KU News Release

Nov. 2, 2007
Contact: Charla Jenkins, University Theatre, (785) 864-2684.

‘The Music Man’ to be staged at KU with 41-member cast, symphony orchestra

LAWRENCE — Meredith Willson’s popular Broadway hit “The Music Man” will be staged at the University of Kansas as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Murphy Hall. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17, and at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre.

The musical, presented by the Department of Theatre and Film, University Theatre, the Department of Music and Dance and Capitol Federal Savings, features the KU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Neely, director of orchestral activities at KU.

The production is directed by John Staniunas, associate professor of theatre and film and chair of the Department of Theatre and Film. Neely is music director and conductor of the 33-piece orchestra. Leslie Bennett, assistant professor of theatre and film, is choreographing the show, which features scenic design by Mark Reaney, professor of theatre and film; lighting design by Tim Boeshaar, a 2007 scenography graduate; costume design by Delores Ringer, associate professor of theatre and film; and wig design by Jan DeLovage, a professional wig stylist based in Kansas City.

Staniunas, who is working with a 41-member cast, said “The Music Man” is a valentine to Midwest Americana.

“ ‘Iowa Stubborn’ could just as well be ‘Kansas Stubborn,’ ” he said. “Willson wrote about real people. We recognize them, they are our neighbors. This is a story about us.”

Set in fictional River City, Iowa, in 1912, the play focuses on “Professor” Harold Hill, a con man whose scam is to convince parents he can teach their musically disinclined children to play an instrument. He takes pre-paid orders for instruments and uniforms with the promise he will form a band, but he skips town and moves on to the next one before his scam is exposed. Hill’s plans go awry when he becomes attracted to the local librarian, Marian, who recognizes him for the fraud he is but falls in love with the smooth-talker when he draws her self-conscious, lisping brother from his shell. When Hill’s scheme begins to unravel, he is faced with the choice of escaping yet again or staying with Marian and facing the consequences.

The director said in his production, the town is like another character and is always front and center.

“Music is a community event; it brings people together,” said Staniunas. “The arts make a community come alive. We see the Paroo house set against the backdrop of the town. The town square is at the center of the story.”

He said having the KU Symphony Orchestra perform in the musical adds to the remarkable songs, such as “Ya Got Trouble,” “Goodnight My Someone,” “Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little,” “Marian the Librarian,” “The Wells Fargo Wagon,” “Gary, Indiana,” “Till There Was You” and, of course, “Seventy-Six Trombones.”

Staniunas has worked closely with choreographer Bennett in staging the musical.

“With Leslie’s ballet background, there is an elegance and beauty to the dances like we haven’t seen in a long time,” he said. “Leslie did so much research into the dances of 1912, so we have the fox trot, turkey trot, cake walk, the polka. Everyone gets to dance. When you see 40-plus people dancing on stage, it is very exciting.”

“The Music Man” features book, music and lyrics by Willson and is from a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. After years of development, a change of producers and more than 40 drafts, the original Broadway production opened Dec. 19, 1957, at the Majestic Theatre, where it remained for nearly three years before transferring to the Broadway Theatre to complete 1,375 performances. The show won eight Tony Awards, including best musical, author, composer and lyricist. The cast album won a Grammy Award, and the score for the film won an Academy Award.

Murphy Hall’s 50th anniversary rededication ceremony will be at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in the Murphy Hall Courtyard. It is free and open to the public. It follows a two-day symposium, “Musical Theatre in 1957,” sponsored by the Department of Music and Dance and Department of Theatre and Film with support from the Hall Center for the Humanities and the Office of the Provost. Paul Laird, professor of musicology, and Staniunas are hosting the symposium.

Staniunas said staging “The Music Man” as part of the Murphy Hall anniversary was even more appropriate because another Meredith Willson, the nephew of the famed composer, was a freshman at KU in the fall of 1958, the year “The Music Man” opened on Broadway. The younger Willson was a chemistry major from Iola and played flute in the band. The front page of the Lawrence Journal-World on Sept. 17, 1958, pictured Willson modeling the new KU band uniform. He was later killed in Vietnam.

Reserved seat tickets for “The Music Man” are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; and Student Union Activities, 864-7469; and online at www.kutheatre.com. Tickets are $20 for the public, $10 for students and $19 for senior citizens and KU faculty and staff. All major credit cards are accepted for phone and online orders.

Members of the cast are listed below by hometown, year in school, major, parents’ names, high school and role.

BUTLER COUNTY
From Augusta 67010
Bobbi Rising, senior, biology major, daughter of June Frakes, Douglass High School, Mrs. June Locke.

COFFEY COUNTY
From Burlington 66839
Joshua Cuffe, junior, theatre major, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Cuffe Sr., Burlington High School, Jimmy Jack Cornstack.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Dave Beals, senior, theatre major, son of Nancy Jorn and Stuart Beals, Lawrence High School, Mayor Shinn.

Anna Sophia Bial, second grade, daughter of Christine and Henry Bial, Quail Run Elementary School, Eloise Hix.

Whitney Juneau, junior, theatre/voice major, daughter of Ted and Judy Juneau, Lawrence High School, Maud Dunlop.

Samantha Mae Lenz, fifth grade, daughter of Brenda and Mark Lenz, Sunset Elementary School, Cindy Locke.

Spencer Lott, sophomore, theatre and film major, son of Hunter and Nancy Lott of Rochester, Minn., Lawrence Free State High School, Salesman and Barney Hix.

Anson Ornery, senior, painting major, son of Linda Weeks and Craig Stancliffe, Lawrence Free State High School, Erny Sailor.

David Stogsdill, senior, theatre/voice major, son of Mark and Sheila Stogsdill, Lawrence High School, Ewart Dunlop.

Kyle Tichenor, sophomore, theatre and film major, son of Brian and Bobbi Tichenor, Lawrence Free State High School, Davey Sailor.

Jayke Workman, fifth grade, son of Jeni Grob, Raintree Montessori School, Winthrop Paroo.

FINNEY COUNTY
From Holcomb 67851
Logan Walker, senior, theatre major, son of Lynn and Cindy Walker, Holcomb High School, Oliver Hix.

FORD COUNTY
From Dodge City 67801
Kirby Anderson, sophomore, theatre major, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kurtis Anderson, Thomas More Prep School, Myrtle Britt.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From DeSoto 66018
Leslie Hodges, freshman, pre-fine arts major, daughter of Jeff and Richelle Hodges, DeSoto High School, Sally Rodriguez.

Luke Walker, sophomore, theatre/voice major, son of Rick and Monica Walker, DeSoto High School, Jacey Squires.

From Leawood 66208
Mary Helen Guastello, fourth grade, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Guastello, St. Ann School, Amaryllis Squires.

From Leawood 66224
Tosin Morohunfola, sophomore, theatre major, son of Kenny and Ajoke Morohunfola, Blue Valley High School, Marcellus Washburn.

From Olathe 66061
Sylvia Niccum, senior, Spanish and voice major, daughter of Mike Niccum and Seana Niccum and Robert Epstein, Olathe Northwest High School, Sarah Stewart.

From Overland Park 66210
Cassandra Hollmann, senior, elementary education major, daughter of Dan and Andyla Hollmann, Blue Valley North High School, Zaneeta Shinn.

From Overland Park 66215
Julie Bayliff, junior, history and theatre major, daughter of Cheryl Bayliff, Shawnee Mission West High School, Olivia Hix.

From Overland Park 66223
Felicia Helena Fairley, senior, communications major, daughter of Amos and Theresa Fairley, Blue Valley Northwest High School, Gracie Shinn.

Christopher McGillivray, sophomore, theatre major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul McGillivray, Blue Valley High School, Charlie Cowell.

Overland Park 66216
Jeffrey David Sears, sophomore, theatre/voice major, son of Andy Sears and Betsy Sears, Blue Valley Northwest High School, “Professor” Harold Hill.

From Roeland Park 66205
Andi Porter, senior, theatre major, daughter of Scott and Carol Porter, Bishop Miege High School, Marian Paroo.

From Shawnee 66216
David L. Mackay Jr., senior, film major, son of David MacKay, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Salesman and Dr. Stewart.

From Stilwell 66085
Alex Nichols, freshman, theatre major, son of Joel and Jessica Nichols, Blue Valley High School, Salesman and Hector Rodriguez.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth 66048
Garrett Kelly, sophomore, theatre and film major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kelly, Tonganoxie High School, Salesman and Marvin Cornstack.

MIAMI COUNTY
From Louisburg 66053
Brittany Barney, freshman, elementary education and theatre major, daughter of Christie and Andrew Barnet, Paola High School, Alma Hix.

NEMAHA COUNTY
From Sabetha 66534
Meaghan Deiter, graduate student, vocal performance major, daughter of Steve Deiter, Sabetha High School, Mrs. Paroo.

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan 66502
Cassidi Stuckman, senior, theatre and film major, daughter of David Stuckman and Michelle McGuire, Manhattan High School, Ethel Toffelmier.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66606
Spencer Holdren, senior, theatre major, son of James and Teresa Turnbull, Topeka High School, Salesman and Billy Squires.

From Topeka 66610
Sam Beasley, freshman, music education major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Beasley, Topeka High School, Salesman and Linus Dunlop.

From Topeka 66614
Alyson Cripps, junior, theatre and film and women’s studies major, daughter of Judy and Bryce Cripps, Topeka West High School, Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67205
Jacquelyn Venetia Kelley, junior, voice major, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kelley, Maize High School, Anna Louise Squires.

TREGO COUNTY
From Ogallah 67656
Callie Schlegel, sophomore, voice major, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Schlegel, Schlegel Farm School, Mrs. Squires.

MISSOURI
From Chesterfield 63005
Ryan Klamen, junior, theatre major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Klamen, Marquette High School, Conductor and Constable Locke.

From Independence
Emory Sadler, third grade, son of Chad Sadler, home schooled, Winthrop Paroo.

From Lee’s Summit
Katie Dahlor, fourth grade, daughter of Laura and Norman Dahlor, St. Agnes Catholic School, Amaryllis Squires.

From St. Louis 63141
Mary McNulty, freshman, voice major, daughter of Patrick and Tina McNulty, St. Joseph’s Academy, Maggie Dunlop.

OKLAHOMA
From Bixby 74008
Garrett Lawson, sophomore, voice major, son of Desiree Lawson, Bixby High School, Olin Britt.

TEXAS
From Plano 75025
Ben Cook, senior, theatre major, son of Rick and Carol Cook, Plano Senior High School, Tommy Djilas.

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