[Mumma_Hogan]

I'm about to start out on the Music Man as Musical Director, and I thought this'd be a great place to ask for tips on everything from casting, audition songs, staging, costumes, best dialogue, character quirks.....

I know the show well, having watched the video (Shirley Jones / Robert Preston) since I was very young. But this is my first stint as MD (I've been the assistant MD before) and I want to know how to do the job well for this wonderful show.

So, if you have any tips from cast or production perspectives, here's your chance to influence a production!

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

[metaphor17]

I LOVE The Music Man. I've seen both movie versions countless times, I've played Amaryllis a couple times and my brother's played Winthrop (in other productions) several times at community, professional and college theatres... I've seen several different productions of it at community, college and professional theatres. It's one of my favorites and I know it inside and out!

So I'd love to help you out, but could you ask a couple slightly specific questions to get me started?

Thanks!

[Aimee]

Great show, I wish there were more women's roles in it.

I looked on Youtube for clips and found loads of the Kristin Chenoweth version, they are FANTASTIC!! They may help you with what you want to aim for, but then again, you may have something different in mind. Either way, if you like it you'll know, if not you'll know what to avoid.

Either way, good luck.

[metaphor17]

ooh, I have a few things!

1.) the chorus is very important to this show! it's imperative that the chorus really gets into their characters and into the songs. the "cameo" roles, like the pick-a-little ladies, have the potential to steal the show... be sure that they make the most of it!

2.) I wouldn't say that The Music Man is an extremely dance-heavy show, but there should be sharp and clean choreography in numbers like "Marian The Librarian" and, of course, "The Shipoopi." The choreography can be simplistic, creative, whatever... but messy choreography can ruin these otherwise fun numbers.

3.) "Rock Island" and "Trouble" need to be clean and rapid-fire!! Especially with "Rock Island"... if that number is done sloppily, it can ruin the first act. I've seen productions where these two numbers were messy and I couldn't get over it.

hope that helped! if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me!
Leah

[Mumma_Hogan]

Thanks for the response so far! I want to be prepared....

The first specific question is which song do you set for the audition piece for each character? Our society gets auditionees to do the chosen song for their character. Which songs do you guys think show off each role best? For HH do you set "Trouble", "76 Trombones" or "Marian" or something else - which one is going to show you the best Harold? And for Marian, "My White Knight"? Same question for all roles....

The dramatic auditions have to have a suitable piece of the lib (I don't have it yet, my production manager is away). So, what's best for each? I'm thinking particularly of the Shinns - what's best to discover your ideal actor for these roles?

How can you tell, or what can you do to gauge the charisma of your actors? We're expecting alot of auditionees from outside our society, so won't know everyone who turns up. How can I judge the voices and personalities that are going to blend well?

And the second questions are to do with teaching the music to the cast... Do you find that the CDs with your parts emphasised help much? How many rehearsals do you like to learn songs? How many weeks of just singing rehearsals can you stand before getting to stage?

It might sound like a lot of questions, but I'm not as clueless as it seems. I was Assistant MD in a production of "Chess" - which is very challenging. But I wasn't involved in the audition process, and I had to accompany the early rehearsals on piano as our pianist couldn't make the first 3 weeks - so I was worrying more about not stuffing up, rather that who was singing what!!

Thanks again - and I'm looking forwards to more help!!

[Luc]

As for the first question, I'm going to bluntly state the obvious - for Winthrop, do Gary Indiana.

About learning the music, CDs help me out immensely, so that I can practice at home with my part being played for me on the CD. I looove them to death!
The number of rehearsals will vary, depending on how many people are in the song, and what the harmonies are like. What we normally do is learn the basics of the song, so we can plough of way through most of it, then we go home, practice, and at the next rehearsal we finish learning, review what we already know, go home and practice more, and polish the whole song at the next rehearsal.... so three rehearsals is our general number.

I hope I have helped out at least a little bit! I've never done the show, but I can share my general theatre knowledge with you!

Good luck!

[what_the_heck013]

Why not just have each actor choose a song for the show? When I auditioned for Music Man, everyone had to sing "Wells Fargo Wagon" or "Iowa Stubborn" and if you wanted a lead "'Til There Was You".

MTI provides an excellent resource called Rehearscore which you can pop into a computer and it plays the whole vocal score--you can even choose which voice parts or instrumental parts it plays.

[hershey04]

When I auditioned, everyone sang part of Wells Fargo Wagon & Iowa Stubborn as a group, & the directors walked around & listened to everyone (community theatre...maybe 60 tried out, so it was feasible for us). If you wanted a solo in WFW, you sang a couple lines from that by yourself.

For characters, I know the ones trying out for Harold sang part of Trouble, & I think that was a really good indication of who could play the character well. Winthrops did Gary Indiana, Amaryllises did the end of Goodnight My Someone, Marcelluses did the 1st part of Shipoopi. I don't remember what the Marians did...maybe Goodnight My Someone, maybe My White Knight, I don't know. They also sang w/ the different Mrs. Paroos on the Piano Lesson. They used one of the quartet songs for the school board members, & they played around a lot with who would sing with who, & on which voice part.

I don't remember all the scenes that were read. I know there was one for Tommy & Zaneeta where he tells her about his "invention," & there was another one for Harold, Mrs. Paroo, & Winthrop where Winthrop is being signed up for the band. I'm pretty sure they had one for the Pick-a-little ladies, where they're introducing themselves to Harold. Oh, & the Eulalies did the whole "1 Grecian urn...2 Grecian urns" thing--it was hilarious to see what they came up with! I have no idea what they did for Mayor Shinn.

We may have had 2 weeks of just singing rehearsals, but not everyone had to come every night. Actually, I don't really remember how long that was. I've never used CDs to learn my part, so I don't know how helpful they are.

That's all I really remember about auditions--hope it helps! Oh, & I second everything metaphor said!

[PappyCat]

I'd make anyone going for Harold to try either Trouble or 76 Trombones. Preferably Trouble. You have to make SURE you have a guy who can do the rapid fire, fast talking.

[metaphor17]

This is how the audition songs have been done at most Music Man auditions I've been to:

Marian Paroo - "My White Knight"

Mrs. Paroo - "Wells Fargo Wagon" or another chorus song, since Mrs. Paroo doesn't actually have a song of her own

Winthrop Paroo - "Gary, Indiana"

Amaryllis - Alto part to "Goodnight My Someone" (alone, then with a Marian)

Harold Hill - "76 Trombones" and a selection from "Trouble"

Marcellus - "Shipoopi"

The Board Members - "Lida Rose" in their specific voice parts (alone, then with the other voice parts)

Pick-A-Little Ladies - "Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little"

People auditioning for chorus or parts such as Tommy Djilas, the Shinns, and Charlie Cowell (parts without solos) had to sing "Wells Fargo Wagon".

[Helena2]

Don't use CD's of the show to teach the cast their songs unless you want them coming out sounding like the singers on the CD.
Our actors learn the songs with our pianist, who will make a recording of the accompaniment for them to rehearse with at home, if they want it.

[ActingDude17]

The Music Man was my second play and I really enjoyed it.

Here are a few tips.

1) The story takes place in an old Iowa town. Make sure that you don't break the illusion that this is a stubborn town. Also, River City isn't exactly at booming metropolis, so the small town aspect is important too.
2) Make sure that Winthrop's lisp is believable. If I remember correctly for our show, our Winthrop's lisp was pretty bad and you couldn't buy it (back then I was young enough for that part, and I wanted it, but I can understand why I didn't get it, it was only my second play).
3) Like it's already been said, the ensemble is important to this show. There are many ensemble numbers (Trouble, Wells Fargo Wagon, Shipoopi, Marian the Librarian, etc).

If more come to me, I'll post 'em.

Best of luck with the show!

PS I think "Trouble" would be the best audition song for Harold. Someone already mentioned it, you have to make sure he can fast talk. This song also has a lot the auditionee can do with it.

[Bianca.]

the barbershop quartet!
make sure they SOUND GOOD.

if their harmonies are off.. it totally defeats the purpose.