MWSU Media Release
Western Playhouse, the summer theatre company at Missouri Western State University, presents “The Music Man” June 20-28 in the Potter Hall Theater. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. June 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 and 2 p.m. June 22. Tickets may be purchased in advance in person at the Western Institute, Spratt Hall room 105, by phone at 816-271-4100, or online at www.westernplayhouse.com. Opening night will include a Gala Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 20 in the Enright Community Room, Spratt Hall rooms 214-216. Tickets to the dinner are $16 and must be reserved by noon Tuesday, June 17 by calling 816-271-4100.
An affectionate paean to Smalltown, U.S.A., of a bygone era, Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” 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 – 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.
The original Broadway production won five Tony Awards in 1958, including Best Musical, and ran for more than 1,300 performances.
The production is directed by Tee Quillin, who co-founded Western Playhouse and directed the company’s “Miss Saigon” in 2013 and “Barefoot in the Park” in 2012. He also performed in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in 2012.
Harold Hill is played by Dallas Henry, another co-founder of Western Playhouse. Henry directed “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” and starred in “Barefoot in the Park” in 2012.
Other cast members include:
Marian Paroo – Melissa Perry
Eulalie Shinn – Leah Swank-Miller
Zaneeta Shinn – Danielle Davilla
Marcellus Washburn – Ray Johnson
Mayor Shinn – Erik Burns-Sprung
Mrs. Paroo – Judy Simmons
Tommy Djilas – Joseph Kellogg
Winthrop Paroo – Carson Gaddie
Charlie Cowell – Paul Kunz
Amaryllis – Anna Bracciano
Gracie Shinn – Morgan Quillin
Alma Hix – Anna Brockman
Maud Dunlap – Megan Gill
Ethel Toffelmier – Alanna Lovely
Mrs. Squires – Jessica Love
Constable Locke – Danny Kellogg
Quartet: Ewart Dunlop – Caleb Hazelwood; Oliver Hix – Jacob Mills; Jacey Squires – Jagger Bowers; Olin Britt – Ian Fast
Chorus – Sebastian Smith, Riley Bayer, Antonio Daniels-Braziel, Derek Thompson, Ali Fowler, Lauren Bergman, Nerissa Lee, Alyssa Cavazos
Children – Hailey Meyer, Daniel Love, Amanda Nabors, Ashlynn Ford, Natalie Stover, Riley McKune
Henry and Simmons are members of the Actors’ Equity Association.
Tickets will cost $22.50 for adults and $9.50 for the first two youth 17 and under, then $1 for each additional child. There are discounts available for group ticket sales and for Missouri Western faculty and staff.
“The Music Man” is the first of two shows comprising the third season of Western Playhouse. “Mother Divine,” an award-winning new musical, will be produced July 11-19.