Kendra Gross, left, and Greg Glover will perform in the Signal Mountain Playhouse presentation of Music Man.We saw this east of our office in north Springdale.
Posted by NWADG on Wednesday, March 25, 2015
IF YOU GOWhat: "The Music Man."When: 8 p.m. today, Saturday, July 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28; gates open at 6 p.m.Where: Signal Mountain Playhouse amphitheater, off Highway 127 North on Rolling Way.Admission: $15 adults, $5 children.Phone: 886-5243.
Greg Glover will bring fast-talking con man Professor Harold Hill to life tonight when Meredith Willson's beloved musical, "The Music Man," opens in the Signal Mountain Playhouse amphitheater.
According to spokeswoman Anne Rittenberry, this will be the fourth presentation of the timeless show in the playhouse's summer series.
"It's a classic show that ends happily, and it has room for lots of teenagers and children in the cast. The original purpose of the playhouse was to give children and teens an alternative to sports in the summers," she said.
"Last summer's 'Beauty and the Beast' brought out tons of children, and we wanted to keep their interest with another kid-friendly show this summer."
"The Music Man" tells the story of wily traveling salesman Professor Harold Hill, who arrives in River City to convince citizens they need a marching band, which will provide a wholesome activity to keep their children out of the pool hall. He plans to collect their money for instruments and uniforms then skip town -- until he falls for the prim, proper Marian Paroo, town librarian.
"The Music Man' never gets old because it illustrates a lesson we always like to hear: Good triumphs over evil and forgiveness is possible," said Rittenberry.
Kendra Gross is playing opposite Glover as the town librarian, and her mother, Patti Gross, is also playing her mother onstage, Mrs. Paroo. Rounding out the Paroo family will be Noah Huseman filling the comical role of Winthrop.
Other cast principals include Brandon McCrary as Marcellus, Hill's sidekick; Don Strickland as the pompous Mayor Shinn; and Janet McInturff as his wife, Eulalie Shinn.
Audience members will find themselves humming along to classics from the American songbook such as "Til There Was You," "Seventy-Six Trombones," "Marian the Librarian" and "Goodnight My Someone."
The audience gets to enjoy this family show under the stars in the amphitheater behind the Signal Mountain Fire and Police Department. Those attending should bring lawn chairs and insect repellent. They may stake a claim on seating when the gates open at 6 p.m.