Middle school students to star in production of ‘The Music Man’
How do you make it to the Bethlehem Middle School auditorium? Practice, practice, practice.
At least, that’s how it is for the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders who will be performing The Music Man there next week, and the dozens of others who are working behind the scenes so it all comes off right.
It has taken the cast three months to prepare, said co-directors and music teachers Lynda Conway and Katie Daly, who are preparing their fifth musical production.
`It’s a substantial amount of time that the students are willing to put in, in addition to being students, which is their primary responsibility,` said Conway. `The kids are phenomenal.`
The cast has been preparing since October, when about 150 students auditioned. The directors said they were happy `The Music Man` allows a relatively large cast of 65 students.
`We don’t exactly have the largest stage, but we try to utilize as many students as we can feasibly put up on the stage,` Conway said.
Another 65 students are involved in behind-the-scenes work making costumes, building sets and manning the lights. Parents have also been a great help to the directors, with about 80 volunteers doing everything from chaperoning to selling tickets to costume design.
Two-hour rehearsals have been running four days a week for the past three months, which is a big commitment from participants, especially those playing lead parts. Some have to curtail other extracurricular activities like sports.
`You have to sacrifice a lot to put on a great show,` said Trevis Lipnicky, who will play the part of Marcellus Washburn.
Scott Mistler-Ferguson (Harold Hill) agreed.
`It’s really hard while you’re doing it, but once it’s done it’s great,` he said.
But the musical offers the players an opportunity to partake in a different kind of extracurricular activity and meet new people.
`As a sixth-grader, it’s just trying new things,` said Brendan Mortensen, who will be playing the part of Winthrop Paroo.
`You can make friends really easily, too,` added eighth-grader Greg Brazis-Eberle, who will play Mayor George Shinn.
Some of the players are veterans of the school musicals. Lead players Mistler-Ferguson and Ashliann Arditi (Marian Paroo) were both in last year’s production of `The Wizard of Oz,` but have found scenes of `The Music Man` to be much different`especially when the two share a stage kiss.
`It’s a lot more romantic,` said Mistler-Ferguson.
First performed in 1957, `The Music Man` was a breakout hit that has inspired a film, television remake, numerous recordings and countless performances by groups all over. Packed with musical numbers, the play tells the story of a traveling con man who falls for a girl in River City, Iowa, after selling the townspeople musical instruments and uniforms to rid their children of `sin and corruption.`
It’s not an easy play, said Daly, but the actors put in the work required to give off a remarkable performance for their age.
`We know what the kids can do, but I think the audience is always surprised at the level these kids perform at,` Daly said.
`The Music Man` will be performed at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2, Feb. 4, Feb. 5, and Feb. 6, with a snow date set for Sunday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. All shows will be in the middle school auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students, and will be on sale on Sunday, Jan. 31, from noon to 3 p.m. and on show nights from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
Conway advised that those interested secure their tickets in advance ` in the last three years they’ve sold out every show. Daly attributed the success only in part to familial support, saying that other students also pack the auditorium.
`It’s the students in the school who come and support their peers,` she said.
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