A standard of American musical theatre will come to Kearsarge this week.
Kearsarge Regional High School and the Kearsarge Actors Guild will present Meredith Willson’s The Music Man on Friday through Sunday.
Traveling salesman/con-man Harold Hill makes his money selling instruments to families in the Midwest and making empty promises to form a town marching band.
But all that changes when it finds himself in River City, Iowa, and falling in love with the town library/piano teacher Marion.
This show highlights senior Patrick Seward as Harold Hill.
“His musical genius shines through in every number as he dominates the stage and works his magic on the citizens of River City,” Director Sandy Nelson said.
Joining him in the cast are Mak Eldridge as Marian Paroo, Katie Nowicki as Eulalie Shinn, Jake Bender as Mayor Shinn, Olivia Parker as Mrs. Paroo, Jakob Vedova as Winthrop Paroo, Nora Gantner, Daniel Courtine, Savannah Nestler, Emma Geraghty, Jonathan Glidewell, Jay LaBeouf, Kenna St. Lawrence, Nathaniel Seward, James Rand, Bailey Carmody, Berhan Kidane, Amanda Lyons, Julia Marquardt, Phoebe Simano, Phoenix Chouinard, Abigail Conrad, Will Walker, Calvin Smith, Ford Simano, Oscar Dietel, Jade LeBoeuf, Grayson Rettig, Julia Sliger, Chase Tenney, Jersey Vedova and Charlotte Walker.
The band is made up of Emmy Potter, Chloe Midgett, Ed Stowell, Xavier Blasingame, Brandon Waddell, Carrie Young and Carey Citak.
Technical staff are Juliette Courtine, Courtney Goodwin, Riley Meadows, Aaron Thayer, Caroline Bourque, Faith Stillman and Max Brown.
The Music Man, of course, features lots of music, about 20 songs, plus reprises, but that’s down from more than 40 that came while the show was being produced for Broadway.
“The cast favors the musical number “The Wells Fargo Wagon,” allowing for many solos to be heard,” Nelson said. “Other favorite numbers include: “76 Trombones” and “The Shipoopi.” These fast-paced numbers show the townspeople as they dance their troubles away.”
Kearsarge’s cast presented some musical numbers while touring the school district’s four elementary schools, Nelson said.
The day featured the songs “Ya Got Trouble,” “Gary Indiana,” “Goodnight My Someone,” “76 Trombones,” and “Goodnight Ladies.”
“It was an exciting day sharing our love for the performing arts with our schools all while providing a sneak peek at this weekend’s performance of The Music Man,” Nelson said.
Shows for the public will be held Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 adults, $5 for students and seniors; you can reserve by emailing Nelson at senelson@kearsarge.org.