Music Man HIGH SCHOOL AUDITION PACKET WHAT TO PREPARE A musical theatre or Disney song that showcases your best vocals and acting. Think of the character you are auditioning for and tailor your song towards that character. You must have 32 bars prepared with sheet music. http://www.sheetmusicplus.com is a great website to buy individual songs. The second day of auditions will include dance auditions and possible callbacks if there is time. Be prepared to do cold readings from the script at callbacks Be prepared to learn songs for multiple characters at callbacks The entire musical soundtrack can be found online if you type in Music Man on YouTube AUDITION DATES AND TIMES Tuesday, November 17 th 2:00PM 5:00PM (high school please sign up for the earliest slots first) o Using the below website, please sign up for a time slot to sing on November 17 th http://cchsfinearts.bringit.bz/public/a83ddb o Once you are finished with your audition group you may leave Wednesday, November 18 th 2:00PM 5:00PM (dance auditions and possible callbacks, once you are finished with your dance auditions you may leave if you are not called back.) Thursday, November 19 th 2:00PM 5:00PM (Callbacks) o Just remember if you do not get called back, it does not mean you are not casted REHEARSAL There will be extended rehearsals from 2:00PM 5:00PM every Tuesday and Thursday There will be extended rehearsal from 2:00PM 4:00PM on Wednesdays Starting March, if needed, rehearsals will be from 2:00PM 5:00PM Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (The goal is to not need this, but due to the fact that we lose two weeks of rehearsal in March, there is the option to go to this.) Potential Additional Rehearsals o December 15 th (Tuesday), 12:30PM 4:00PM o December 17 th (Thursday), 9:00AM 3:00PM o January 14 th (Thursday), 2:00PM 5:00PM o February 15 th (Monday), 8:00AM - Noon (TBA) o March 28 th (Monday) 9:00AM 3:00PM (TBA) o April 12 th (Tuesday) 6:00PM-9:00PM (Just leads with orchestra) o April 19 th (Tuesday) 6:00-9:00PM (Just leads with orchestra)
o April 26 th (Tuesday) 5:00PM-10:00PM (All cast with orchestra) o At Winter Mountain Seminar there will be small rehearsals for small groups. This will not take up much of your time, as we will schedule it in a way that small groups rehearse for a small time. o NOTE Rehearsals will be specific, so you may not need to be there the entire time or even for a specific rehearsal. You will know which rehearsals your character is needed for in advance SHOW DATES April 28 th @ 7:00PM April 29 th @ 7:00PM April 30 th @ 2:00PM & 7:00PM MUSIC MAN SYNOPSIS THE play is set mainly in the little town of River City, Iowa, in 1912, but the opening scene is on a moving train in which the dialogue of travelling salesmen and the musical background beautifully simulate the bouncy rhythm of the jogging train. Aboard this train the salesmen are discussing the selling powers of one Harold Hill, without realizing that he is also one of the passengers. Harold Hill gets off at River City and comes to the centre of the town. There an old crony, Marcellus Washburn, tells him he will never be able to work his racket in this town: Harold Hill's racket is to go from town to town and influence its citizens to start a boys' band; then to abscond with the money the townspeople give him for the purchase of instruments and uniforms. Marcellus further informs Harold that the main obstacle in River City is the town librarian/music teacher, Marian Paroo, a "stuck up" sort of girl, who can be counted upon to see right through Harold's chicanery. Undaunted, Harold Hill proceeds to arouse the town's enthusiasm for starting a boys' band by pointing out the corrupt influence on their children of the local pool parlour ("Trouble"). When Marion Paroo appears, Harold tries to win her over with his charm, but she brushes him off rudely. But Marian is a soft and sentimental girl, as she reveals by speaking
to the stars ("Goodnight, My Someone"). Inside the gymnasium of Madison High School a patriotic tableau is being given; Mayor Shinn follows with an address. Harold Hill demands the attention of the audience and starts once again to expound his ideas about a boys' band until the kids become infected with his enthusiasm ("Seventy-Six Trombones"). Later the same evening, Harold Hill goes to the library to win Marian over to his cause. He tries to impress her by telling her he is a "professor" of music, a graduate of the Gary, Indiana University, in the gold medal class of 1905. But Marian tells him in no uncertain terms that he cannot mesmerize or hoodwink her the way he had done the rest of the townspeople. Thus brushed off unceremoniously, Harold consoles himself with the idea that, after all, he has no possible interest in a girl as prim and conventional as Marian. ("The Sadder but Wiser Girl"). Nevertheless, he makes another effort to win over Marian, by sneaking up to her desk at the library and trying to convince her that he is infatuated with her ("Marian the Librarian"). But all the while, Harold keeps alive the enthusiasm for his band project, and goes about town signing applicants. Cuttingly, Marian asks him why he does not use his gift to greater advantage at a carnival. She knows he is a fraud, and thus will have no traffic with him, even though she is not the kind of girl who waits for a knight in shining armor ("My White Knight"). The reason Marian knows he is a fraud is because she has consulted the Indiana State Educational Journal and has discovered that Gary, Indiana University, had not even been founded in 1905. She is about to bring this information to the leading citizens of the town when Wells Fargo arrives with the musical instruments and uniforms, creating so much enthusiasm and excitement among her neighbors that she simply does not have the heart to disillusion them about Harold Hill. Indeed, now that Harold has, indeed, delivered the
instruments and the uniforms without absconding with the money she is much more sympathetic to him; and there is no question in her mind that he is a man of considerable charm. Her resistance to him is finally broken: She comes to tell Harold she is in love with him ("Till There Was You"). Now Harold Hill gives himself up completely to making a success of the boys' band. In a stirring finale the boys appear in full regalia and sound their first raucous notes as members of the town band. Character Descriptions MALES: THE MUSIC MAN CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS HAROLD HILL: (Baritone, A Flat to High F) A smooth talking con man and traveling salesman with plenty of charm, who tries Iowa after saturating Illinois; convinces townspeople they need a boys band to keep them out of trouble. He falls for Marian, & kisses her on stage; does need some movement ability, & sings Trouble, Seventy-six Trombones, The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl, Marian the Librarian, Shipoopi, (Dance only) Till There Was You, & Goodnight My Someone reprise. MARCELLUS WASHBURN: (Tenor, G to High A) Former con man and friend to Harold Hill who now lives in River City; becomes fast friends with Harold again and helps him learn about the town, tries to help Harold get out of town after the con; his is a comic role; kisses Ethel Tofflemeier whom he is dating. Should have some dance movement ability, and sings The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl, and Shipoopi, also the chorus numbers. MAYOR GEORGE SHINN: (Non-Singing or Chorus Only) The Mayor of River City, self-important, blustery, pompous, not terribly intelligent. Gets lots of things wrong! Listens to his wife. Protective of daughter, Zaneeta, whom he thinks is dating the wrong boy in town. Takes himself seriously, but comes across funny. Sings: Chorus Numbers. WINTHROP PAROO: ( Alto, C E Flat) Marian s little brother, cute as a button. Does not talk much because of a lisp and missing his dead father. Learns to trust again
and is a chatterbox by the end of the show. Sings: The Wells Fargo Wagon, and Gary, Indiana, plus some Chorus Numbers. BARBERSHOP QUARTET (Members of the School Board) OLIN BRITT: (Bass) Editor of the Gazette, Member of the School Board turned into Barbershop Quartet, a bickering business man until he is united with the others by Harold Hill, and learns not only to sing in harmony, but to behave in harmony. Sings: Sincere, It s You, Goodnight Ladies, Lida Rose and all the Chorus numbers. OLIVER HIX: (Baritone) Banker, Member of the School Board turned Barbershop Quartet, another bickering business man until he is united by the others by Harold Hill and begins to sing and act in harmony with them. Married to Alma. Sings Sincere, Goodnight Ladies, It s You, Lida Rose, and all Chorus numbers. JACEY SQUIRES: (High Tenor) Owner of the livery stable, Member of the School Board turned Barbershop Quartet, another bickering business man until he is united with the others by Harold Hill, and sings and acts in harmony. Married to Mrs. Squires. Sings: Sincere, Goodnight Ladies,, It s You, Lida Rose, and all Chorus Numbers EWART DUNLOP: (Second Tenor) Owner of the General Store, Member of the School Board turned into Barbershop Quartet, another bickering business man until he is united with the others by Harold Hill and sings and acts in harmony. Married to Maud Dunlop. Sings: Sincere, Goodnight Ladies, It s You, Lida Rose and all Chorus Numbers. CHARLIE COWELL: A rival traveling salesman, first seen on the train at the start of the show, he returns to town to warn them about Harold and hopefully make himself a hero and earn sales himself. Kisses Marian onstage. Sings Rock Island and Finale. (We may also use him as a River City Townsperson in disguise.) TOMMY DJILAS: A teenager from the wrong side of town who starts out as a trouble maker, but falls for Zaneeta, the Mayor s daughter, and encouraged by Harold, begins dating her secretly. He also becomes the assistant leader of the Boys Band, thanks to Harold giving him confidence and trust. CONSTABLE LOCKE: The town Sheriff. Sings the Chorus Numbers TRAIN CONDUCTOR: He is on in the first scene with lines, and then will become a River City Townsperson for the rest of the show. TRAVELING SALESMEN: Salesmen on the train that warn each other about what they ve heard about Harold Hill. None of them have ever met him, but all know about his reputation. They do not realize that he is there among them on the train and can hear everything they are saying. They have a syncopated song in the
beginning of the show no singing, but patterned to sound like a moving train. Very clever. Sing: Rock Island (NOTE: The Traveling Salesmen will become Townspeople once Act 1, Scene 1 is over.) RIVER CITY BOYS/TEENS: These are the dancing and singing ensemble in all the numbers that the townspeople are in with the addition of Seventy-six Trombones and Marian the Librarian. Featured Dancers will come from this group. Also sing: Iowa stubborn, Trouble, The Wells Fargo Wagon, Shipoopi, & Finale. RIVER CITY TOWNSPERSONS: These are small town folks who are proud of their town. They are of all ages, sizes and shapes. They will be part of a family and assigned children. They sing all the chorus numbers Iowa Stubborn, Trouble, Seventy-six Trombones, The Wells Fargo Wagon, Shipoopi & Finale. Note: Some of the Men will also be Traveling Salesmen and sing Rock Island MUSIC MAN CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS (CONT ) FEMALES: MARIAN PAROO:(Soprano, Low G to High A) Daughter to Mrs. Paroo and sister to Winthrop, she is the stuffy, conceited librarian and piano teacher in town. She is very learned and defends the questionable books that are in the library. She was close to her deceased father s friend, Mr. Madison, and the town believes that she had an affair with him. After all, he left the library to the town, but all the books to her! There was no affair, and he was like an uncle to her. At first, after meeting Harold Hill, she dislikes him but then gets to know him better, and we see a transformation in her while she falls in love. She comes to realize that he really does want to make a difference, and changes things in the town. They end up together. She has stage kisses with Charlie Cowell and with Harold Hill. Does need some dance movement ability, & Sings: Piano Lesson, Goodnight My Someone, My White Knight, Shipoopi, (Dance only) Will I Ever Tell You, Till There Was You, & Seventy-six Trombones reprise. MRS. PAROO: (Mezzo Soprano A Flat to E Flat) Widowed Irish mother to Marian and Winthrop, she speaks with an Irish accent. She is a sweet, cheerful homemaker who wants the best for everyone. She gives Marian a lot of advice about how to find a man., and dotes on Winthrop. She falls for Harold s con. Always keeps her hands busy. Sings: Piano Lesson, and most of the chorus numbers. EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN (Alto, D to D) Mayor Shinn s wife, she is definitely a society lady, knows everyone in town, struts about like a peacock and is somewhat snooty. A Member of every auxiliary organization in town, she has some strange ideas and doesn t think she looks as ridiculous as she really is. Keeps her husband in line. Leads the Ladies Dance group in the Grecian Urn. Sings: Pickalittle, It s You, and all Chorus Numbers. AMARYLLIS (Alto, C to E) She is the young piano student of Marian s, and likes Winthrop, but doesn t understand why he won t talk to her. The actress does not
necessarily have know how to play the piano. Sings: Piano Lesson, and Chorus Numbers. ZANEETA SHINN: Mayor Shinn & Eulalie s daffy teenage daughter, she has a crush on the town bad boy Tommy. She is not rebellious, but is learning to stand up for herself. Very cute and feminine, she is a dancer, especially in Marian the Librarian and Seventy-six Trombones. Also can sing in Chorus Numbers. GRACIE SHINN: She is the Mayor s younger daughter, and somewhat of a tomboy and a bit devilish. Sings Chorus Numbers. ETHEL TOFFELMIER: She is jolly and friendly, and plays the player piano. She is dating Marcellus and has a stage kiss with him. She does gossip with the other ladies, and is one of the Pickalittle ladies and Grecian Urn performers. Dances in Shipoopi and sings Pickalittle, It s You, and Chorus Numbers. ALMA HIX: The wife of Oliver Hix, she is a gossipy friend of Eulalie and the other Pickalittle women who also perform the Grecian Urn. Sings: Pickalittle, It s You, and Chorus Numbers. MAUD DUNLOP: The wife of Ewart Dunlop, and another of Eulalie s gossipy friends who are the Pickalittle women and perform in Grecian Urn. Sings: Pickalittle, It s You, and Chorus Numbers. MRS. SQUIRES: The wife of Jacey Squires, she is also one of Eulalie s gossipy friends who are the main Pickalittle women and perform in Grecian Urn. Sings: Pickalittle, It s You, and Chorus Numbers. RIVER CITY GIRLS/TEENS: Of all ages, they are the singing and dancing ensemble, in all numbers that the townspeople are in, and especially in Seventy-six Trombones, and Marian the Librarian. Featured Dancers will come from this group. Also Sing in Chorus Numbers. RIVER CITY KIDS CHORUS: The kids of the town will have fun singing, dancing, throughout the entire show. RIVER CITY TOWNSPERSONS: These are the small town folks who are proud of their town. They are women of all ages, sizes and appearance. Some of these women will also be in Pickalittle along with Eulalie s friends. All will be part of a family and have children assigned to them. All will sing: Iowa Stubborn, Trouble, The Wells Fargo Wagon, Shipoopi, It s You, reprise, & Finale