Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith was drawn to the musical she is currently directing, “The Music Man,” in part for personal reasons. “This is the story of an outsider who comes into a small community and totally changes it,” said Smith. “I’m from a small town. Yakima, Washington, and I’ve always been fascinated with small towns and how they operate. In this one, transformational change happens.”
This “Music Man” is set in River City, Iowa, as Meredith Willson’s original was. In terms of its placement in time, Smith said simply that “it’s set in a vision of America’s past with echoes of today.” “The Music Man,” with book, music and lyrics by Willson, tells the story of a lovable con man, Professor Harold Hill, who comes to River City after fleecing 102 counties in Illinois.
In order to make a killing, Hill convinces the good River City citizens to buy musical instruments and band outfits for their children, ostensibly to counteract the corrupting forces of modern civilization. He expects to take the money and run as he has so many times before, but in the process of making his plan work, he falls in love with the local librarian, Marian, and by the end of the musical, he has no desire to leave River City.
| Onstage |
| ‘The Music Man’ |
| Where: Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW |
| When: Through July 22 |
| Info: $45 to $109; 202-988-3300; arenastage.org |
“It’s a great cast,” said Smith. “Kate Baldwin is just sublime as Marian. Burke Moses plays Professor Hill. Sometimes we’re not sure where Burke is and where the professor is, they’re so totally aligned.”
Parker Esse, who choreographed “Oklahoma!” last season, will choreograph “The Music Man,” and the set is designed by Eugene Lee. “Eugene is one of the great environmental designers we have in the theater,” said Smith. “He has a powerful idea for using the 680-seat Fichandler Theater. The 14-member orchestra, led by Lawrence Goldberg, will be incorporated under the stage so that Larry can direct the musicians and actors at the same time.”
Smith wanted to do “The Music Man” for many reasons. “First, musicals are an art form that the whole family can enjoy,” said Smith. “Parents can introduce their children to the theater with shows like ‘Music Man.’ It was that way with me. The first theater I saw was ‘Camelot’ with Robert Goulet.
“Also, I’m really interested in the ‘gold-standard’ musicals that have lasted in our classical musical repertory. I believe that they are so strong, so completely American, they are our American art form and they need to be reinterpreted for each generation.”
