The audience watches in anticipation as the curtains rise, revealing the town of River City, Iowa. These past few weeks, the Yorba Linda High School Theatre Company transported its audience back to 1912 and performed Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man”. The performers blew it out of the water, making the show an immense success. This led to the performance attracting numerous students, faculty, and families, selling out on multiple occasions. Voiced by Amelia Yamami (9), “There were so many moments where the actors just shocked me with how amazing they were, which contributed to making the musical a must-see.”
Initially, the musical opens with the number “Rock Island”, which can be described as a fast-paced and entertaining act. In this scene, a group of men come together to discuss the reputation of Harold Hill, better known as ‘The Music Man’. The song contains a variety of voices and singing styles, so when blended, it creates a fun experience to both watch and listen to. Another aspect that enhances the nature of the song is the actors’ ability to stay in place throughout the number and still mimic the visual of moving on a train by bobbing and swaying together.
Once arrived, the breathtaking sets immediately captivate the audience, giving the illusion that they have traveled back to 1912 in River City, Iowa. The viewers are then met with the showstopping numbers “Iowa Stubborn”, “Seventy-Six Trombones”, “Pickalittle”, and “(Ya Got) Trouble” – executed by Harold Hill and the townspeople. These songs are truly outstanding since the viewers can instantly connect with the characters through detailed costumes and talented actors. Mr. Pietsch (S) comments: “The marching and singing of the ‘Seventy-Six Trombones’ was great on so many levels. I have been singing ‘Pickalittle’ around my classroom for the past week!”
Following these exceptional acts, the audience is introduced to the heroine, Marian Paroo, played by Brielle Scarborough. In the songs “Piano Lesson” and “Goodnight, My Someone”, Brielle perfectly encapsulates the character using her voice to bring the story alive. Additionally, viewers meet Mrs. Paroo and Winthrop Paroo, portrayed by Bailey Thomasson and River Preciado. Throughout the joint scenes, the audience feels the intimate connection between the actors, as if they were a real family. This moment bridges the actor’s portrayal of real-life experiences and the audience itself.
Another highlight of “The Music Man” is the four-person quartet featuring Matthew Folkin, Cole Corbin, Drew Preciado, and Griffin Davis. Although their voices are incredible individually, when harmonized, they produce an unmatched sensation. This is prevalent in the song “Sincere”, where the group of men is brought together through a mutual interest in music.
The play redirects its focus onto Harold Hill, where he finds himself attempting to win Marian Paroo’s attention and affection. Throughout the song “Marian The Librarian,” Harold Hill -performed by Nathan Song and the children of the town -amused the audience with their high-energy stage presence and compelling storyline. This is confirmed by Rachael Lee (9), who states, “The actors were so fun and captivating, which kept the song entertaining for its entirety.” The parts of Tommy Djilas and Zaneeta Shinn, played by Carter Gaiss and Cienna Olsen, also shone in this song, as their characters’ dynamic was perfectly portrayed.
In addition to all of these fantastic performances, “Shipoopi” was a fan-favorite number that mixed incredible vocals, costumes, and dancing. The song, led by Andrew Gardner, had everyone dancing along and enjoying the upbeat energy of the number. A testament to this is expressed by Leah Seung (9), claiming that “if [she] had to choose, ‘Shipoopi’ was [her] favorite. The synchronization of the members was amazing, and [she] loved how all the characters had fun while performing. [She] couldn’t stop singing ‘Shipoopi’ for days following.”
Harold Hill’s journey finally comes to a close with the duet “Till There Was You”, when Harold Hill and Marian Paroo finally admit their feelings for each other. During this time, Brielle Scarborough and Nathan Song’s character chemistry had everyone on the edge of their seats, as the audience was anticipating a kiss. Chloe Kim (9) comments, “It was very authentic to see how the actors sang the songs with so much emotion. The parts were so well cast, and the fact that everyone seemed to be having fun enhanced the musical.”
The production of “The Music Man” was truly an unforgettable experience for its audience, with its vocals, choreography, acting, sets, and costumes all contributing to its excellence. For viewers such as Mr. Pietsch (S), “‘The Music Man’ was up there with the best musicals we’ve had here at Yorba Linda High School”. He even went to the lengths of encouraging that “all students need to make an effort to see at least one performance each year while they are on campus, since [Yorba Linda High School] has a very talented program led by Ms. Petz!”
