Owego Free Academy to present ‘The Music Man’

Owego Free Academy to present ‘The Music Man’The school board (Andrew Clark, Colby Selover, Jacob Dove and Nic Hulbert) in a reflective moment.
Owego Free Academy to present ‘The Music Man’

Marian Paroo (Megan Shoen) and Harold Hill (Gary King) are getting to know one another.

On Feb. 10, 11 and 12, the Owego Free Academy will present “The Music Man” at the school’s OA Theater located at 3 Sheldon Guile Blvd. in Owego and within the OA Middle School. 

It’s the summer of 1912. A train chugs its way across the Iowa countryside. A group of salesmen on board are commiserating about their jobs, when the subject of a con man named “Professor” Harold Hill (Gary King) comes up. Seems he stops in rural towns and convinces people to form a band using instruments, uniforms, and lessons purchased from him. The items arrive. Then he skips town before starting the lessons. Unbeknownst to them the culprit himself is on board. When the train stops at River City, “Professor” Hill disembarks and the adventure begins.

Owego Free Academy to present ‘The Music Man’

Winthrop (Gavin Bowers) gets his cornet.

Harold Hill needs a rallying cry. He spots a pool hall owned by Mayor Shinn (Ostap Juravich). Pool. Hangout for riff raff. Trouble in River City. Alleviated, of course, by forming a band. But suspicions arise when Hill claims to have graduated from Gary Conservatory. Librarian Marian Paroo (Megan Shoen) investigates and makes a startling discovery. She attempt to notify the mayor and the school board (Jacob Dove, Nic Hulbert, Colby Selover Andrew Clark) of her findings but the clever Hill keeps them distracted.

Mayor Shinn’s wife Eulalie (Savannah Terry) and her friends the Pick-a-Little Ladies (Ellie Casterline, Anastasia Alexopoulos, Laura Robertson, Ally Fisher) are too busy travelling their own road to get involved. Mrs Paroo’s (Carla Budrow) son Winthrop (Gavin Bowers) is battling other demons. Marian remains determined.

Soon, Hill’s friend Marcellus (Camden Dyer-DeCator) smells trouble and attempts to get Hill to leave town on the next train, but Hill has discovered Marian. Has Marian discovered Harold Hill?

What will happen next? Will Hill’s con be revealed? What other sub-plots are intertwined? Will there ever be a band? Will tar and feathers be employed, or will a twist of fate intervene? 

But it’s a musical. Of course everything works out well. Co-Directors Megan Burrell and Mike Meaney, along with choreographer Katherine Gould will lead the cast of 54 students and make sure of it, supported by an orchestra conducted by Dan Fabricius and costuming by Colleen Dewey-Wright.

But don’t stop now. Come see for yourself. Performances will be held on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2:30 p.m. in the OA Theater within the OA Middle School located at 3 Sheldon Guile Blvd. in Owego. 

Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the door or reserved in advance by calling 687-6230, ext. 1, and then picked up at Will Call the day of the performance.

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