In the canon of classic American musicals, it's hard to imagine a better summer production than "The Music Man," says Harry Blundell, director of theater for the Arts Center of the Ozarks.
"It's just filled with images of picnics in the park, band concerts and ice cream socials," he says enthusiastically. "And of course, summer love. What could be better?"
FAQ
‘The Music Man’
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. July 10-11; 3 p.m. July 12; again July 16-19
WHERE — Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale
COST — $10-$20; the July 10 Opening Night Gala is an additional fee
INFO — 751-5441 or acozarks.org
FYI
Opening Night
A Walk in Park
FYI
Close your eyes. Walk across the bridge into the Madison Picnic Park, where candlelight twinkles in the trees and the sound of a brass band playing Sousa marches echoes in the evening air.
It’s 1912 inside the Arts Center of the Ozarks, and River City, Iowa, is celebrating summer with a picnic, complete with red-and-white checked tablecloths and “a scrumptious array of favorite old-fashioned picnic foods,” says Kathi Blundell, ACO administrative director.
The July 10 opening night gala for Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” will transport patrons to a simpler time, adds Cathy Crouch, one of the ACO supporters planning the event. Crouch promises “it will feel just like you’re walking in to the play.”
After the preshow picnic, the menu for the “Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Picnic” will also include a champagne intermission with cobbler, ice cream and homemade chocolate cake.
Planning this festive evening with Crouch are Ruth Shafer, Tareneh Manning, Marsha Jones and Debby Weiser.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students by calling 479-751-5441 or visiting acozarks.org. Proceeds underwrite theater programming in the coming year.
Whatever the season, Blundell is convinced "The Music Man" is in the top five among classic musicals. And the Springdale arts center is known for choosing one each year for its summer "blockbuster." It's among the things that have defined ACO since the days when the musicals were presented outdoors.
Blundell was himself Professor Harold Hill in his first time on the ACO stage, back in 1975 -- exactly 40 years ago. But the story of the traveling salesman and Marian Paroo, the beautiful but suspicious librarian in small-town Iowa, was already a classic. Playwright Meredith Willson based the story on his memories of growing up in Mason City.
According to Center Stage Magazine, Willson's mother, Rosalie -- the inspiration for Mrs. Paroo -- was a music teacher and gave lessons to hundreds of Mason City's boys and girls, including her own. At 17, Willson moved to New York City, where he studied at the Institute of Musical Art. After graduation, he played flute in John Phillip Sousa's famous band and from 1924 to 1929 he played in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. During the 1930s, he was a musical director on many national radio shows and wrote standards like "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas," "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You" and "'Till There Was You."
In 1957, the play became a hit on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical and running for 1,375 performances. Since then, it's been a family staple -- just as ACO has been a staple for the family of Lynetta Ivey Reid, who will play Marian.
"My first experience with the ACO was way back in the spring of 1990 when Harry came to see a rehearsal of Springdale High School's production of 'Guys 'N Dolls,' in which I was playing Adelaide," Reid remembers. "After rehearsal, he auditioned a few of us students for the ACO's upcoming summer production of 'Oklahoma!' -- which was the first show I was in at the ACO.
"Fast forward from then to where I returned to be in 'Fiddler On the Roof' in 2000, 'Oklahoma!' in 2001 and then to the ACO's production of 'The Sound of Music,' in 2002, which is where I met my husband, John, and stepson Cale. Now, 13 years later, our 8-year-old son Jackson is in 'The Music Man' with me! So, as you can see," Reid concludes, "the ACO has been instrumental in making things happen in my life!"
Reid will be joined centerstage by ACO veteran Jim Blount as Harold Hill.
"I have been involved with the ACO for nearly 20 years," Blount says. "Several shows, ACO Chorale and the Board of Directors. Lynetta and I were last together on stage at the ACO as Captain Van Trapp and Maria in 'The Sound of Music' 13 years ago."
Blount says even with great roles on his resume -- also including Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" -- he's always wanted to play Harold Hill.
"It's such a great summer show -- great music and a reminder of a much simpler time," he says. And, he promises, he'll bring some "new interpretations" to the "big character" of Harold Hill.
"I want to bring Marian to life in a way that the audiences forget they are watching an actor and believe Marian to be lovable, completely relatable and completely real," adds Reid. "I want them to leave remembering how they connected with her emotionally."
NAN What's Up on 07/03/2015