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Students Bring 'The Music Man' to Campus

The sound of "76 trombones" will reverberate through Lehman Auditorium as Theater at EMU presents the spring mainstage production of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man."

The 45-member student cast, directed by L.B. Hamilton, recreates the Broadway musical that won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and nine Tony Awards. The 1962 film version received an Academy Award for "best musical adaptation."

Professor of Theater Barb Graber handed over her responsibilities as director to Hamilton in order to fully recover from a 2003 vehicle accident. Graber continues to teach part-time and will stay involved with The Music Man.

Confidence man Harold Hill (Michael Dezort) arrives at staid River City intending to cheat the community with his standard scam of offering to equip and train a boy's marching band, then skip town with the money since he has no music skill anyway. Things go awry when he falls for librarian Marian Paroo (Bethany Blouse), whom he tries to divert from exposing him while he inadventently enriches the town with a love of music.

Guest director L.B. Hamilton began her theatrical career as an actor, then worked in the film, television and recording industries. An award-winning published/produced playwright, she continues free-lance work while serving as consulting director for C.L.I.M.B. Theater in Minnesota and as director of special programs for Washington Sheakespeare Company (WSC) in D.C.

Hamilton directed the EMU Theater production of "Twelve Angry Jurors" the fall of 2002.

Performance times for "The Music Man" are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 18 & 19 and Feb. 24, 25 & 26 in EMU's Lehman Auditorium. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $8 non-EMU students, $6 senior citizens and children 12 and under.

To reserve tickets, call the EMU box office at (540) 432-4582.

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted February 1, 2005