1996

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WEEK OF __ 3~-..:B~1..L..;'...;9:1.,j1~o ----

'The Music Man' opens April 10 ~

lowest intention. His "con" is !>implc but effective. He convince!> River Clly's residents he can teach their children to play in a marching band . if they buy the instruments and uni– forms he has for sale. He will sim– ply collect the money and escape without fu lfilling his promise~. Hill's plans go awry when he falls in love with the town librarian, Mari– an Paroo (Lisa Harrison of Little Rock), who makes an honest man of the "perennial huckster.'' Trapped by his love for her, he is literally forced to face the music when he is made to "conduct" the children's band. While the children can hardly play their instrument, the inner music that Hill and the band bring into the life of the town transforms River City. The music wi ll make your feet snap into a marching step to the entire company number of "Seventy– Six Trombones," make you reach for you r hankie in Harrison 's "Good– night My Someone" and want to dance in the aisles to "Shipoopi ," featuring Richard Edwards of Forest as Hill 's old friend and reformed co– conspirator Marcellus Washburn. "The Music Man" soundtrack from Capitol Records earned an RIAA Gold Record Award within a year of release and won a Grammy Award in 1958. The orchestra is conducted by Thomas W. Carson, ECCC director of bands, with choral direction by

Broadway Hit, "The Music Man". to Open in Decatur Meredith Wilson\ award-winning Broadway mustcal, "The Music Man", will open for a four-day run, April 10-13, in the Ovid S. Vickers Fine Arts Theatre on the East Central Communll) College Decatur cam– pus. A show for all ages. the produc– tion is presented by the ECCC Play– ers under the direction of Judy A. Carroll "The Music Man'' opened on December 9. 1957, at Broadway's Majestic Theatre in New York. lt was a huge hit and ran for 1.375 per– formances. It \\On the New York Drama Critic's Circle Award and nine Tony Awards, including Best Mustcal. The film version won an Academy Award in 1962 for Best Mu~ical Adaptallon. According to Carroll, "The Music Man" is based on Willson's recollec– tions of his childhood in a small Iowa town. He crafted his boyhood memories into what is widely regarded as one of the most accom– plished works in Broadway history. It "lovingly and humorously" cap– tures the lost mnocence of America at the beginning of the 20th century. "The Music Man" is the story of Profes~or Harold Hill (Rick Brooks of Decatur) and his impact on the sleepy town of River City, Iowa. He arrives in the small community on July 4, 1912, with nothing but the

Charles Hinson. ECCC choir director and music instructor. and accompa– mst Marian Thornton. ECCC music– keyboard instructor. The show was revived on Broad– way in 1980. but "The Music Man" had entered the fabric of American culture in a way that few Broadway show can matcfl. When President Reagan left office in 1989. The New York Times published an editorial comparing htm to Harold Ht ll. The additional cast includes LaRee Lyle of Lena (Eulalie MacK– ncckie Shinn); Heather Diumer of Carthage (Mrs. Paroo); J.B. Ware (Mayor Shinn) and Jeremy Swindle

(Eddie Dunlop). both of Union; Mall Howell (Oliver Hix) and Lul..e Ho"" ell (Winthrop Paroo), both of Little Rock; Lee Rtgdon (Jac.:ey Squires), Lucas Harms (Olin Britt). Staci Stre– beck (Alma Hix ). Vidi Adcod (Maud Dunlop). Chris Carson (Tommy Djilas). Glen Han sford (Salesman ). Blair Anderson (Amaryllis). Krissi Harris (Zaneeta Shinn) and Jennifer Carson (Gracie Shinn). all of Decatur; Alhson Wood of Waynesboro (Ethel Toffelmier); Tabitha Gainey of Walnut Grov1 (Mrs. Squires): and Shawn Housel (Charlie Howell) and Jim Save (Constable Locke), both of Lake.

East Central The choru'> and River Ctty towns– people include Karen McRae of Ca rthage ; Erica Roberson of Philadelphia: Aimee Chandler and Ja Nance. both of Louisville: Ben Wall of Forest: and Marie Hinson of Decatur. Ttic River City children include Dru Anderson, Haley Harris. Whllney Harris. Kelli Harris, Natalie Boggan, Emily Boggan, Carmen E!.cll, Colby Amis. Brad Sutphin, and Matthew Bo~gan, all of Decatur;

Dinah Howell of Little Rock; Ken Evans of Philadelphia; and Carol Creel of Atlanta, Ga. Curtain time for all performances is 7:30p.m. · Tickets arc $5 for East Central raculty, students, and staff and $7 for the general public. Tickets go on sale April I. For more information contact Carroll, ECCe. Decatur, Miss. 39327, (60 I ) 635-2111, ext. 241.

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SCOTT COUNTY TIMES____ UNION APPEAL._____ WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL_ _ _ MERIDIAN STAR._____

CARTHAGINIAN / NESHOBA DEMO~-~·-- NEWTON RECORD_____ ClARION-LEDGER.____