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Music man jr
The Music Man JR, the American musical classic by Meredith Willson, will be presented by the 7th and 8th graders at The Grammar School in Putney on Wednesday-Saturday, May 5 - 8 at 7pm. Rounding out the cast in the kids' band is a group of younger TGS students, including the entire fourth grade class.
The Music Man JR is the 17th musical that Music Director Alli Lubin has produced at The Grammar School. Lubin, with Director Lili Bookwalter and Pianist/Arranger Teese Gohl, lead a dynamic production team featuring sets by Chris Harlow, costumes by Natalie Thomson and Lisa Stolper, and backdrop design by Julia Jensen. The memorable songs of Meredith Willson will be played by a local all-star Pit Band featuring: Teese Gohl, Piano; Michael McKinney, Trumpet; Dan DeWalt, Trombone; Matt Martyn, Tuba/Bass; Carolyn DeMark, Clarinet; Stuart Wright, Drums; and Alli Lubin, Flute.
Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Author, Composer and Lyricist, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man tells the story of a charismatic con man Harold Hill at the turn of the 20th century, who galvanizes the citizens of stodgy, entertainment-starved River City, Iowa. Intending to fleece the town with a false scheme to organize a kids' band, with his word-a-second style “Professor” Harold Hill convinces the town to adopt his revolutionary music program, “The Think System,” or face the moral decline of their children. Chaos ensues as Hill’s credentials are questioned and he is forced to prove himself to the citizens of River City. The professor's plans hit a sour note when he falls for Marian Paroo, the willful, spinster librarian. Ultimately she tames his runabout impulses while he teaches her - and the entire town - the joys of emotional risks. The Tony Award-winning The Music Man originally ran on Broadway, starting in 1957, for 1,375 performances. Over the years,the cast has included Robert Preston, Barbara Cook, Dick Van Dyke, Craig Bierko, and Rebecca Luker. The 1962 film adaptation starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones was an Academy Award and Golden Globe winner.
Recently, independent evaluator Dr. Rob Horowitz completed a study on the effects of the Broadway Junior program on the students and community of New York City public schools. In his report of key findings he says that children participating in the program demonstrated personal growth in several areas…positive risk-taking, self-confidence, motivation, self-discipline, and social behavior… that the program supported the development of general cognitive skills; the program had a positive impact on school climate; the school community grew stronger and more cohesive and children demonstrated improvement in social skills and relations with others including teachers, administrators, peers, and production staff. The Music Man JR is the 17th musical that Alli Lubin has produced at The Grammar School.
The Thursday performance on May 6 is a benefit for Putney Family Services. Admission for all shows is $10 for adults, $5 for students and alumni, and $25 for families, with tickets sold at the door. For more information call 802-387-5364 or visit http://www.thegrammarschool.org/.