The Music Man runs September 9-25 with 7:30 PM curtain Thursdays to Saturdays and 3:00 PM matinees on Sundays

When a con man tries to swindle an entire town out of their money to start a boys’ band, it leads to an old-fashioned love story. It’s Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, the story of a fast-talking salesman, the local librarian, and the good folks of River City, that has continued to entertain audiences since 1957. The entire community falls victim to Harold Hill’s scheme – everyone, that is, but Mayor Shinn and the town librarian, Marian. While Harold casts his spell over the unsuspecting Iowans, Marian and Mayor Shinn resolve to reveal the true Harold Hill. Yet, Harold’s belief in the unbelievable comes to his rescue as he finds love and, even though he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef, music!

Holding the baton for the second time as Harold Hill is Scott Vaughan (Joseph…). Will his quick speak and charm woo the lovely, but standoffish Marian, taken by Kerri Roberts (Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady)? Adding humor and harmony is the school-board-turned-barbershop-quartet played by Adam Bigony (Jekyll & Hyde), Davis Herndon (Joseph…), David LaTorre (Bright Star) and Joel Yarborough (Mamma Mia). Leading River City, Iowa (or at least thinking he does), is Bill DeWitt (Hello, Dolly!)) as the blustery Mayor Shinn and his peacock wife, Eulalie, portrayed by Kathy Hartzog (Always…Patsy Cline). Also enthralled is Mrs. Paroo, played by Leah Tudor (Arsenic and Old Lace), Winthrop, showcased by Kyran Burkett (The Lion King Jr.), and Amaryllis, played by Abby Gamble (Mary Poppins Jr.) Harold’s sidekick, Marcellus, is in the capable hands of Bill Bentley (Jekyll & Hyde) while Tommy and Zaneeta, played by Nathan Jackson (Elf) and Kendall Scruggs (Joseph…), respectively, keep young love alive. The Pick-A-Little ladies (Alma, Maud, Ethel and Mrs. Squires) make sure the gossip wheel stays a-spinning courtesy of Christy Shealy Mills (The Little Mermaid), Robin Blume (Mary Poppins), Jillian Bigony (Beauty & the Beast) and Agnes Babb (42nd Street).

The musical cast also includes Ashley Alvarado (Jekyll & Hyde), Tom Baldwin (Jekyll & Hyde), Caleb Bothur (Hello, Dolly!), Eric Bothur (Singin’ in the Rain), Kristi Bothur (Town newbie), Lydia Bothur (The Little Mermaid), Mary Jayne Davis (The Addams Family), Taryn Davis (Elf), Tony D’Elia (Matilda), Juliet Gregg (Matilda), Meg Greeley (in her Town debut), Olivia Hite (Cinderella), Phoebe Jenkinson (Santa’s Workshop), Brock Jones (Frozen Jr.), Chris Kruzner (Driving Miss Daisy), TJ Leitzsey (Matilda), Brady Longerbeam (Shrek Jr.), Zanna Mills (Bright Star), Beverly Riley (in her Town debut), Lee Saxton (Joseph…), Lorelei Veldman (Joseph…) and Megan Walker (Hello, Dolly!). Besides apple pie, it doesn’t get much more Americana than this.

The Music Man is under the direction of Allison McNeely with musical direction by Michael Simmons and choreography by Shannon Scruggs. Costumes are by Janet Kile with Corey Langley serving as technical director. The show is sponsored by Carolina Children’s Dentistry and Church Mutual Insurance.

The Music Man runs September 9-25 with 7:30 PM curtain Thursdays to Saturdays and 3:00 PM matinees on Sundays. Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for seniors/active duty military/full time college and $15 for youth 17 and under. Call 803-799-2510 or visit towntheatre.com.