(Le Mars) From age 9 to 90, the cast of Le Mars Community Theaters summer musical The Music Man feels like a light hearted family reunion. The 27 member cast has seasoned performers, newbies and every level of experience in between.
The Music Man performances begin next week so you’ll soon be able to see the show, which is set in the fictional Iowa town of River City. Salesman and con artist Harold Hill, played by Benjamin Mauritz, comes to River City to sell them on the idea of a band for the kids in the town. The town piano teacher Marian Paroo, played by Angela Iversen, has the education to know what he’s up to, but will she call him on it? That depends on how smooth he can be.
(L-R: Angela Iversen, Sylvia Riedeman)
Two of the youngest characters in the show are under the auspices of Miss Marian. One is her little brother Winthrop, played by 9-year-old Braycen Gengler. He tells us a little bit about his character.
Marian’s piano student Amaryllis, is played by 9-year-old Sylvia Riedeman. She says she’s enjoying being a part of the show.
The third nine year old is a lovely little towns person played by Scarlett Hoppe. What’s been the most challenging part of the show for her so far?
(L-R: Sylvia, Scarlett, Braceyn)
Moving up over eight decades brings us to the age of the oldest cast member, Dr. Wayne Marty. He plays the constable and he dances and sings his bass vocal part with the best of them.
(L-R: Wayne Marty, Kemper Bowden, Jeff Neary)
The show is set in 1912, and even though Dr. Marty wasn’t born until 1932, many of the subject matters in the show ring true to him as a boy growing up in Iowa. From the talk of the cistern running dry on Saturday night, to Audrey Scholten’s costume design… specifically of the men in charge of changing the set.
(L-R: “Constable” Wayne Marty, Kemper Bowden, George New)
Marty hopes everyone will come out and support this family-friendly show.
The Music Man at the Le Mars Community Theatre is under the direction of Jennifer Scholten and Father Paul Eisele and opens on the Postal Playhouse stage Thursday, July 28th and runs through the 31st. Then again August 3rd through 7th. Evening performances are at 7:30 and Sunday matinees are at 2pm. Tickets are available online at www.lemarslive.org or by calling the box office Monday-Friday 11-1 at 546-5788.
Cast List:
Charlie Cowell – George New
Conductor – Dan Delperdang
Harold Hill – Benjamin Mauritz
Mayor Shinn – Jeff Neary
Ewart Dunlop – Jack McInnis
Oliver Hix – Dalton Glawe
Jacey Squires – David DeRoos
Olin Britt – Beau Pravecek
Marcellus Washburn – Curtis Jackson
Tommy Djilas – Kemper Bowden & Aaron Lee
Marian Paroo – Angela Iversen
Mrs. Paroo – Alison Hanson
Amaryllis – Sylvia Riedeman
Winthrop Paroo – Bracyn Gengler
Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn – Tracie Ritz
Zaneeta Shinn – Kaitlynn Meier
Gracie Shinn – Maddie Keunen
Alma Hix – Pam McDermott
Maud Dunlop – Kari Butcher
Ethel Toffelmier – Renae Buss
Mrs. Squires – Laila Archer
The Farmer – Eddie McKee
Constable Locke – Wayne Marty
Town’s People:
Scarlet Hoppe
Parker Keunen
Keri Malm
