Theater students are preparing to perform The Music Man in late September.
The Music Man is the first Wanda L. Bass School of Music mainstage of the school year. The show is a classic musical that tells the story of “Harold Hill”, a con-man who has a change of heart when he comes to River City, Iowa. Jonah White, music theater senior, said he hopes the show will bring comfort to audiences, as well as entertainment. He said it is the music that resonates with audiences.
The show was chosen because the music has interesting vocal techniques for the students performing.
“The show is very vocal based, and we love performing classic, timeless musicals that are always going to be relevant to the ages.” White said.
Caroline Allen, music theater/vocal performance senior, is playing “Marian Paroo,” a driven young librarian and music teacher.
Allen said The Music Man was a prominent show when it was written in the 1950s.
“Our director recently made the comparison that The Music Man was their Hamilton,” Allen said.
Adam Laporte, music theater/music composition senior is playing Harold Hill.
Laporte said the students performing in the musical balance traditional and new methods.
“It changes the process. We go between following the material or trying something new,” LaPorte said.
Despite the generation gap, students performing the show said they believe it has universal themes for current audiences.
Claire Greenberg, music theater senior, is playing Marian Paroo alongside Allen. Greenberg said actors become familiar with the music and style while also making it relevant to the audience.
“It’s really refreshing and surprising that Marian Paroo existed then, and it’s inspiring,” said Allen.
Students said they hope audiences will come to hear the classic music of The Music Man. LaPorte said the scope of the show is about music’s ability to build a community and bring people together. The sentiment is shared among the other theater students in the show.
The opening show is Sept. 27, and runs through Sept. 29. Student tickets are $10 at the ticket office or at okcu.edu. The week of the show, student vouchers will be sold outside the Caf for $6.
Leave a Reply