Gulf Coast Symphony moves The Music Man to Nov. 7 & 8

Broadway veterans and local talent alike join Gulf Coast Symphony for the beloved classic musical, The Music Man. Featuring a full cast, orchestra, and staging, The Music Man will be busting onto the stage at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 and 8 at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW.
The Music Man took Broadway by storm in 1957, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. In the show, fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill brings trouble to River City, Iowa when he cons the townspeople into buying instruments for an imaginary band – but his plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when his heart is stolen by the town librarian. Featuring the unique distinction of having book, lyrics, and music written by the same person, The Music Man was inspired by Meredith Willson’s childhood in Iowa. Songs from the show became instant classics, like “Seventy-Six Trombones”, “Gary, Indiana”, and “Till There Was You”, which was eventually covered by The Beatles and remains the only song from a Broadway show released by the band. The show also features Willson’s famous snap-crackle-pop vocal arrangements that could be considered the Broadway precursors to rap. plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when his heart is stolen by the town librarian.
The cast includes friend of the symphony Siri Howard as Marian Paroo, who has appeared in other symphony productions as Laurie in Oklahoma! and Nellie Forbush in South Pacific. Howard has appeared in the Broadway productions and national tours of Les Misérables and The Sound of Music. She has also toured nationally with The Phantom of the Opera and Parade. Brian Sears stars opposite as Professor Harold Hill. Sears has extensive Broadway and West End credits as Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon, Lend Me a Tenor (Dir. Stanley Tucci), Finian’s Rainbow, Grease, and All Shook Up. Rounding out the main cast is Edward Juvier as Marcellus Washburn (Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway), Gene Weygandt as Mayor Shinn (Wicked and Big on Broadway), and Mary Stout as Eulalie Shinn (Jane Eyre, Beauty and the Beast, Me and My Girl, My Favorite Year on Broadway).
Tickets may be purchased by calling 239-481-4849 or online at www.GulfCoastSymphony.org