A note from the Director…

My last college teaching position was at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa just twenty minutes from Mason City, Iowa the birthplace of Music Man creator Meredith Willson. Being a part of this larger community in Iowa, you cannot avoid the tremendous influence that Willson and his beloved musical has had on Northern Iowa, nor would you want to. From the numerous locales that inspired his fictional town of River City (the li- brary, the footbridge, the local school gymnasium) to Willson’s own birth- place/home and the most recent addition to the lore, Music Man Square, which replicates every scene in the musical under one roof and includes a larger-than-life statue of Willson conducting the boys band, Music Man is as much a part of the culture there as farmer’s sweet corn and the Norwe- gian pastries called lefse.

While I did not completely appreciate the artistic importance of the musi- cal while I was living there, my journey through the directorial process of this particular production at Belhaven has renewed my love for the cherished piece of Broadway’s Golden Age. It has been a rewarding redis- covery of the intricacies of Willson’s soaring melodies and clever lyrics. Most importantly, I have been able to share this journey with an incred- ibly talented cast, a very hard-working crew, and a phenomenally creative production staff. I have been truly blessed to work with these wonderful folks who aren’t at all “Iowa Stubborn.”

I hope you enjoy our take on this wonderful musical tale that shows us that love can grow out of anywhere, even the most diabolical swindles. As we say in Iowa, “Uff-da!”

God Bless, Dr. David S. Sollish Director Chair, Belhaven University Theatre Department

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. A SPECIAL THANKS TO: President Roger Parrott Dr. Dan Fredericks Dr. Dennis Watts Dr. Stephen Sachs Lori Farmer Grace Anna Lane David Potvin Wayne Green Bryant Butler David Sprayberry BU Maintenance & Facilities Department BU University Relations Department Auburn University at Montgomery Theatre Department New Stage Theatre Rex Needham Saxophone of Tupelo ΑΨΩ Alpha Psi Omega This nationally recognized Honors Society is not a fraternal organization but rather a society organized by those who believe that a dedication to the theatre and good academic standing deserves recognition and acknowledgement. We have been honored at Belhaven to have had our cast, Iota Upsilon in place since 1938.

President Vice President Frannie Maas Business Manager Michaela Bowen Marie Haynes

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly Historian Chaplain prohibited. Michael Tobin Laina Faul It is the mission of the BELHAVEN UNIVERSITY THEATRE DEPARTMENT to train servant artists in the use of the art of theatre to serve their Community, their Collaborators, and their Creator. Belhaven University National Association of Schools of Theatre and a member in good standing with Christians in Theatre Arts Southeastern Theatre Conference Mississippi Theatre Association Theatre Communications Group Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival

Theatre Department Faculty Dr. David Sollish Joseph Frost, MFA Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, Associate Professor of Theatre Chair of Theatre (601) 974-6148 (601) 974-6477 [email protected] [email protected] Dr. Elissa Sartwell Becky Freeman, MFA Associate Professor of Theatre, Associate Professor of Theatre, (601) 974-6131 Costume Designer [email protected] (601) 965-7059 [email protected] Rebekah Bert, MA Specialty Instructor of Technical Design (601) 974-5497 [email protected] MusicalSetting: River Numbers City, Iowa 1912 Act I “Rock Island”...... Charlie Cowell & Salesmen “Iowa Stubborn”...... Company “(Ya Got) Trouble”...... Harold Hill & Company “Piano Lesson”...... Marian Paroo, Mrs. Paroo, & Amaryllis “Goodnight, My Someone”...... Marian Paroo & Amaryllis “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean”...... Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn & Company “Seventy-six Trombones”...... Harold Hill & Company “Sincere”...... Olin Britt, Oliver Hix, Ewart Dunlop, & Jacey Squires “The Sadder-but-Wiser Girl”...... Harold Hill & Marcellus Washburn “Pick-a-little”...... Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, Maud Dunlop, Ethel Toffelmier, Alma Hix, Mrs. Squires, & Mrs. Britt “Goodnight, Ladies”...... Olin Britt, Oliver Hix, Ewart Dunlop, & Jacey Squires “Marian the Librarian”...... Harold Hill, Marian Paroo, Zaneeta Shinn, Tommy Djilas, & the Students “My White Knight”...... Marian Paroo “The Wells Fargo Wagon”...... Winthrop Paroo & Company -15 Minute Intermission- Act II “It’s You”...... Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, Maud Dunlop, Ethel Toffelmier, Alma Hix, Mrs. Squires, Mrs. Britt, Olin Britt, Oliver Hix, Ewart Dunlop, & Jacey Squires “Shipoopi”...... Marcellus Washburn, Ethel Tofflemier, Harold Hill, Marian Paroo, Tommy Djilas, Zaneeta Shinn & Company “Pick-a-little” (Reprise)...... Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, Maud Dunlop, Ethel Toffelmier, Alma Hix, Mrs. Squires, & Mrs. Britt “Lida Rose”...... Olin Britt, Oliver Hix, Ewart Dunlop, & Jacey Squires “Will I Ever Tell You?”...... Marian Paroo “Gary, Indiana”...... Winthrop Paroo, Mrs. Paroo, & Marian Paroo “It’s You”...... Company “Till There Was You”...... Harold Hill & Marian Paroo “Seventy-six Trombones”(Reprise) ...... Harold Hill & Marian Paroo “Goodnight, My Someone” (Reprise)...... Harold Hill & Marian Paroo “Till There Was You” (Reprise)...... Harold Hill “Finale”...... Company “Professor” HaroldCast Hill Marlon Banks Marian Paroo Michaela Bowen* (4/21, 4/22 evening, 4/27, 4/29 matinee) Courtney Holifield (4/22 matinee, 4/26, 4/28, 4/29 evening) Mrs. Paroo Sonja Hakkinen Winthrop Paroo Jameson Williams Mayor George Shinn Theo Lott Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn Madison Parrott* Zaneeta Shinn Noelle Balzer Gracie Shinn Kyra Smiley* Marcellus Washburn Samuel McFatridge* Amaryllis Analia Gonzalez Tommy Djilas CJ Riggs* Charlie Cowell Caleb Henry Jacey Squires Joshua Pirtle Ewart Dunlop Joshua Noe* Oliver Hix Jordan Locke Olin Britt Madison Ellis Ethel Toffelmeier Leonela Hernandez Mrs. Britt Sarah Wolfe Alma Hix Alice Bryant* Mrs. Squires Christy Robeson* Maud Dunlop Amelia Wilds Constable Locke Adrian Jordan Train Conductor Lewis Hines Ensemble Emily Barrett, Alyse Bloodworth, Laura Brush, Dillon Cannon*, Brianna Fondren, Sarah Freeman, Isabelle Gonzalez, Nicolas Gonzales, Caleb Henry, Lewis Hines, Noelle Jones, James Kenyon*, Clay Nelson, Truman Poole, Maecy Kate Reed, Benjamin Shrader*, Tori Turnbow, Aryelle Tuttle, Mandy Williams Etiquette Please turn off all cell phones and other devices in consideration of actors and audience members. No photography or video is allowed during the performance. *Members of Alpha Psi Omega Production Staff Director Dr. David S. Sollish* Musical Director Mr. Christopher Phillips Choregrapher John Scacchetti Rehearsal Accompanist John Barnts Costume Designer Becky Freeman Scenic/Lighting Designer Michael Winkelman Sound Designer Marie Haynes* Technical Director Rebekah Bert Stage Manager Kelsey Sollish* Props Master Kyra Smiley* Hair & Makeup Design Madison Ellis Dance Captains Samuel McFatridge, Tori Turnbow Dramaturg Mac Mitchell* Scenic Charge Artist Sarah Grace Harris* Assistant Stage Managers Alberto Meza, Aryelle Tuttle Box Office Manager Amy Smith House Manager Grace Reeves* Logo/Poster Design Corrie M. Hung Sound Consultant Frank Dolansky Musicians Conductor Mr. Christopher Phillips Piano/OrchExtra John Barnts Understudies For Harold, Marcellus Caleb Henry For Mrs. Shinn, Mrs. Paroo Alice Bryant For Ethel, Alma, Maud, Mrs. Squires, & Mrs. Britt Brianna Fondren For Mayor Shinn Dillon Cannon For Zaneeta Mandy Williams For Tommy Lewis Hines For Gracie Noelle Jones

Understudies never substitute for listed players unless previously announced at time of the performance *Members of Alpha Psi Omega Light Board CrewOperator Angela Landgraf Sound Board Operator Marie Haynes* Sound Assistant Connor Bingham Spotlight Operators Hannah Kenyon*, Olivia Simms Riggers Laina Faul*, James Kenyon, Aryelle Tuttle Dressers Rebecca Lapeyre*, Mac Mitchell, Riley Pleasants, Ashley Reed Wardrobe Maintenance Christy Robeson Lighting Crew Laina Faul, Alecia Gray, James Kenyon, Brittany Lyday*, Alberto Meza, CJ Riggs, Michael Tobin* Master Electricians Laina Faul, Alberto Meza, Michael Tobin Set Crew Fred Arnold, Emily Barrett, Joey Graves, Marie Haynes, Leonela Hernandez, Angela Landgraf, Samuel McFatridge, Kyra Smiley, Tori Turnbow Paint Crew Marie Haynes, Brittany Lyday, Tori Turnbow Costume Crew Marlon Banks, Michaela Bowen, Alice Bryant, Leonela Hernandez, Ashley A note from the Dramaturg... Reed, Julia Smiley, Aryelle Tuttle Meredith Willson’s The Music Man first opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on Decem- ber 19, 1957, running for 1,375 performances. It starred Robert Preston as Harold Hill and Barbara Cook as Marian Paroo. It won five Tony’s at the 12th Tony Awards. A movie adaptation was released in 1962 with Robert Preston reprising his role as Harold Hill and Shirley Jones playing Marian. In 2003, a television film was released with Matthew Broderick as Harold Hill. However, the seeds of this show’s creation were born and cultivated in Mason City, Iowa, an un-yielding, stubborn little American town and the childhood home of Meredith Willson. It is typically in the writer’s job description to “make something up.” In a Los Angeles Times interview, however, Willson maintains, “I didn’t have to make up anything. I simply remembered Mason City as closely as I could.” The characters are based on the people Willson knew from Mason City. For example, Marian Paroo is based on Willson’s mother. Old Mrs. Paroo is based on the German lady who cleaned the Willson family house, and Winthrop is based upon Willson himself as a young boy. The Music Man is Meredith Willson’s love letter to his hometown. Like the Barbershop Quartet, the crusty, squabbling people of River City, Iowa discover how they can relate to each other through music and dance and grow together as a community. Perhaps, if more towns searched for a song to connect with one another, Willson’s charming depiction of human relationships would be reachable, and the world might be a happier place. Mac Mitchell Dramaturg