History and Background

History and Background Compiled by Rachel Liff, Administration/Education Intern SYNOPSIS Follow fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the townspeople of River City, Iowa, into paying for a boys' band that he has no intention of organizing. But when he falls for Marian, the librarian, his plans to skip town with the cash are foiled and a town is transformed. ABOUT MEREDITH WILSON Meredith Wilson (book, music, and lyrics) was born and raised in Mason City, Iowa-- the inspiration for River City. He wrote the score, book, and lyrics for The Music Man as well as The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Here’s Love. He’s written songs that have been performed by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, and The Beatles. He began his career as a piccolo player at Damrosch Institute of Musical Art, now known as the Juilliard School. After graduation, he joined John Philip Sousa’s band, with whom he toured the US, Mexico, and Cuba. In the 1930s, he worked as a radio music director for various stations, including NBC, and as a http://cdn.smehost.net/masterworksbroadwaycom- composer for feature films. He 45pressprod/wp- content/uploads/2015/02/WILSON_Meredith_phA.jpg was nominated for an Academy Award twice, for The Great Dictator and The Little Foxes. Once World War II hit, Wilson became a Major in the United States Armed Forces Radio Service. He served as a bandleader and comedian throughout the war, which led to even more success as a composer for film and television in the late 1940s and 1950s. He met Franklin Lacey, who helped Wilson develop and co-write The Music Man, while working as a music director at the Hollywood Bowl. The Music Man opened on Broadway in 1957. The production won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran until 1967. There are two film versions of The Music Man and it has been revived on Broadway twice, most recently in 2000. It is his most successful musical. Wilson died in 1984 and is buried in Mason City. Sources: http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/meredith-willson/ MASON CITY Mason City, home to just under 30,000 residents, is located in North-Central Iowa, about halfway between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Des Moines. It was incorporated in the 1870, although citizens had been living there and running small businesses since the 1850s. The city became one of Iowa’s largest municipal hubs in the early twentieth century. There are multiple museums, festivals, and landmarks in Mason City, including the Music Man Square and Wilson’s Boyhood Home. Sources: http://www.masoncity.net/ http://visitmasoncityiowa.com/ Mason City, 1912 Mason City, modern day http://iagenweb.org/cerrogordo/photos/MasonCity/Cen http://www.janefischer.com/agent_files/mason_city_iow tennialEd/mcoriginal1stcitynatlbank1915.jpg a.png OUR WESTON PRODUCTION The Music Man is, as described by Meredith Wilson himself, a valentine to Mason City and Iowa. The River City community takes themselves very seriously, even when we are laughing along in the audience. Take a look at how the scenic and costume designers imagined the seriously mischievous, hilarious, and heart-filled period piece. Images courtesy of costume designer Kirche Zeile Images courtesy of scenic designer Howard Jones .

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