We may be barreling toward 2019, but the cast of the St. Michael-Albertville High School’s fall musical will bring theater-goers back to the simpler days of the early 1900s with their upcoming performance of The Music Man.
Set in the year 1912, The Music Man centers on the story of Harold Hill (played by senior Jonathan Haller), a con man posing as a boys’ band organizer. Hill sells band equipment and uniforms to Midwesterners, but his plans go off track when he falls in love with a local librarian and piano teacher, Marian Paroo (played by senior Lindsay Rohr).
The Music Man’s cast and crew numbers 115 members strong, with students taking the lead in all parts of the production, from set design to directing, backstage workers to the pit orchestra.
“One thing we pride ourselves on is that the whole thing is student-run,” theater director Joshua Mann said. “We try to let the kids do everything.”
Neither of the show’s two leads are new to the stage. Both have participated in STMA’s theater program all through high school, and Haller has also taken a leading role in the SOAR Regional Arts program, where he currently serves on the teen advisory board. Haller has been part of 15-20 other musical productions with both STMA High School, SOAR and other productions, and he has starred in multiple other shows. This is Rohr’s first leading role, and she said it’s been a big change over past years.
“It’s opened up a whole new door of fun and excitement,” she said.
The cast leaders said The Music Man is special because of its lively songs that are recognizable to many, such as Seventy-Six Trombones and The Wells Fargo Wagon. Mann said they chose this show because of the wide range it has and how it helps they show off their student talent.
“The Music Man is just a classic musical,” Mann said. “It’s really good for high schools because it does a lot of good vocal ranges, so we can showcase a lot of student talent.
“The music is really fun,” Rohr said. “It’s very upbeat.”
The show will run from Nov. 8-11, with shows on the 8th, 9th and 10th at 7 p.m. The Sunday show on Nov. 11th begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale at www.stmaknights.com at a price of $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. All performances take place at the high school’s Performing Arts Center.
“It’s a hilarious family show,” Haller said. “It’s great for anybody.”
