Monticello High School to present “The Music Man”

This year’s Monticello High School musical production will be “The Music Man,” a musical with book, music and lyrics written by Meredith Willson. The show offers a stunning mix of splendid acting and great staging, supported by Monticello’s talented theatre orchestra under the direction of Kevin Dirth.

The Music Man tells the story of traveling salesman Harold Hill (John Garry) and his visit to a small Iowa town in 1912, where he meets and falls in love with the willful spinster librarian, Marian Paroo (Kristen Van Hage). In rehearsal, Garry showed himself to be a multi-talented actor who dances, sings and acts as if he were born to play the part of Hill. Garry is bound for NYU or Syracuse next fall where he will major in musical theatre. Van Hage is a tremendous asset to the show, whose demure acting provides a great foil to Garry’s ostentatious presence as Hill.

The show sparkles with great ensemble numbers, terrific choreography and a degree of professionalism that makes for a seamlessly delightful production.

Directing this year’s show is Jennifer Romano. Joyce Wells is acting as choral director, while Patti Sonnenschein designed and oversaw set construction. Ann Carmeci is responsible for costumes. Ken Uy is accompanist. Kevin Dirth is producer and theatre orchestra director.

The public performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 31 and April 1, in the Arnold Packer Hughs Auditorium. Show tickets are priced at $5 for adults and $3 for students and can be obtained at the door. Senior Citizens are admitted free.

(See next week’s The River Reporter for an in-depth analysis of how a first-rate show comes to life.)

For more information call 845/794-8840, ext. 10993.