STAGE TUBE: Walnut Street Theatre's THE MUSIC MAN - Highlights!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204th season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN runs now through January 6th on the WST Mainstage. Check out highlights from the production in the video!

When the lovable, fast-talking con man "Professor" Harold Hill arrives in River City, Iowa, he promises the townsfolk that he can teach the town's children how to play in a magnificent marching band if they buy uniforms and instruments from him. (The Walnut's marching band will include 2 teams of children from the Philadelphia area.) Falling in love with the librarian wasn't part of the deal. The show's Grammy Award-winning songs include "Ya Got Trouble," "Goodnight My Someone," "Till There Was You," and the show-stopping "Seventy-Six Trombones."

Director and Choreographer of THE MUSIC MAN is Marc Robin. Robin is thrilled to return to the Walnut after directing its popular 2012 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I and the 2011 production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas. His additional Walnut credits include Mel Brooks' The Producers, Peter Pan and Windy City. Robin resides in Lancaster, PA and is currently the Artistic Director of the Fulton Opera House. As a freelance director/choreographer he has staged over 250 productions at theatres across the country. Robin is the recipient of 16 Joseph Jefferson Awards (46 nominations), 12 After Dark Awards, 3 Ari "Zoni" Awards, Light Opera Works Lifetime Achievement Award and 4 Barrymore Award nominations for his work at Walnut Street Theatre. Douglass G. Lutz joins Robin as the Musical and Vocal Director, a familiar role to the Gilbertsville resident. Lutz's recent Walnut credits include Love Story, the musical; Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I; Miss Saigon; Fiddler on the Roof and Oliver!.

Scenic Designer Robert Andrew Kovach (The King and I, God of Carnage, The 39 Steps, White Christmas) is joined by Lighting Designer Paul Black (The King and I, The 39 Steps, White Christmas, Curtains), award-winning Costume Designer Colleen Grady (Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof ) and new-to-the-Walnut Sound Designer Robert Kaplowitz.

The cast of Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN is led by one of Philadelphia's favorite leading men, Jeffrey Coon, and Broadway and Walnut veteran, Jennifer Hope Wills. Having performed roles on its Mainstage including Enjolras in Les Miserables, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Che Guevara in Evita and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, the Walnut is pleased to announce Coon's next role as the swindling con man Harold Hill. Wills appeared as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera for four years, with additional Broadway credits including Wonderful Town, The Woman in White and Beauty and the Beast. Walnut audiences will remember Wills as Rose Vibert in Aspects of Love and Sharon McLonergan in Finian's Rainbow.

Coon and Wills are joined by Walnut favorites Joey Abramowicz (Miss Saigon), Scott Langdon (Love Story, the musical), Mary Martello (Oliver!), Stanley Martin (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Ellie Mooney (Amadeus), Fran Prisco (A Grand Night for Singing), Rebecca Robbins (A Grand Night for Singing), Alene Robertson (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Kerri Rose (Aspects of Love), Nicholas F. Saverine (State Fair), Erica Sweany (Mel Brooks' The Producers), Bill Van Horn (Proof) and Denise Whelan (Man of La Mancha). Joining them are newcomers Randall Frizado, Sarah Meahl, Kevin Munhall, Alex Pepper, Chuck Ragsdale, Joseph Torello and Emmeline Wood.

The youngest members to march in the big parade are all local to the Philadelphia area. Vincent Crocilla of Vineland, NJ and Jared Brito of Philadelphia, PA share the role of Winthrop Paroo. Jamieson O'Brien of Atco, NJ and Lisa Diaz of Southampton, NJ are double cast as Amarylis. Gaby Bradbury (Oliver!, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol) of Ardmore, PA returns to the Walnut's stage sharing the role of Gracie Shinn with Walnut newcomer Cameron Flurry of Newtown, PA. The children's ensemble includes: Angela Marie Burtulato, Alicia Vogel and siblings Hope McQuoid, Lucy McQuoid, Molly McQuoid, William McQuoid of Philadelphia, PA; Paige Brady of Eagleville, PA; siblings Dante Bruzzese and Giuliana Bruzzese of Voorhees, NJ; Jake Cedar of Haddonfield, NJ; Sara Fisher of Haddon Heights, NJ; Zoe Grace Fox of Glenside, PA; Sam Gamberg of Wynnewood, PA; Kurt Hartwell of Monroeville, NJ; Tyler Hentz of Doylestown, PA; Jonathon Krippe of Emmaus, PA; Grace Matwijec of Newtown, PA; Skylar Raye Noyes of Moorestown, NJ; Alexander Ryan of Chesterbrook, PA; Julia Seeley of Bryn Mawr, PA; Erik Daughterman and Nicky Torchia of Langhorne, PA; JD Triolo of West Chester, PA and Audrey Trullinger of Ambler, PA.

THE MUSIC MAN runs at the Walnut now through January 6. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.

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