The Theodore Kloos auditorium was once again buzzing as students and fellow thespians began rehearsing for this year’s musical, The Music Man. Coming off a stellar performance of Something Rotten! in 2022, this year’s students gave Hugh Jackman a run for his money.
Rehearsals began in early December, and director Kristin Nichols shared her thoughts regarding the show.
Nichols was influenced to choose The Music Man because of the “idea of a family-friendly show that focuses around the theme of ‘music’.”
Nichols said that “having an iconic show that can be enjoyed by generations within a community” was very important to her for this year.
With approximately 90 members in the cast, Nichols’ expectations for the students were to work hard, have fun, and perform to the best of their ability.
Nichols also explained the expectations she set for herself from the directors’ perspective.
“[I wanted to] execute a well-thought-out and creative production of The Music Man that obtains a modern twist,” Nichols said.
Her modern take isn’t the only twist seen in this show. It is insinuated that more was in store for The Music Man audience!
The Music Man is about a traveling con man, Harold Hill, who arrives in River City, Iowa, hoping to con money out of the townspeople by posing as a boys’ band director just before skipping town.
Hill attempts to illicit money by selling instruments and band costumes, promising the naïve people of River City to teach them how to play music with no prior knowledge himself.
The Music Man made its Broadway debut on Dec. 19, 1957. The lights on this show still shine bright on Broadway today, with “X-Men” actor Hugh Jackman starring as Harold Hill alongside Sutton Foster, a member of the original cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie, playing leading lady Marian Paroo.
Just like most high school musicals, the cast was mostly
female-dominated — so much so that some male students were double-cast, playing two roles, as The Music Man requires a large cast.
NHS senior, AJ Neiman and junior Cameron Krauss, took on the role of Harold Hill, playing opposite seniors Maddie McKenna and Olivia Garland as Marian Paroo.
Congratulations to the talented cast and crew on five spectacular performances!