'Man' brings music, fun to Power Center

"Seventy-Six trombones led the big parade." Sound familiar? If it does, then you're probably a veteran high-school theatergoer. That lyric, along with a few others, has become widely known as one of the classical musical theater pieces.

PREVIEW
	The Music Man Wednesday-Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. Power Center - $5

While "Seventy-Six Trombones" strikes an image of American flags, apple pie and baseball, it also recalls back the memory of the show from which it comes. "The Music Man," the classic American musical by Meredith Wilson, serves as the backbone for a structure of musicals that are typically American.

The American Musical Theater has slowly been dying away with such large-scale musicals that are produced on Broadway but created by European talent. Andrew Lloyd Webber has led this destructuring of the American stage, along with Boubil and Schonberg who have created such hits as "Les Miserables," "Miss Saigon" and the new "Martin Guerre."

"The Music Man," which will grace the Power Center stage, provides a relief that today's young performers are dedicated to preserving the past of the American musical instead of jumping onto the commercial bandwagon that modern theater has become.

Set in the small fantasy town of River City, "The Music Man" follows the pursuits of salesman/con artist Harold Hill. While Hill travels the country selling musical instruments, he sways his victims by telling them that they've got "Trouble." The trouble he refers to in a witty song is that of the game of billiards, which he renounces as the cause of sin in all of the adolescent boys of the town. To make the boys turn around into good, respectable youths, he pledges that he can transform them into a musical marching band. But, unbeknownst to the naive citizens of River City, Hill knows nothing about music.

The plot is furthered by the interaction of the Paroo family, of which Marian is part. Marian, the town librarian, becomes involved in Hill's plot when he begins to woo her - a story that is only possible in America.

Many of the show's songs are very catchy, and audience members may find themselves whistling a few of the tunes on their way out of the theater.

"The Music Man" features a cast composed mostly of musical theater and voice performance majors. In evidence, almost every past production presented by the Musical Theater Department has been a professional experience, showcasing the awesome talent that happens to define the students at this University. Even "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," the autumn Musical from the earlier part of this season, proved to be such an example - with a large cast of talented individuals. "The Music Man" features a large cast of more than 25 performers.

"The Music Man" is presented by University Productions through the Musical Theater Department of the School of Music.

Because most of the department's shows are highly popular with University audiences, all tickets are usually sold in advance of opening night. Such is the case with "The Music Man."

While all of the tickets for every scheduled performance sold out a few weeks ago, the decision was made to open up Wednesday's dress rehearsal to an audience. This means that if you want to see the show, and don't have a ticket, then Wednesday will be your only opportunity to witness this excellent production.