Watch out River City, Professor Harold Hill has hit town and 76 trombones can't be far behind!
Traverse City St. Francis High School students will present the classic, fast-talking production of "Music Man” this weekend, staging their second annual musical after a 20-year hiatus. Opening Thursday evening at the Kohler Auditorium, other dates include evening shows on Friday and Saturday as well as a Sunday matinee.
Working since December on the show, students have gelled into a tightly knit team ready for opening night tomorrow. Lengthy rehearsals to master the songs, dance moves and complex staging forged strong bonds among the more than 50 participants.
"Over the past few months, we've grown really close,” said Collin Avery, a junior at St. Francis High School. "We've been working really hard to bring it all together.”
Without any formal choral or dance training beyond last year's "Cinderella” production, Avery landed a significant role as Marcellus Washburn. The part has stretched him as a performer, helped in part by the supportive atmosphere.
"Singing and dancing has gotten easier after a while because I'm more willing to try new things because I'm doing something I like with people I like,” he said. "We've got a really great cast this year.”
After the success of Cinderella, Music Man is an even more ambitious project for the fledgling collaboration between the school's music and drama departments.
"It's been a big undertaking — since Cinderella we've doubled the cast and there's a lot of scene changes,” said Maureen Mawby, the director of the women's choir at St. Francis High School who is helping produce Music Man.
Mawby noted that they considered presenting another classic, "Oklahoma,” but decided it was not a good fit for the school. Even though Music Man requires a large cast — a challenge in a relatively small high school, where students are heavily involved in many extracurricular activities — the musical had a fitting mix of vocal parts. "We have a lot of talented seniors as the Pickalittle Ladies and I wanted to give them a chance to shine,” she noted.
The production also taps about a dozen younger singers from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School and Immaculate Conception Elementary School, sowing seeds of interest in musicals for years to come.
"It's been really exciting, singing and dancing with everybody,” said Hayden Elshaw, a sixth grader at the middle school. "It's really great working with high schoolers, we're making lots of friends.”
"It's really coming together now,” added his friend and classmate Ryan Clulo.
Reflecting on the sold-out performances of Cinderella last year, Mawby noted that the cast set high standards for the revival of musical theater at the school. This year's team has raised the bar another notch, a trend she hopes will continue annually.
In addition, parent volunteers are pitching to make scenery, costumes, hats and whatever else is needed. This bevy of helpers is a nice change from last year when interest had not yet been piqued at a school known for it's sports accomplishments and devoted fans.
Participants are determined that the annual musical expands the school's horizons.
"We're trying to equalize the interest at our school in sports and the arts but it's going to take time,” Mawby added.
"Music Man” will be performed at the Kohler Auditorium in St. Francis High School at 7 p.m. this Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 per adult and $10 for students 18 and under; contact the box office at 941-9875 Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.