by Jody Tuso-Key — Managing Editor

Photo Credit: Ben Rose Photography

Among the most endearing feel-good musicals is Meredith Willson’s classic THE MUSIC MAN. A favorite since it premiered on Broadway in 1957, THE MUSIC MAN was Meredith Willson’s first musical based on his upbringing in Mason City, Iowa and inspired by his memoir And There I Stood with my Piccolo where he accounts his childhood up until the time he played the flute with John Phillips Sousa’a band. In light of this, It’s no wonder Meredith understood his subject matter so well, writing the entire libretto himself. Many people see Lin-Manual Miranda’s In the Heights and Hamilton as the first rap musicals, but Willson’s work includes a rap-like patter in songs such as ‘Trouble’ and ‘Seventy-six Trombones’ that predates Miranda’s Broadway debut by 50+ years.

THE MUSIC MAN has enjoyed revivals in both films (1962 starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones; 2003 starring Matthew Broderick and Kristen Chenowith), on Broadway (1957-61; 2000; 2022), and in many other venues throughout the years. This show was another of my family’s favorites and we grew up with the 1962 film version. However; even with the revival in 2022 starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster and featuring Georgia’s own Shuler Hensley as Marcellus, THE MUSIC MAN is something many audiences are unfamiliar with. Having seen both movies and the 2022 revival, I can say that City Springs does a fantastic job of bringing back the classical feel of this production and making it one of the must-see opening musicals of the 2024-2025 Atlanta area theater season. Audiences can enjoy this classic, but only until September 22nd, so you will want to get tickets ASAP as City Springs has a reputation for sold-out shows.

I had the pleasure of a conversation with Shuler Hensley recently, who played Marcellus on Broadway in the 2022 version. Who better to know that material and direct the City Springs version than Shuler himself? He told me, “We’ve gone back to the more original production, and it feels like I’m discovering this show for the first time.” Even if you saw it recently on Broadway, you’ll enjoy this version as much if not more.

Many Speakeysie superlatives can be attributed to the cast and crew:

Best artists and entertainers go to the production team, who often go unnoticed: Shuler Hensley’s expert direction along with Sara Edwards’s choreography proves their time in THE MUSIC MAN on Broadway makes them experts on the show; Miles Plant pulls triple duty as Music Director/Conductor/Dramaturg. The period presentation was accurate, the harmonies sweet, and the orchestra didn’t miss a note that I could hear; Scenic Designer Jacob Olson had his work cut out for him as his team built the entire set, including the wonderful touch of adding the first notes of ’76 Trombones’ to the top of the proscenium (frame of the stage). Be sure to look up upon entering the theater, and if you read music, be sure and hum out the tune; Lighting Designer Mark Wood and Sound Designer Anthony Narciso and their crews made some of the most difficult tasks look easy, as did the rest of the production crew. Simply Stunning!

Best Classical Voice and Most Apparent Transformation goes to Scarlett Walker as Marian Paroo. In the beginning, she is all sternness and hard edges and plays Marian with a demeanor of contempt that perfectly fits her initial feelings toward Harold Hill. As her affection for Hill becomes apparent, this demeanor softens and she appears as beautiful as a porcelain doll. Simply Superb!

Most Likely to Succeed goes to Billy Harrigan Tighe as Professor Harold Hill. Tighe is a very versatile veteran of City Springs having played most recently in Spamalot and Anything Goes. He brings a new and fresh take to every character he takes on, and the energy he brings to Harold Hill is infectious. Even though I’ve seen the show numerous times and have recently directed the Junior version in the past year, I saw Harold Hill in a new light and found myself fully immersed in the show and rooting for him once again. Dandily delightful!

Class Clown goes to Googie Uterhardt as Marcellus. I always enjoy his performances at City Springs, and he brought his fun brand of humor to the stage once again. Kudos especially to his performance in ‘Shipoopie’, known as the most unnecessary song in a Broadway show, but always so much fun– it’s a showstopper and will always be a staple the audiences anticipate. Fabulously fun!

Most Stubborn goes to Brian Kurlander as Mayor Shinn. Kurlander is an Atlanta favorite, and it’s delightful to see him take a break from a successful film career and make his way back to the stage. He captured the essence of the Mayor as a mix of seriousness sprinkled with seemingly unintended humor. Amply accomplished!

Best Dancers go to Trevor “TJay” Groce as Tommy Djilas and Kammie Crum as Zaneeta Shin, as well as all the other children in the show. The most impressive thing to me on Broadway was the children’s performances and the same goes for City Springs. Similar to the Broadway production, several performers in this show are making their City Springs debuts, and I hope to see them on the stage again soon. Enchantingly elegant!

Biggest Gossips go to the ‘Pick a Little Ladies’: Courtenay Collins as Eulalie Shinn; Lindsey Cole as Ethel Toffelmeyer; Galen Crawley as Maude Dunlop; and Candy McClellan Davidson as Mrs. Squires. My favorite scenes weren’t the famous ‘Pic a Little’ diatribes, but the classically hilarious Grecian Urns and a Fountain tableaus. Highly hilarious!

Best Harmonies go to the once quarrelsome quartet turned barbershop barons: Claudio Pestana as Jacey Squires, Alec Beard as Eward Dunlop, Nick Morrett as Oliver Hicks, and Kyle Robert Carter as Olin Britt. This stye of tight harmonies is difficult and demands perfect pitch, and these men pitched perfectly. Heavenly harmonious!

Finally, Honorable Mention goes out to the remainder of the cast and crew, who all worked together to make one summer in River City, Iowa come to life with all the initial stubbornness and resolute love the show intends. Dazzlingly dymanic!

I can never get enough of THE MUSIC MAN, and thoroughly enjoyed this version. I know you will as well, so hurry and get your tickets at https://www.cityspringstheatre.com/shows/upcoming/.

Thanks, may peace, love and light be with you!