Stash the cash under the mattress and bolt the door, Harold Hill is headed this way.
Next week Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater opens a production of that quintessential American musical, "The Music Man," at Bowker Auditorium at the University of Massachusetts. And the cranky town of River City, Iowa, circa 1912, comes to life as that rascal Hill bounds from the train with a well-worn suitcase and an equally shabby plan to scam the townspeople out of their hard-earned cash.
But this time, before he makes off with the loot accruing to his load of flim flam about starting a boys' band, Hill astonishes himself by falling in love, managing to transform the town for the better and redeem himself in the bargain.
The show, with book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, story by Willson and Franklin Lacey, opened on Broadway in 1957 and ran to 1,375 performances, garnering several 1958 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Willson also earned the very first Grammy Award for the score.
"[Hill] allows the town to see past his trickery, waking them up to see that music is an important part of life, [helping them] to believe in themselves and have their dreams come true," said director Van Farrier.
Farrier, a longtime director and professional actor, teaches theater arts at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Conn. and Southwick-Tolland High School in Southwick. He was last seen performing in a live radio play of "It's a Wonderful Life" in December at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, and starts rehearsal soon for a spring production of "The Full Monty" there. This is his debut directorial appearance with Amherst Community Theater.
In addition to the uplifting message, lavish period costumes and memorable music - including the tender "Till There Was You" and the rousing "Seventy-six Trombones" - Farrier says the dancing is going to be one of the highlights of the show. "The choreographer is pushing the actors to their limits," he said, "and they're rising to the occasion."
"They've really raised the bar this year on the choreography," echoed producer Carol Rogers. "The dancing in this particular production is going to be quite extravagant - more complex and challenging than in the past."
Choreographer David Wolgin, a clinical psychologist by day, who has collaborated with Farrier on several shows, said the two have a strong shared vision and high expectations. "We're perfectionistic and detail-oriented theater people," he said. "For example, [in the Marian the Librarian['] production number that takes place in the library], I might spend as much as five minutes just trying to clarify exactly how I want cast members to be holding their books, in order for the piece to look precise and clean."
Several of the show-stopping dance numbers - like "Iowa Stubborn," "Trouble," the high-energy "Shipoopy" and rousing "Seventy-six Trombones" - involve nearly the entire cast of 68, ranging in age from 7 to 70, some with dance training, and some, not so much. "Each [age] group has a different energy, so it's a challenge for me to engage them each at their own level," Wolgin said. But "The cast has been very much like a sponge - wanting to take in as much as they can."
He characterizes the overall style of the numbers as "Americana, sort of Agnes de Mille celebratory," and said he was inspired by the choreography of Susan Stroman in the 2000 Broadway revival of the show. The recipient of five Tony Awards, Stroman went on to choreograph the Broadway productions of "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein."
The cast is headed by John Healy as Hill and Heather Davies as his unexpected lady love, Marian the librarian. Henry Hirschfeld of Shutesbury, who will celebrate his ninth birthday on the second night of the run, plays Marian's younger brother, the sad and shy Winthrop, who is still grieving the death of his father and struggling with a strong lisp. In the 1962 movie version, the role was played by a 7-year-old Ron Howard.
Winthrop's happy transformation under Hill's tutelage is instrumental in softening Marian's feelings toward the scammer, and ultimately in the town's own transformation. Previously next to mute to hide his painful lisp, Winthrop comes to chatty life when he receives his shiny brass instrument. Hirschfeld says, "The most challenging thing for me is the one [lisped] line, 'Sister, sister, isn't this the most scrumptious solid gold thing you ever saw. I never thought I'd see something so scrumptious as this solid gold thing!"
On the cusp of his ninth birthday, Hirschfeld already has two years of theatrical experience to his credit, having performed with the Hadley-based Starlight Productions in "Newsies" and "Seussical the Musical."
Also performing are Lynn Omasta as Mrs. Paroo, the mother of Marian and Winthrop; Jason Healy as Marcellus, Hill's erstwhile conspirator gone straight; Matt Haas as Mayor Shinn; and Ann Steinhauser in a reprise of her 1999 role as the mayor's wife, Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn.
Susanne Anderson is the musical director and orchestra conductor, and Hugh Hall, an interior designer of the Yankee Candle stores worldwide, returns as set and lighting designer.
"His designs are always eye-popping and jaw-dropping," said Rogers. "There's a magical touch to his work."
Hall's magic sets the stage for the message of "The Music Man" to shine through. "Essentially, it's a message of a community coming together to make something wonderful happen," said Farrier, which is not so different from the process of creating the show itself, Rogers says.
"There's nothing like putting on a show to create that community connection," she said, "and not just among the cast and crew, but with the audience as well."
Bottom line?
"It's an uplifting, stand-up-and-cheer kind of show," she said.
source: http://www.amherstbulletin.com/
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