Photo Flash: Riverdale Repertory Company Presents THE MUSIC MAN

Strike up the band: Riverdale Repertory Company, Riverdale Rising Stars, and Riverdale Junior Rising Stars proudly present THE MUSIC MAN at the Riverdale YM-YWHA. The limited engagement continues through Sunday, November 18, 2018.

Featuring a cast of adults, teens, and children from Riverdale, Yonkers, Upper Manhattan, and beyond, performances of THE MUSIC MAN will be held at the Riverdale YM-YWHA, located at 5625 Arlington Avenue (just off of Riverdale Avenue and West 256th Street), in Riverdale, Bronx, NY.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students if purchased online at www.RiverdaleRisingStars.com. Tickets are also available by calling Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006. For group sales, please email performingarts@riverdaley.org.

In this classic musical comedy, a traveling salesman comes to a sleepy Midwestern town to con the locals into buying instruments and uniforms for a hometown boys' band, and gets far more than he bargained for. Before you can say "76 Trombones," all of River City, Iowa awakens to the transformative power of making music in their community.

THE MUSIC MAN is co-directed by Shawn Renfro and Laurie Walton, with choreography by Walton. Music direction is by Justin Fischer and Bob Walton, and the design team includes Eric Zoback (Set Design), Arianne DiCerbo (Scenic Painting), Penelope Margeotes (Costumes), and David Pentz (Lighting).

The original Broadway production of THE MUSIC MAN opened in 1957, and was an immediate smash hit, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, eventually running for 1,375 performances. The original cast album won the Grammy, and was number one on the Billboard charts for 12 weeks. The Oscar-winning film adaptation was released in 1962, and the Beatles had a chart-topping hit with the show's song "'Til There Was You" in 1963. Dick Van Dyke and a young Christian Slater starred in a 1980 New York revival, and the show also appeared on Broadway in 2000. A television remake starring Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth premiered in 2003.

Riverdale Rising Stars (Laurie Walton, Founder and Artistic Director) was created to provide the teens of the Riverdale community and beyond a professional repertory company experience. Since its inception in 2000, the organization has expanded its programming to include Rising Stars Jr., Riverdale Repertory Company, and the Riverdale Performing Arts Conservatory (RPAC), an educational program for adults and children. Of greatest importance is the way that all build self-esteem, learn enormous respect for others, develop camaraderie and create lifelong friendships. Together, these award-winning companies provide a world of expression, passion and creativity for all ages.

In addition to THE MUSIC MAN, the fall/winter season of musicals at the Riverdale YM-YWHA includes Newsies (teenage performers: December 1-16, 2018), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (January 12-13, 2019), and Dear Edwina Jr. (January 26-27, 2019). The spring season will be announced soon. For more information, visit www.riverdaley.org/programs/theater/.

The mission of the Riverdale YM-YWHA is to be the hub that brings together members of the Jewish and wider community. At the Y, individuals and families of all backgrounds and abilities gather to grow, to learn, and to deepen their understanding of themselves and their connections to one another. Rooted in Jewish values, our cultural, social, educational, health and wellness programs offer members of all ages multiple pathways into the richness of our local community life. Through our programs and partnerships, we strive to improve the quality of life in the Riverdale community and celebrate its uniqueness and its diversity. www.RiverdaleY.org.