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Tuesday November 22, 2011 Edition
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VUHS Marches On Stage With The Music Man

Peter Hebert as Mayor George Shinn; Megan Saathoff as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn.
photo provided
Peter Hebert as Mayor George Shinn; Megan Saathoff as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn.
LtoR: Kyle Darwin as Olin Britt, David Clancy as Ewart Dunlop, Kelsey Dobson as Oliver Hicks, Alex McClellan as Jacey Squires. Front, Jack DeVos as Prof. Harold Hill.
photo provided
LtoR: Kyle Darwin as Olin Britt, David Clancy as Ewart Dunlop, Kelsey Dobson as Oliver Hicks, Alex McClellan as Jacey Squires. Front, Jack DeVos as Prof. Harold Hill.
Yes, we’ve got trouble, right here in River City! VUHS Bring Musical Classic to Life.
photo by Keith Darwin
Yes, we’ve got trouble, right here in River City! VUHS Bring Musical Classic to Life.

Tuesday November 22, 2011

    The Vergennes Union High School Music Department will present The Music Man November 17-19 at 7 p.m. in the VUHS auditorium.

    July, 1912.  A group of traveling salesmen debate the merits of cash versus credit in this day of modern merchandising, as the train they’re riding heads to River City, Iowa. Charley Cowell (Keegan Bosworth), one of the group, asks if anyone has ever heard of Professor Harold Hill (Jack DeVos), a slick conman ruining the reputation of all upstanding salesmen. Hill convinces parents he can teach their musically disinclined children to play instruments. Promising to form a band, he takes orders for instruments and uniforms. But once the instruments arrive and are paid for, he skips town without forming the band, moving on before he is exposed.  Charley assures the men that Hill could never get far with Iowans. As the train pulls into the station, a man carrying a suitcase emblazoned with “Prof. Harold Hill” says he thinks he’ll give Iowa a try.

    As workers move a pool table into the parlor owned by Mayor George Shinn (Peter Hebert), Hill runs into an old friend and former swindler Marcellus Washburn (Michael Danyow), who warns Hill to be careful around the town’s music teacher and librarian, Marian Paroo (Lois Rood) who would expose his con on the spot. Hill decides to use the pool table as a way of convincing townspeople to help their boys  avoid “trouble” in River City and find salvation through music.

    He continues his hard sell the next morning at the Fourth of July celebration, and the enthusiastic townspeople happily endorse the idea of the band. With his plan in place, Hill tries to woo Marian.  She resists his efforts and attempts to expose his con to the Mayor. But, when the instruments arrive, and Marian’s younger brother, Winthrop (Max Bicknell) forgets to be shy and self-conscious about his lisp as he plays his new cornet, she begins to see Harold in a new light.

    Over the ensuing weeks the ladies of the town practice their classical dance, the school board members practice their barbershop quartet and Harold and Marian continue their courting. Charley Cowell returns to River City to expose Hill’s plan, but Marian has begun to believe Hill’s story and delays Charley with a kiss, sending him off just in time to catch the train. When the band uniforms arrive, Harold can’t believe his luck – his plans for both Marian and the band fall into place, and he realizes that he’s fallen in love with her.
So, will Harold complete the con and skip town? You’re invited to join the talented cast and orchestra to find out.

    Since early September over 100 VUHS actors, musicians, technical and set crew members, parents and community volunteers have worked to bring to life this classic Meredith Willson musical. Broadway veteran Bill Carmichael Walsh is directing the production and fellow Broadway alumna Susan Walsh serves as choreographer.  Vocal direction is by Karen Jordan and Susan O’Daniel is music director and producer.
You don’t want to miss this celebration of great American theatre. Reserved seating tickets are now on sale in the VUHS lobby from 11am-12pm M-F, or at Linda’s Apparel in Vergennes ($10 Adults/$8 Seniors and Students). For additional information please call VUHS at 877-2938.


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