Winfield Community Theatre will kick off its 40th Anniversary season with its production of the popular musical “The Music Man.”
Show dates are August 10 and 11th, at 8:00 p.m., a matinee performance on Sunday, August 12 at 2:00 p.m., and again on August 17 and 18th at 8:00p.m. Tickets are available at the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and McIntire Tax Center in Arkansas City. Season tickets are still available, if interested, contact the Chamber, McIntire Tax, or the Daylight Donut Shop.
“The Music Man” offers a collection of quirky characters, charming people and a one-of-a kind nostalgic score of rousing marches, barbershop quartets and sentimental ballads.
“We wanted to start the season with a slam-bang and that is exactly what ‘The Music Man” is,” according to Melody Krueger, director for the show. She wanted to direct this show for several reasons, the first and foremost being that ‘Music Man’ brings back such wonderful memories for her.
Warren Andreas, who played the title character Professor Harold Hill the first time WCT did “The Music Man” in 1968, is back and will play several characters. Shelby Miller will play Hill this time around. He has a background in musical theater at Cowley County College and in Viking Voices at Winfield High School.
Marian the Librarian will be portrayed by Susan Bird Schultz, also a returning actor from earlier shows. She is a music major from Kansas State who is now married and living in Winfield once again. She, too, is a past member of Winfield Viking Voices.
Others in the cast include: Mrs. Paroo, Barbara Dunn; Mayor Shinn, Daniel Simpson; Eulalie Shinn, Julia Lambert; Zaneeta Shinn, Miranda Nation; Gracie Shinn, Payten Humphreys; Marcellus Washburn, Scott Holman; Winthrop Paroo, Ross Ferris; Amaryllis, Sadie Eastman; Tommy Djilas, Joe Hooley; Ewart Dunlop, H.T. Hittle; Oliver Hix, Les Hogue; Jacey Squires, Alan Rush; Olin Britt, Roger Lungren; Ethel Toffelmier, Vicki Schaffer; Alma Hix, Kathleen Ferris; Maud Dunlop, Kim Tadtman; Mrs. Squires, Shell Bloyer; Mrs. Merrideth Wilson, Amanda Lehmann; Missy Smith, Bailey Tadtman; Charlie Cowell, Jerry Conrad; Constable Locke, Terry Krueger; Conductor, Jeremy Roach; Traveling Salesman, Logan Roberts; Farmer, Warren Andreas; Farmer’s Wife, Colleen Andreas; Driver, Jon Flom, Teenager’s: Rosemary Cooper, Iris Bonjour, Kayla Crouch, Abbey Ferris, Libby Hooley, Rose Hooley, Brianne Stewart, Tymon Wall, Bailey Tadtman, Carter Humphreys, Dominic Cooper; Young Rosie, Isabella Stewart.
Assistant Director is Vicki Schaffer; Accompanist is Gene Sommers, with Jon Flom as Stage Manager and Pete Liedick and his daughter, Trisha, working lights. Fred Humpert on trombones, Ron Greenley on drums, and Dari Trout on Flute will round out additional instrumental music.
For more information, call Melody Krueger at 620-221-2515, or check out the website at www.winfieldcommtheatre.com. Meredith Willson’s ‘Music Man’ is presented with special arrangements by Music Theatre International.
