Composer

:

Meredith Willson

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1957

Average_duration

:

53:20

The Music Man is a musical composed by Meredith Willson, with a book by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1957 and became a hit, running for 1,375 performances. The plot revolves around a con man named Harold Hill, who poses as a music professor and convinces the people of River City, Iowa, to form a boys' band. However, Hill's plan is to take the money and skip town before the band can perform. The musical is set in 1912 and features a score that draws heavily from the popular music of the time, including barbershop quartets and marches. The show's most famous song is "76 Trombones," which is sung by Hill as he tries to convince the townspeople to support his band. The Music Man is divided into two acts, with several musical numbers in each. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the conflict, while the second act focuses on the resolution of the story. The show features a large cast, including Hill, the town librarian Marian Paroo, and a group of young boys who make up the band. One of the key characteristics of The Music Man is its use of patter songs, which are fast-paced songs with rapid-fire lyrics. These songs are used to showcase Hill's charisma and ability to talk his way out of any situation. The show also features several dance numbers, including a memorable scene in which the townspeople perform a dance called the "Shipoopi." The Music Man premiered on Broadway on December 19, 1957, and was directed by Morton DaCosta. The original cast included Robert Preston as Harold Hill and Barbara Cook as Marian Paroo. The show was a critical and commercial success, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Since its premiere, The Music Man has been revived several times on Broadway and has been adapted into a film and a television movie. The show's enduring popularity is due in part to its catchy score and memorable characters, as well as its celebration of small-town America and the power of music to bring people together.

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