The Music Man, Jr. 2019

Auditions:             

Monday Sept 17 Library 2:30-6:00 pm

Tuesday Sept 18 Library 2:30-6:00 pm 

Wednesday Sept 19 Library 2:30-6:00 pm

Callbacks: Friday Sept 21 Music Room 2:30-6:00 pm

Principal Character descriptions for The Music Man, Jr!

Harold Hill Needs charisma and charm; comfortable on stage. A great actor, a great singer, and an adequate dancer. Harold must have stage chemistry with Marian. 

Marian Paroo

Marian progresses greatly during the show. Marian must have an amazing voice, be an excellent actor, and be able to dance well. She must also have an air of confidence. She will also need to be comfortable kissing at least one other character: Charlie Cowell, which requires a certain amount of emotional maturity. Harold must have stage chemistry with Marian. 

Charlie Cowell is one of the premium non-solo roles. Whoever plays Charlie will also perform as a River City-zian in the ensemble but look DRASTICALLY different

We need a strong actor with a good loud voice who is a bit of a ham and likes being on the stage. He has to be comfortable kissing Marian, and should have a good sense of comic timing. 

Mayor (George) Shinn

Mayor Shinn needs a good sense of comic timing, but should be able to take himself very seriously. Mayor Shinn only sings in the ensemble, but he is responsible for a great deal of the pacing and line pick up in the show. 

Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn

Eulalie is a great role for a great comic actress. But she MUST take herself seriously. Eulalie sings in the ensemble and on Columbia the Gem of the Ocean where she must sing markedly off-key.  She will also do some dancing. Eulalie must have stage chemistry with Mayor Shinn. 

Marcellus Washburn

Marcellus is a classic sidekick to Harold. His big number is "Shipoopi" so the character has to act well, sing well, and be able to dance very well. 

Ethel Toffelmier

Ethel is Marcellus's steady girlfriend. Ethel has some acting and some singing, but she definitely needs to be a very good dancer. Ethel is also one of the solo Pick-a-Little ladies. She must look good with Marcellus.  Think Ethel and Fred from I Love Lucy!

Mrs. Paroo is the conscience of River City. She is a great mother, stands up for what she believes in, and gently pushes Marian to think of her future. The role requires an actress who can do a good Irish brogue, and who can sing and act very well. She should also look right with Marian and Winthrop.  Red hair?

Winthrop Paroo should appear to be young, his voice must be boy (or girl) soprano and s/he must be a good actor. Winthrop also needs to be able to affect a believable lisp. Winthrop has to transform from a shy child to an outspoken child who not only sings but dances!

Amaryllis is the girl who studies piano with Marian and has a crush on Winthrop. Amaryllis should be a very good actor, and roughly the same size as Winthrop and Gracie. We will be discussing who Amaryllis' parents are since it is considered one of the great mysteries of The Music Man.

The Quartet (Members of the School Board)

Jacey Squires: Owner of the livery stable and the high tenor in the quartet.  He is another bickering business man until he is united with the others by Harold Hill, and must sing and act very well and in harmony. He is married to Mrs. Squires and will probably have children (TBD)

Ewart Dunlop: Owner of Dunlop’s General Store and is the lead tenor in the quartet Harold creates. He must have a very strong voice and be excellent at harmonizing. He is married to Maud Dunlop, and may have children (TBD). 

Oliver Hix: Banker and baritone in the quartet.  Another bickering business man until he is united with the others by Harold Hill, and he must sing and act very well and in harmony. He is married to Alma Squires and will probably have children (TBD) 

Olin Britt: Editor of the River City Gazette and Member of the School Board Sings bass in the quartet.  He is another 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. is one of the four quartet members with the lowest voice or bass. and he must sing and act very well and in harmony. He is married to Lena Britt and will probably have children (TBD) 

Tommy Djilas is the teen heartthrob in the show. Tommy's love interest is Zaneeta so they must have sparkling chemistry between them.  Tommy must dance very well and sing adequately.

Zaneeta Shinn must be one of our best female dancers. She will also sing in the ensemble. Zaneeta also should look like she belongs in the Shinn Family, and she is romantically associated to Tommy Djilas, so they must have sparkling chemistry between them

Gracie Shinn is Zaneeta's little sister. This role has one or two lines of dialogue and traditionally is the first soloist in "Wells Fargo Wagon", so she must be able to sing.  She will also be dancing and she should be about the same size as Winthrop and Amaryllis. 

Mrs. Alma Hix Is one of the core members of the Pick-a-little ladies, requiring girls with strong voices and a good sense of comedy. Alma is married to Oliver. You can also add additional Pick-a-little ladies.

Mrs. Maud Dunlop is one of the core members of the Pick-a-little ladies, requiring girls with strong voices and a good sense of comedy. Maud is married to Ewart. You can also add additional Pick-a-little ladies.

Mrs. Clara Squires is one of the core members of the Pick-a-little ladies, requiring girls with strong voices and a good sense of comedy. Mrs. Squires is married to Jacey. You can also add additional Pick-a-little ladies.

Mrs Brunhilde (Hildy) Britt is one of the core members of the Pick-a-little ladies, requiring girls with strong voices and a good sense of comedy. Mrs. Squires is married to Jacey. You can also add additional Pick-a-little ladies.

Conductor has the first line in the show, so this must be an actor who is loud and energetic.  The conductor will also be playing another character in the River City ensemble but look distinctly different.

Constable Locke is a quietly wise man who sees through Harold, but doesn't seem to mind. It's a nice feature for any character actor.

The Ensemble is comprised of Adult-types, teens and kids to play townspeople, traveling salesmen, teen dancers, Wa Tan Ye girls and the boys' band. Can accommodate additional 

Traveling Salesmen

You'll want to cast several good actors and singers to play traveling salesmen.  Each one must have an impeccable sense of rhythm because the Rock Island Express can be a real BEAR of a number.