Art Center Theater The Music Man Coleman Auditorium Gualala Arts Center

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Fri,   February 24, 7:00 p.m. Sat,  February 25, 7:00 p.m. Sun, February 26, 2:00 p.m.matinée

Thu, March 1, 7:00 p.m. Fri,   March 2, 7:00 p.m. Sat,  March 3, 7:00 p.m. Sun, March 4, 2:00 p.m.matinée

The Music Man Comes to Art Center Theater

Meridith Willson "knew what he was talking about!" says Art Center Theater co-founder, producer/director, Lynne Atkins. "Having been born in Mason City, Iowa, he learned to play the piccolo and the flute and then became a soloist in John Phillip Sousa's band. Great fodder for his creation of Harold Hill, River City, Iowa's shyster band promoter, teacher and leader.

The Music Man was Willson's first attempt at writing a musical. He began this creative endeavor in 1948 and spent nine years trying to get it right. And all that effort really paid off! Opening in 1957, the show became a Broadway hit, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical and running for 1,375 performances. The cast recording of the show won the first Grammy Award for "Best Original Cast Album."

River City, Iowa, is coming to the stage of Gualala Arts Center. Directed by Atkins, with musical direction by Don Krieger and choreography by Bryn Harris, The Music Man will be the latest in a series of musicals performed by Art Center Theater and boasts of the largest cast ever mounted on its stage.

Sam Parsons playing Harold Hill & Mary Lynn Preiss playing Marian Paroo

The following cast and musician announcement is in alphabetical order:

Cathy Alexander - chorus, Remi Alexander-Vallejo - Miss Squire, Sierra Alexander - Zaneeta Shinn, Tony Ariola - Olin Brit ,Phil Atkins - Ewart Dunlap, Madison Bell- chorus, Darla Buechner- chorus, Shayla Buechner - Amaryllis, Roxanne Claflin - chorus, Amanda Cole - chorus, Jeremy Crocket - Oliver Hix, Alethea Davies - Ethel Toffelmier, Rob Diefenbach - Mayor Shinn, Cassy Grossman - chorus and percussionist, Leroy Gustafson - chorus, Dylan Freebairn-Smith - chorus, Ronna Frost - chorus, Liam Ignacio - Winthrop Paroo, Scott Ignacio - Charlie Cowell, Victoria Ignacio - chorus, Don Krieger - Constable Locke and keyboardist, Eric Kritz - woodwinds, Racehel Kritz - chorus, Laura Leigh - Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, Gavin Malik - Tommy Djilas, Rachel Malik - chorus, Emmary Marshall-Mobert - Gracie Shinn, Claire McPherson - chorus, Sita Milchev - Mrs.Paroo, Denise Otterson - Maud Dunlap, Hannah Parsons - Jacey Locke, Sam Parsons - Harold Hill, Mary Lynn Preiss - Marian, Leif Rasmusen - chorus, Mike Turner - Marcellus Washburn, Sabina Walla - Alma Hix, Jaden Ward - chorus.

Cast of The Music Man

Participating in Art Center Theater musicals has become a family affair for many local performers. Per Atkins, "My fun of being a part of these shows is working with our more experienced actors as well as getting to know the newer folk - learning with them and building a performance piece that is sure to delight the community!"

Harold Hill and his Iowans will visit the Mendonoma Coast as part The Music Man, scheduled for February 24, 25, 26 and March 1, 2, 3, 4 of 2012. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $20 adults and $10 youth (17 and under); $5 additional if purchased the day of the performance. For advance ticket purchase, go to Brown Paper Tickets or call them at 800-838-3006. To purchase tickets in person, visit the Gualala Arts Center or Dolphin Gallery in Gualala.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.