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THE HITCHIN THESPIANS MARCH 2010 THE GORDON CRAIG THEATRE, STEVENAGE For all your mailing and postroom needs Best wishes to Hitchin Thespians • 3p-80p + discounts on each item of post on their forthcoming production of • Franking machines / electronic scales ‘THE MUSIC MAN’ • Solicitors DX monitoring systems TO ACCESS ROYAL DISCOUNTS • Folder Inserters CONTACT MIKE BARKER ON: • Scanning and archive solutions / FP EXECUTIVE AGENCY LTD document management 130 High Street Barkway Herts SG8 8EG • DeTeWe phone systems Tel: 01763 849360 Fax: 01763 848900 • Letter openers Mobile: 07740 617918 • Least cost routing Email: [email protected] The Music Man HITCHIN THESPIANS present Book, music and lyrics by MEREDITH WILLSON Based on a story by MEREDITH WILLSON & FRANKLIN LACEY Direction JIM SNELL Musical Direction JOHN EDWARDS Monday 8th - Saturday 13th March 2010 The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Box Office: 01438 363200 Web: www.gordon-craig.co.uk This amateur production is presented by arrangement with JOSEF WEINBERGER LTD. on behalf of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL of NEW YORK. www.hitchinthespians.org.uk The Hitchin Thespians - About us... In 1902 a group of like-minded Musical Theatre Hitchin Thespians thrive on challenge and its local ladies produced a policy has always been to present, whenever possible, the first local performance of Coleridge- amateur performance of many newly released shows along with Taylor’s “The Gitanos” in Hitchin. other more avant garde shows that many other local societies Following the success of this have been wary of. performance, on 21st February 1903, a decision was taken to form Choral Choir and Concerts In addition to musical theatre Hitchin The Hitchin Amateur Light Opera Company with the Reverend G. B. Thespians has a strong choral tradition with the choir performing a Gainsford as President. In 1905 the name was changed to comprehensive repertoire, as one member put it “from Bach to The Hitchin Thespians, for the sake of brevity. Bernstein, and beyond”. We typically sing three concerts a year at Initially Hitchin Thespians devoted itself largely to the works of various Hitchin venues including St Mary’s Church. Our ever Gilbert and Sullivan but popularity of other shows grew following popular “Christmas at Woodside” concerts are normally a sell out. WW1. It is interesting to note that in 1933 “The Desert Song” was played to an audience of almost 10,000 people in a week at The Workshops and Sponsorship We are proud to fulfil our educational Hermitage Cinema. In 1977 the Society presented “Robert and aims and ambitions though workshops and sponsorship. In recent Elizabeth” at the newly opened Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage years we have sponsored members to attend voice and performance and has continued to produce shows at this venue ever since. training at Little Benslow Music School and have also run master 1991 saw the completion and official opening of “Woodside classes with professional singers and voice coaches for our Hall – The Home Of Hitchin Thespians”. This purpose built suite members to attend. Young Thespians, our youth group, encourages provides us with our own rehearsal facilities and a young people from the age of 10 to experience and develop performance venue for our smaller scale productions. performance and stage skills, usually performing two shows a year. From the Chairman... Welcome to this evening’s performance of ‘The Music Man’. It has been many years since Thespians last staged this musical and whilst it’s not one that is performed as often as it should be I know you will enjoy the general high-jinx and will recognise a number of very familiar tunes. The main song associated with this show is of course ‘Seventy Six Trombones’ but perhaps you will also remember ‘Till There Was You’ which was a hit for The Beatles. We are delighted to welcome back Jim Snell as our Stage Director for this show, whose last show with us was ‘Sweeney Todd’. John Edwards joins us again as both an exacting and ever capable Musical Director. Rehearsals have been hard work, but tremendous fun and I hope you will enjoy the results of the company’s labours in this performance. ‘The Music Man’ is very much a family show and it has been fun working with and getting to know the children who have joined with us for this production. Hitchin Thespians like to maintain a varied programme and so this more traditional show is a contrast to previous productions of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, ‘Chess’ and ‘Sweeney Todd’. I would like to thank you for supporting us in this production and if this is the first production of ours you have attended we hope it will be the first of many. Now it’s time to sit back, read the synopsis and enjoy the show as the curtain rises on this bustling town in Iowa. Lucy Miller-White The Committee 2009 /2010 CHAIRMAN: Lucy Miller-White LIFE MEMBERS: TREASURER: Mark Savage Olive Ansell, Ann Crook, Brenda Cundell, HONORARY GENERAL SECRETARY: Alex Evans Marion Hargraves, Audrey Jenkins, Derek Jenkins, Denis Rowland, PRODUCTION MANAGER: Sarah Bailes Gordon Wharton CHORAL MANAGER: Sheila Soothill BUSINESS MANAGER: Kate Webb HONORARY MEMBERS: WOODSIDE HALL MANAGER: Ann Crook Bert Broe, Mollie Gilbert, Edgar Gilbert, SOCIAL & FUNDRAISING: Vivienne Tadman Roger Heath, Bernard Mallett, COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Jim Snell, Justin Thomas Christine Fox, Charles Langford, Susan Osbourn The Production Team JIM SNELL - Production Director Jim is delighted to be back with Hitchin Thespians directing his 43rd production for the company especially as ‘The Music Man’ is a particular favourite of his. He works with societies extensively throughout the Home Counties and is just about to commence rehearsals of Stephen Sondheim’s musical ‘Follies’ for Wembley Operatic Society. He has won many NODA awards for ‘Best Production’. Jim is an active voluntary fundraiser for ‘Breakthrough’ – the breast cancer research charity, and any other spare time is enjoyed in the garden or travelling. JOHN EDWARDS - Musical Director Here comes the Music Man! During my time as Music Adviser in Banffshire, I had responsibility for a number of remote primary schools in the Scottish glens. My red Ford Cortina (instantly recognisable in the snow clad hills) would be greeted in the school yard by calls of “It’s the music manny!” - since the youngsters knew my arrival spelt a morning or an afternoon away from other curriculum demands and a fun-filled session of music-making. It was a privilege to be the ‘Harold Hill’ of Glenlivet, Aberlour, Tomintoul and other locations (many with strong whisky associations!) and I look forward to generating equal enthusiasm for music-making this week among the citizens of River City, Iowa. SARAH BAILES - Associate Choreographer Sarah has been involved in amateur dramatics for 30 years. She has been a member of Hitchin Thespians since 1993 and has taken part in many productions including playing Miss Flannery in our recent production of ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’. Previously she danced with Harrow Light Opera Company and has performed and choreographed for several societies in the North London area. For the last seven years Sarah has been choreographer for Young Thespians and is now delighted to be working with the ‘grown-ups.’ For all up-to-date news and information, don’t forget to log on to... www.hitchinthespians.org.uk If you are interested in joining the Society as either a member or a patron, then please contact:- Alex Evans - Hon. Secretary, 4 Cubitt Close, Hitchin, Herts. SG4 0EL [email protected] Alternatively, if you would prefer you can join our ‘SHOW MAILING LIST’ The Story... Harold Hill, a travelling salesman posing as a Professor of Music, goes from town to town selling in each the idea of forming a local boys’ band. He says he is ready to begin training the band if the town will buy all the necessary equipment from him. Not being able to read a note of music, he absconds with the money as soon as he has made a sale. His confidence trick has succeeded in town after town until he reaches River City, Iowa. Here an old crony, Marcellus Washburn, warns him about the townspeople. Harold Hill overcomes the incredulity of a committee sent to investigate his credentials by inducing them to form a barbershop quartet. His easy spiel soon wins over the townspeople, although his motives are still suspected by some, especially Marian Paroo, the local librarian and music teacher. She is the only one who really has proof that Harold is a con man, but she chooses to overlook this fact because she loves him. Through falling in love with Marian, Harold fails to make his usual getaway when the town officials are ‘tipped off’ about him by a rival salesman. Harold is forced to stage a demonstration by the Town Band he has formed in order to prove the efficacy of his teaching methods. Their rendering of the ‘Minuet in G’ would not have pleased Beethoven, but it arouses such enthusiasm amongst the wishful thinking parents that Harold is completely exonerated. Infected by the contagious spirit, even Harold has a change of heart and marches in step with the rest of the town. ★ ★ ★ ★ THE COMPANY ★ ★ ★ ★ nTom Evans Professor Harold Hill Tom is delighted to be returning to a lead role with Thespians after a short break. Over the last twenty or so years Tom has played many leading roles for us in shows such as ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, ‘Carousel’, ‘Kiss Me Kate’, ‘South Pacific’,‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’ and ‘Chess’. Despite this ‘The Music Man’ is a first for Tom as it is the first time that he will be appearing on stage with past and present pupils of Martins Wood Primary School where Tom is Head Teacher.