The Music Man

Queen Charlotte Hall, Parkshot

May 1988

Producer – Jessica Joyce

Musical Director – Michael Carver

The Music Man is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey.

In 1957, the show became a hit on Broadway and spawned revivals, a popular film and is still frequently produced by both professional and amateur theatre companies.

After years of development, a change of producers, and more than forty drafts, the original Broadway production, directed by Morton DaCosta and choreographed by Onna White, opened on December 19, 1957 at the Majestic Theatre, where it remained for nearly three years before transferring to The Broadway Theatre to complete its 1,375-performance run.

The original cast included Robert Preston (who went on to reprise his role in the 1962 screen adaptation) as Harold Hill, Barbara Cook as Marian, and Eddie Hodges as Winthrop, with Pert Kelton, David Burns, and Iggie Wolfington in supporting roles. Eddie Albert replaced Preston later in the run.

CAST

Travelling Salesmen – Will Brooks, Peter Mumford, Andrew Prosser, Kit Stratfull, Paul Viney

Charlie Cowell – Rick Ratcliffe

Conductor – Ron Pharo

Harold Hill – John Tustin

Mayor Shinn – Richard Matthiae

Ewart Dunlop – Peter Vaughan

Oliver Hix – Carl Smith

Jacey Squires – Andy Yeates

Olin Britt – Andy MacBean

Marcellus Washburn – Colin Daily

Tommy Djilas – Peter Barnett

Marian Paroo – Julie Thomas

Mrs Paroo – Angela Sturgeon

Amaryllis – Anna Gregory or Miranda Yorath

Winthrop Paroo – Mark Rogers or Tristan Matthiae

Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn – Lynne Tompkins

Zaneeta Shinn – Sarah Fox

Gracie Shinn – Rachel Graham

Alma Hix – Janet Turner

Maud Dunlop – Joyce Stewart

Ethel Toffelmier – Beryl Yorath

Mrs Squires – Mandy Stenhouse

Constable Locke – Ron Pharo

River City Townspeople – Pauline Beament, Ellen Harvey-Smart, Wendy Howard, Marion McLaren, Jackie Osborne, Sally Pembery, Sonya Raymond, Louise Stevenson, Barbara Thomas

River City Children (group A) – Burak Agca, Matthew Dineem, Jessica Garden, Thomas Griffin, Christopher Griffin, Maria Kerr, Rachel Lavery, Kylie Odd, Hannah Pledger, Emily Thompson, Louise Ware

River City Children (group B) – Burak Agca, Emma Antoine, Joanne Elliott, Sarah Harvey-Smart, Paul Hawkes, Kristie Matthiae, Jason Raggatt, Kate Vaughan, James Yorath

Dancers – Melanie Edwards, Catherine Early Dylan Dolan

Miranda Yorath, Tristran Matthaie, Dylan Dolan, Michael Carver, Gerry Whillcock, Nigel Paul, Neil Blundell, Derek Muir, Mary Brunsden, Max Woodhead, Paul Harvey, Pay McBain, Katina Latouris-Smith, Alan Thorogood, Martin Wilcox, Michael Perry

CREW

Designer – Malcolm Chilton

Technical Co-ordinator – Janet Turner

Stage Manager – Barbara Mitchell

Assistant Stage Manager – John Mitchell

Production Assistants – Mandy Lewis, Jackie Osborne, Wendy Tyler

Set Constructed by – Paul Viney & members of BROS

Stage Crew – David Cole, Peter Campbell, Wendy Kidd

Rehearsal Pianist – Dennis Gomm

Prompt – Anne Campbell

Box Office – Kit Stratfull

Props – Peter Sporle, Ann Newton, Mandy Lewis

Costume Co-ordinators – Pauline Kendrick & Mandy Stenhouse

Costumes – Alan Scott Costumes

Lighting Design – Peter Willis

Lighting assistant – Steve Brown

Poster Design – Martin Phillips

Chaperones – Wendy Edwards, Wendy Tyler

Front of House – Helen Jenkins

Make-up – Amanda Edgell, Merian Ganjou

Publicity – Michael Carver, Anne Campbell

Group Bookings – Julie Thomas

BAND

Keyboard – Michael Carver

Trumpets – Gerry Willcock, Nigel Paul, Neil Blundell

Trombone – Derek Muir

Clarinets – Mary Brunsden, Max Woodhead, Paul Harvey

Flute/Piccolo – Pat McBain

Violins – Katina Latouris-Smith, Alan Thorogood

Bass – Martin Wilcox

Percussion – Michael Perry