“The Music Man” marching into RCHS

    The Reed-Custer Theatre Department will present a musical theatre classic as its spring 2019 show.
    Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” will march into the school’s auditorium for four performances in March. The show tells the story of Harold Hill, a traveling salesman who arrives in River City  posing as a boys’ band organizer. Not only does he sell instruments and uniforms to the townspeople, he also proposes to instruct new band members. His real plan is to skip town.
    While in town, Hill gets to know Marian Paroo, the local librarian and part-time piano teacher. Paroo sees through Hill, but falls for him when he steps up to help her brother overcome a lisp and social anxiety.
    Reed-Custer senior TJ Sforza will appear as Hill and freshman Kayla Lockhart has landed the role of Paroo.
    Jake Tazelaar, a junior, has been cast in the role of Marcellus Washburn, an old friend of Hill who now lives in River City.
    The role of Mrs. Paroo will be played by Emily Anderson and Alex Heatter will appear as Charlie Cowell, the salesman who tries to expose Hill as a con man.
    Jesse Hernandez will play Mayor George Shinn, Jake Ehrseam will fill the role of conductor/constable, Chayton Domrzalski will appear as Tommy Djilas  who is secretly seeing Zaneeta Shinn played by Leah Tomano.
    Also appearing in named roles are Emma Tonkovi, Amaryllis; Logan Sharper, Ewart Dunlop; Tyler Wenberg, Oliver Hix; Jason Valone, Jacey Squires; Payton Neu, Olin Britt; Meghan Haley, Eulaline Shinn; Cheyenne Towe, Maud Dunlop; Alyssa Faurot, Alma Hix; Ember VanDuyne, Mrs. Squires, and Darby O’Shea as Ethel Toffelmier.
    Ensemble members are Billy Barrow, Meghan Davis, Sylvia Crater, Amber Piemonte, Abbi Haley, Julia Mills, Gabby Votta, Vanessa Votta, Jessica Boyd, Halie Jeffries, Emily Coop, Liz Fetzner, Savannah Ley and Kaylee Holland.
    The Tony Award-winning  show  was the first musical staged at Reed-Custer High School, according to director James Reinbacher, an RCHS alum who is overseeing the school’s theatre program.
     The creative team includes pit conductor Addie Dennis, music director Kevin Mangan and choreographer Kim Scerine.
    “The Music Man” will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9; and Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m. The opening night performance set for Thursday, March 7, is an invitation only event.
    Ticket sales will be announced in the coming weeks.