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| "Professor" Harold Hill & Marian the Librarian |
I just saw this wonderful
production of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” but, sad to tell, it was only
performing that weekend so too late to get the word out. Here was a huge cast of
about 50 but the acting, dancing and singing were all fully professional. You
might know this story of a con man who is redeemed by the love of a sweet young
librarian. After he awakens her emotions, skeptical Marian is apparently taken
in by this handsome smooth-talking fellow – or is she? Once she sees that the
dreams he claims to be bringing are what everyone needs, the con man is conned
by love and so are we.
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| Winthrop and Marian |
Noteworthy
performances by charmer Allen Everman as (Professor) Harold Hill; graceful Lacy
Prince as Marian the Librarian; Brady Stubbs as Winthrop her timid kid brother;
Mary Ellen Ganley as her gregarious mother; David Conway as the suspicious Mayor
Shinn; Mitch Riley as cheeky drunk Marcellus Washburn, and young Ashlyn Faith
Williams, an adorable little star presence, as Amaryllis.
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| Marian & Amaryllis & Mrs.Paroo |
Plaudits to directors Jeremy K.
Jackson and Dominic Catrambone who kept the focus on the story while allowing
all the performers to shine. Amazing Choreography by Paul David Bryant, superb
music direction by Brigham Freeth, and glorious set design by Angelo Collado.
The full orchestra performed Willson’s beautiful score under Jeff Markgraf’s
precise conducting. This was a labor of love for producers Patrick Garcia,
Director of Performing Arts for Monrovia
Unified School
District, and Lani Ridley Pedrini of Theaters of
Vision Productions.
Presented by the Louise K. Taylor Performing
Arts Center
in partnership with The Boone Foundation. The beautiful 1928 theatre, that
seats 1,700, was built by John C. Austin, the same architect who built Los Angeles City Hall, The Shrine Auditorium, and
Griffith Park Observatory. Four performances only on July 18 - 20
th.
For information: Theaters of Vision Productions (TOVP) PH: 626-831-0520, Email:
ltlridl@aol.com.
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