There's trouble in River City and you may watch it unfold on the middle school stage

Posted by Fred Steiner on March 23, 2015 - 6:03pm

There's trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen by the town librarian. Can you identify the musical with this story line?

Bluffton High School presents "The Music Man," by Meredith Willson Friday through Sunday, April 10-12 on the middle school stage. Kara Zink is the director.

Here's a plot summary:

"The Music Man" follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he vows to organize - this despite the fact he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef.

His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall.

This award-winning Broadway classic is an all-American institution, thanks to is quirky characters, charmingly predictable dramatic situations, and one-of-a-kind, nostalgic score of rousing marches, barbershop quartets and sentimental ballads which have become popular standards.

The cast (corrected list):

Harold Hill - Darnell Boddie
Marian Paroo - Emma Burkholder
Mayor Shinn - Jack Neff
Mrs. Paroo - Adel Sommers
Winthrop - Bryan Zimmerman
Amaryllis - Courtney McLaughlin
Gracie - Ana Neufeld Weaver
Marcellus - Elijah Runk
Eulalie Shinn - Erica Sheehan
Charlie Cowell - Dylan Whitlow
Tommy Djilas - Clay Wilson
Zaneeta Shinn - Amy Warren
Alma Hix - Megan Sycks
Ethel Toffelmier - Kristen Yost
Maud Dunlop - Marley Runk
Mrs. Squires - Sara Bertka
Pick-a-Little Lady - Emily Swisher
Pick-a-Little Lady - Karis Wilson
Pick-a-Little Lady - Alyssa Casemier
Constable - Patrick Rhonemus
Salesman 1 - Alton Burkholder
Salesman 2 - Emily Swisher
Salesman 3 - Patrick Rhonemus
Salesman 4 - Alyssa Casemier
Salesman 5 - Karis Wilson
Newspaper Reader 1 - Elizabeth Nisly
Farmer - Alton Burkholder
Farmer's Wife - Cassidy Bush
Conductor - Jack Burrell

Featured Dancers:
Megan Sycks
Kristen Yost
Marley Runk
Amy Warren
Clay Wison
Dylan Whitlow
Eli Runk
Jack Burrell