Sixteen months ago, I sat down with the cast of this show and shared a vision. I told them that The Music Man is a slice of fresh-from-the-oven, all-American, home-made apple pie with a time-tested recipe. All we had to do was bring together the highest-quality ingredients, measure twice, mix with care, and bake, and we knew we’d get an incredibly rich, flaky, sweet slice of deliciousness. They bought into that vision and made a confection that was out of this world!

After months of rehearsal, it was on the eve of their opening night last March that the governor issued an emergency order closing public gatherings to contain the spread of COVID-19, so instead of sharing their apple pie with the world, they waited, and waited, and waited.

And now, at long last, their pie is out of the oven! It is as fresh and delicious as ever, in some ways all the sweeter after a year of anticipation!

We hope you will find in this production of The Music Man everything you’ve ever loved about it and maybe a little bit more. We were committed to telling this story with authenticity and heart, because when you look past all the nostalgia and razzmatazz, the messages it contains are not only timeless but incredibly timely.

At the center of this story is a charismatic con man, but all around him are characters who grow and change in remarkable ways: a boy finding his voice in spite of a disability, a hooligan learning responsibility, a group of judgmental gossipers accepting others, and men who have fought for years making beautiful music. An entire city is energized, and ultimately, a woman’s love and faith change even the opportunistic liar’s heart for good.

Despite a world that often feels more divisive than ever, I believe in the power of connection and understanding to heal our divides. Community theatre brings performers and audience members of all types together. When we set our differences aside and focus on what we have in common – the opportunity to tell this beautiful story, for example – we can build a better world, one heart and mind at a time. With brighter days once again ahead of us, please join us in imagining what our own “River City” can be.

Shelby Ferrin Director