‘The Music Man’ to bring River City tale to Albert Gallatin High School
YORK RUN – Albert Gallatin Area Senior High School will present “The Music Man” Friday through Sunday, April 4-6, in the high school auditorium. The Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 7 p.m. and Sunday’s curtain time is 3 p.m. Tickets are available at the senior high school box office between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays. The box office will also be open from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 2. Pending availability, tickets may be purchased at the door before each performance.
A group of senior high school students and 18 students from the district’s six elementary schools make up the cast. The 30-instrument pit orchestra of teachers and student musicians rounds out the large group of performances.
Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” is the story of Professor Harold Hill played by Joseph Andria and his impact on the sleepy town of River City, Iowa.
Hill arrives in the small town of River City, Iowa, on July 4, intending to dupe the town’s citizens as part of a “con.”
But even with the lowest of intentions, he inadvertently brings joy into their lives and his own life as well.
His “con” is to convince the townspeople that he can teach their children to play in a marching band if they buy the instruments, uniforms and music books that he sells.
His plans to simply collect the money from the sales and escape without fulfilling his promise of a band go awry.
Professor Hill falls in love with the town librarian, Marian Paroo, who is portrayed by Brooke Whoolery.
The librarian makes an honest man out of the huckster.
The inner music that Professor Hill and the band bring into the life of the town transforms River City.
The cast of characters also includes Marian’s mother, Mrs. Paroo, played by Megan Cobert; Winthrop Paroo, played by elementary student Jeremy Rich; and Amaryllis, played by elementary student Melissa Bittinger.
Daron Christopher portrays the Mayor of River City, Mayor Shinn. His family consists of his wife, Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, played by April Black; and two daughters, Zaneeta played by Lauren Bisch, and Gracie portrayed by elementary student Macey Demniak.
Marcellus Washburn played by Tim Kelly and Tommy Djilas played by Marcus Barnes are the two friends that Hill has in town.
Members of the River City School Board are Aaron Hughes as Jacey Squires, Andy Brady as Ewart Dunlop, Chad Wolfe as Olin Britt and Reed Brown as Oliver Hix.
The Pick-a-Little Ladies are Jessie Smith as Maud Dunlop, Ale Muzika as Mrs. Squires, Stacy Uhler as Ethlel Toffelmier and Chelsea Moras as Alma Hix.
The other ladies of River City are cast members Laura Koposko, Brandi Gibson, Beth Essinger-Hileman, Rachel Hibbs, Jennifer Smithley, Tiffany Smodic and Allison Smith.
The River City teens are Anna Spieker, Anne Pallmann, Emily Elliot, Jessica Maruniak, Elizabeth Shaffer, Sara Grimplin, Kendall Galand, Jessica Copanhaver, Rachel Cerullo, Justine Lipmiskis, Amanda Davis, Sarah Brown and Chassity Matlick.
Jack Rosensteel plays dual parts as Charlie Cowell and Constable Locke.
Tyler Rockwell is the conductor. Brandon Huseman, Nathan Nies, Brian Huseman and Ryan Wilson play salesmen and the men of River City.
The elementary students, who complete the families of River City, are played by Drew Davis, Tyler Swenglish, Marc Ratay, Geo Muzika, Steven Hlatky, Ashley DeWitt, Leanne McClain, Jessica Jones, Jessica Glugla, Casey Zinn, Megan Bittinger, Emily Smaniotto, Jenna Joswick, Haley Bryner and Amanda Reicholf.
The crew is made up of Breanne Tomi, A.J. Olesh, Matt Linn, Rebecca Rhodes and Robert Hollowood.
Scenery was painted by the senior high art club, including Tonia Catalano, Laura Koposko, Megan Cobert, Brandon Huseman, Bill Brennsteiner, Molly Newman and Sara Grimplin.
The pit orchestra includes Michael Adamsky, Kerri Avenengo, Sarah Brown, Amber Bisch, Chris Bodnar, Tyrone Brown, Jerry Clark, Andy Glugla, Annie Grukowski, Mary Ann Hughes, Mattie Johnston, Felicia Jones, Jacquie Joswick, Jason Kendall, Molly Newman, Candace Nies, Mallary Perry, Jonathon Plebian, Wes Riggen, Jennifer Robinson, April Serock, Justin Stelle, Marissa Stevens, Amanda Stillwagon and Sylvia Vignali. Jeremy Kendall is the orchestra’s director.
Suzie Zalar, who owns Carmichael’s Center for the Performing Arts, performed the choreography for the show.
Music Theatre International of New York provided information for this article and is the licensing agent for this production.
Directing the Albert Gallatin production of “The Music Man” are Toby Maykuth, Linda Moore, Jeanne Fike and Jackie Davis.