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- April 2, 2007
Different twist applied to SOV production of "The Music Man"
at Iowa State University
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The quintessential Iowa musical of all time, "The Music Man," is the perfect
vehicle to help kick off Iowa State University's 150th anniversary celebration
at VEISHEA.
"It just felt like the perfect fit since the Sesquicentennial celebration
starts at VEISHEA," says Brad Dell, ISU Theatre faculty member and
"The Music Man" director.
But this version of the Meredith Willson musical about the fast-talking
traveling salesman Harold Hill and the people of River City, Iowa, will
have a different twist applied to it when the Stars Over VEISHEA production
is performed Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, in Stephens Auditorium at
7 p.m.
Don't worry though. The musical will still be in Iowa. Harold Hill still
cons the citizens of River City into buying instruments and uniforms for
a boys' band he vows to organize - despite the fact he doesn't know a trombone
from a treble clef.
All the songs that have become Broadway standards such as "Till There was
You," "Ya Got Trouble," "Goodnight My Someone," "Wells Fargo Wagon," and
of course, "Seventy-Six Trombones," will still be performed.
"Visually, we're taking a different spin with the show," says
Dell.
That different visual spin is ala "Pleasantville," the recent
movie that sends two modern teenagers back to 1950s television where all
the scenes and characters are in black and white, and color is banned. By
the end of the movie the two teenagers have turned the townspeople on to
color.
Dell says that's the same approach this SOV production of "The Music
Man" is taking.
"When we first see River City, the town and the actors are all in black,
white and gray," he says. "Only Harold Hill is in color and as
he influences and awakens the sensibilities of the Iowans, they transform
into color.
"It just struck me when I was looking at the script again that the
transformation of the town is so important to the show and it was Harold
Hill's influence that made that transformation."
The "Pleasantville" look to "The Music Man" isn't without
its challenges. Double costumes (there are 120 different costumes for this
production) need to be created for every character. Scenically it's an even
tougher challenge.
"Obviously we can't make two separate sets for the same locations,"
Dell said. "We just have to be creative in what we do to make that
transformation."
By the time the first act ends with "Wells Fargo Wagon," Harold
Hill has transformed River City into color.
"It's an enormous risk to use this type of visual technique,"
Dell said. "Not everybody will love it but as (the character) Marian
says in the show, Harold Hill ‘brought music, life and color to this town.'
"I wouldn't ever consider changing the message or the characters in
‘The Music Man.' This way we can interpret the storytelling just a little
different."
The "Pleasantville" look has been created by Dell, Rob Sunderman,
scenic designer; Gregory Duckett, costume designer; and Jim Trenberth, lighting
designer. Donald Simonson is the musical director while Mary Creswell is
the vocal coach.
Micah Morgan plays the lead of Harold Hill, while Cathy Compton is Marian
(the librarian) Paroo. Other leads in the large cast include Tyler Brown,
Marcellus; William Mort, Mayor Shinn; Scott Mettille, Tommy Djilas; Tyler
Ronca, Winthrop; and Bonnie Goodson, Mrs. Paroo.
Tickets are $14 to $19 for adults and $8 to $12 for students and are available
through TicketMaster and the Iowa State Center Box Office.
Micah Morgan, Tyler Ronca and Cathy Compton in "The
Music Man"
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