Community members perform Summer Musical Theatre production of “The Music Man”

One of the most loved musicals in American musical theatre, “The Music Man” by Meredith Willson, will be performed by community actors and presented by North Central College’s Summer Musical Theatre.

Six performances will be staged at 7:30 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1, 7, 8 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 2 and 9 in North Central’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave. Tickets are $18/adults and $12/students and senior citizens; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

“The Music Man” features the fast-talking, slipperier than a Mississippi sturgeon Harold Hill who wins the hearts of stubborn River City, Iowa, residents. In the process, he gets his foot caught in the door, falling for Marian Paroo, the town librarian. A show filled with catchy tunes, great dancing and a wonderful barbershop quartet, this is perfect entertainment for the entire family.

Brian Lynch, North Central’s fine arts director and veteran of Broadway touring productions, is the show’s director and choreographer. Ali Kordelewski, a 2012 North Central graduate with degrees in choral and instrumental music education, gives musical direction.

“By far, ‘The Music Man’ is one of my all-time favorite shows, especially for the summer audiences,” says Lynch. “It captures what we try to present with summer theatre at North Central—smiling faces, bright lights and a sense of accomplishment at the end of the summer. It’s much like Marian’s lines to the people of River City when they want to run Harold Hill out of town on a rail. The town ended up having the best summer they’d ever experienced! Our goal for ‘The Music Man’ company and everyone who comes to see it is to have the best summer they’ve ever had.”

The cast for “The Music Man” features nearly 100 community residents as singers, dancers and these principal roles (some are double cast):

Charlie Cowell: Chris Oeschel of Naperville
Conductor: James Godo of Aurora, a 1993 graduate of North Central
Harold Hill: Paul Mullen of Naperville
Mayor Shinn: Ben Murray of Naperville
Marcellus Washburn: Keith Carlson of Naperville, a 1995 graduate of North Central
Tommy Djilas: Justin Smusz of Bolingbrook
Marian Paroo: double cast with Jen Prerost of Naperville and a 2001 graduate of North Central, Kristin Brintnall of Wheaton
Mrs. Paroo: Jane Warfel of Naperville
Amaryllis: double cast with Veronica Vasko of Woodridge, Skylar McClure of Aurora
Winthrop Paroo: double cast with Landon Barnickel, Blake Barnickel of Plainfield
Eulalie MacKenzie Shinn: Lisa Stach of Downers Grove
Zaneeta Shinn: Doris Olsen of Naperville
Gracie Shinn: Kathryn Prerost of Naperville
Constable Locke: John Lindberg of St. Charles and a sophomore student at North Central
Traveling Salesmen: Eric Kopicki, Max Martin, Brian Warren ’14, Sean Lynch ’15, John Lindberg ’18
Newspapermen: Bennett Smith, Justin Vasko, Keith Aarseth
The Quartet: Jim Jarosz as Ewart Dunlop, Keith Aarseth as Oliver Hix, Mike Sillar as Jacey Squires, Mark Johnson as Olin Britt
Pick-a-Little Ladies: Emma Wichhardt as Alma Hix, Molly Durava as Maud Dunlop, Kathy Musselman as Ethel Toffelmier, Jill Morrow as Mrs. Squires