's Broadway musical Mack & Mabel as Mack Sennett, the famous silent film director. That same year (1974) the film version of Mame, another famed Jerry Herman musical, was released with Preston starring, alongside Lucille Ball, in the role of Beauregard Burnside.
CRITICS' CHOICE: To The Theater Post-Haste
by Jeffrey Ellis - Jun 5, 2015
It's another busy weekend of new shows opening and many others continuing to delight audiences, with ACT 1's Dog Sees God and Street Theatre Company's Dogfight both opening tonight, while two shows that opened yesterday will continue to treat audiences to some especially wonderful music. Plus, there's a whole slate of shows being performed at Crossville's Cumberland County Playhouse, a revival of Osborne & Epplers' Southern Fried Nuptials down in Woodbury at the Arts Center of Cannon County, and John Chaffin's Cliffhanger enters its final weekend at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. Go to the theater, young man (and woman) and let yourself be transported to a whole new world of magic and enchantment!
STAGE TUBE: On This Day for 6/5/15- THE MUSIC MAN
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 5, 2015
Today in 1980, The Music Man opened at City Center, where it ran for 21 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 FRIDAY FIVE (on Wednesday): PATSY CLINE's Simmons and LeMoine-Reed
by Jeffrey Ellis - Jun 3, 2015
Today, in a special edition of The Friday Five (on Wednesday), we introduce two actors from The Gaslight Dinner Theatre's upcoming production of A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline: Linda Sue Simmons (my favorite Miss Chattanooga of all time) and Curtis LeMoine-Reed. Directed by Greg Frey, the musical - filled with some of Patsy Cline's best-loved hits that will transport you back to her starry heyday in the 1960s - opens Thursday afternoon at The Renaissance Center in Dickson.
BWW Interviews: Actor J. Anthony Crane Talks THE MUSIC MAN
by Katricia Lang - May 7, 2015
THE MUSIC MAN involves Harold Hill, a con man swindling good, kind-hearted people by promising to provide services he can't provide and that never materialize. It's true, the cherished musical is as American as apple pie.
STAGE TUBE: On This Day for 4/27/15- THE MUSIC MAN
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 27, 2015
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.
