Young Footliters Youth Theatre's “The Music Man Jr." at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts -- June 26 through 28.
Friday, June 26, through Sunday, June 28
Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth Street, Coralville IA
A student-performed version of the Broadway classic whose original production earned five Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, The Music Man Jr. enjoys a June 26 through 28 run at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, the Toung Footliters Youth Theatre presentation treating audiences so such timeless show tunes as “Seventy-Six Trombones, “(Ya Got Trouble,” and “Till There Was You.”
Boasting a book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, The Music Man is based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader. He sells band instruments and uniforms to naïve Midwestern townsfolk, promising to train the members of the new band. Harold is no musician, however, and plans to skip town without giving any music lessons. Prim librarian and piano teacher Marian Paroo, at least, sees through his charade.. But when Harold helps her younger brother overcome his lisp and social awkwardness, Marian begins to fall in love with Harold, and he, in turns, risks being proven as a charlatan to ultimately win her heart.
Directing The Music Man Jr. for the Young Footliters Youth Theatre is Uri Lessing, with additional members of the creative team including: assistant director Shay Miller; music director Jessica Palmer; scenic designer Marianna Coffey; lighting designer Reese Morgan; sound designer Tim Moffitt; costume designer Jackie Allen; and choreographer Dasha Bezugla.
The fast-talking Harold Hill is portrayed by Chester Rood, with Brynn Sheeley playing Marian Paroo, and more than four dozen talents complete the Music Man Jr. student ensemble: Quincy Cargill; Sophie Bergman; Elliot Umlah; Toby Morlan; Eli Beck; Archie Gavin; Tate Riggan; Peter Palmer; Evy Meeks; Hadley Fruin; Claireann Andrle; Nina Tsilosani; Sadie Linder; Layla Lipper; Veronica Boston-Halter; MacLaren Cargill; Tyler Hoth; Max Stalder; Annalyn English; Lily Sheerin; Ryder Ehlers; Elise Fesler; Vasilios Mihalopoulos; Claire Reimer; Finn Shipman-Wright; Henry Lenhart; Theo Fiagle; Graham Anderson; Elise Beres; Brecken Bush; Emilia Krall; Joanna Ma; Arlette Menzel; Asha Mihalopoulos; Brooks Sulhoff; Frances Autio; Rory Carlton; Meadow Conard; Gemma Eppey; Addie Farnsworth; Harrison Frost; Ellie Hardy; Rosalind Janowski; Jackson Jones; Nettie Kolker; Nile Kolker; Rose Lenger; Rory Miner; Alice Qian; Lauren Recker; Archer Roselund; and Beatrice Thrams. An octet of adult performers – Amelia Harris, Aubrey Kramer, Seph Kurth, Joey Langdon, Betty Mehic, Ellie Silbernagel, Sera Westbrook, Sophia Williams – also join in the fun.
The Young Footliters Youth Theatre's The Music Man Jr. will be performed at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts June 26 through 28, with performances Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is $16-21, and more information and tickets are available by calling 319-248-9370 and visiting CoralvilleArts.org.
