The Music Man Opens at YLT 11/11-27

Meredith Willson's classic musical The Music Man is one of Broadway's great all-American blockbusters. It tells the story of con man Harold Hill who poses as a band organizer in order to sell instruments and uniforms to naïve townsfolk and skip town with the cash; but Harold finds trouble when he comes to River city, Iowa as things don't work out as he planned. In 1957 the show became an instant hit on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The Music Man will open at York Little Theatre on November 11 and the cast, crew and production staff could not be prouder. "This is a classic American musical," says Director Tom O'Shea. "It has everything-great plot, delightful music, terrific characters, and humor. It's a story about community and, after all," adds O'Shea, "as a community theatre, we are all about community." O'Shea is no newcomer to community theatre. He had just moved to York when, in 1989, he walked in to YLT and declared he would like to get involved. Since that day his involvement in and commitment to community theatre has never wavered. He has served as an actor, stage manager, director, Board member, committee chair, and President of the Board.

A complicated production like The Music Man presents some challenges for the production staff, which includes Choreographer Priscilla Jarrell, Musical Director Joe Reed, Stage Managers Kathy Davis and Allison Weaver, Costume Designer Margo Einsig, Set Designer Ray Olewiler, Technical Director Bob McCleary, Lighting Designer Steve Hoke, Sound Designer Adam Simons, and Props Mistress Ann Golion. "This is a top team down the line," says O'Shea. "You can't beat this team of artists." One of their greatest challenges is to accommodate the 18 scene changes required by the script quickly and smoothly. "It requires a great deal of coordination to keep the action moving," explains O'Shea. "We don't have elaborate equipment to help us-we have to do it all with manpower."

The production features a local cast of 45 actors including Zack Jackson as Harold Hill, Angela Wise as Marion Paroo, Bob Filer as Mayor Shinn, Kevin Wilcox as Charlie Cowell, Becky Wilcox as Eulalie Shinn, Bradlee Gorrera as Marcellus Washburn, Melissa Rosenfeld as Ethel Toffelmier, Jeanne Cooper as Mrs. Paroo, Sam Rooney as Winthrop Paroo, Lilly Gorski as Amaryllis and Rene Ruiz, RoBert Best, Chris McGuinness and Joe Klinger as the Barbershop Quartet. "I always look for stage presence," explains O'Shea. "It's something you can't teach and not everybody has it. My actors have it. Zack Jackson lights up the stage. He easily plays the role of the charming con man salesman. And Angela Wise is not only a lovely actress, but what a sweet and beautiful singing voice she gives Marion Paroo."
The production will be performed "the way it's supposed to be performed," says O'Shea. "We are staying true to the script." The show includes hit Broadway classics such as "Til There Was You," "Gary Indiana," and, of course," Seventy Six Trombones." The New York Times called The Music Man, "as American as apple pie and a Fourth of July oration. It's a marvelous show, rooted in wholesome and comic tradition."

The Music Man is sponsored by The Fertility Center, media sponsor Flipsidepa.com, and runs at YLT November 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 7:30 p.m., and November 13, 20 and 27 at 3:00 p.m. Adult tickets are $23, seniors are $21, students are $18, children are $10. Tickets can be purchased at www.ylt.org or 854-5715, from 11 - 5 weekdays.

York Little Theatre, now enjoying its 79th season of shows, is a nonprofit community theatre which values and nurtures the irreplaceable role of the arts and is dedicated to engaging and enriching its entire, diverse community in the dramatic arts through a broad range of professionally directed, entertaining, stimulating, and sometimes provocative performances.
York Little Theatre is located at 27 South Belmont Street, York PA, just south of Market Street at the intersection of I83.

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