In 1912, you see smooth-talking con man Harold Hill (played by senior Wyatt Stroup) arrives in the small, tight-kit town of River City, Iowa, expecting to dupe its townspeople with an elaborate money-making scheme.

Despite Hill’s complete lack of musical prowess, Hill convinces everyone that he is a brilliant band leader and recruits all the boys in town to form a band, pocketing the cash for instruments and uniforms. Problem is some of the members, especially stern librarian Marian Paroo (Isabella Armstrong), aren’t buying his story.

As Hill struggles to keep his scheme afloat, he also finds himself increasingly attached to the townspeople, who have all experienced a positive change since his arrival.

Complicating matters even more is that Hill is also falling head-over-heels for beautiful Marian. As All-American as apple pie and as charming as can be, “The Music Man” is a crowd-pleasing show with a great number and range of roles that is well-suited to the talented cast members at Juniata.

Photo courtesy of JUNIATA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Actors Isabella Armstrong (left) and Wyatt Stroup run through their lines during rehearsal during a scene on Wednesday from the Juniata High School musical, “The Music Man.”

“Every time we pick a show, we look at the kids we have, the make-up of the kids, and try to see how it fits us cast-wide,” Juniata High School Drama Club Advisor Brad Eargle explained. “We look at the dancing and singing that is required as well as the number of kids we need.”

The school also hadn’t done a classic Broadway show since “Fiddler on the Roof” in 2019. Recent musicals have been from modern times, like “Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida” in 2023 and Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” last year. So, it seemed like there was no time like the present.

“Our goal was to do something a little older and a little more classic and fit the kids that we had,” Eargle said. “I think the kids are enjoying the process of putting it together. Some of them just didn’t know it going into the process, but after working on it, they’ve come to enjoy the show.”

The advisor said every production presents different challenges. “The Music Man” is no exception as “vocally it’s a little easier than other shows we’ve done, but the ensemble dance requirements are more. It’s taken us a little more work,” Eargle added.

Eargle hopes the audience connects with the show, too. “They may not identify with it, but it’s just a good story,” he said.

Photo courtesy of JUNIATA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Actors Kayanna Kristula (from left), Isabella Armstrong, Jacee Price, Melanie Lane and Marissa Erhard rehearse a scene from “The Music Man.”

And chances are audiences will be familiar with the music of “The Music Man,” a 1957 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, especially with “Seventy-six Trombones” and “Trouble.”

“Even if you don’t know Broadway, you know ‘Seventy-six Trombones,'” Eargle said. “You’ve probably had some cultural experience with it. Almost everybody has heard of it, it’s part of American culture.”

Eargle can’t wait for opening night for the musical, which runs through Sunday. Show times are 7 p.m. on Feb. 28 and March 1 and 3 p.m. on March 2.

The Saturday, March 1, performance is billed as a dinner and a show as ticket prices include an all-you-can-eat spaghetti meal plus a show ticket, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Juniata High School cafeteria. Tickets for that event cost $20 for adults and ages 12 and under are $10. Proceeds benefit the drama club and cross country team.

Tickets cost $5 and can be ordered in advance at www.ticketsource.us/jhs…/the-music-man/e-yekjgz. They will also be sold at the door.

Photo courtesy of JUNIATA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Actors Alex Drewes (from left), Grace Wagner, Jessica Maben and Joel Hardin practice a scene for the Juniata High School musical.

“The Music Man” cast and crew include:

Harold Hill – Wyatt Stroup

Marian Paroo – Isabella Armstrong

Marcellus Washburn – Kade Wagner

Mrs. Paroo – Kate Nace

Photo courtesy of JUNIATA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Left: Actors Isabella Armstrong (left) and Wyatt Stroup rehearse a scene on Wednesday for the upcoming Juniata High School musical, “The Music Man.”

Winthrop Paroo – Andrew Rutherford

Mayor Shinn – Alex Drewes

Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn – Jacee Price

Zaneeta Shinn – Alivia Foltz

Grace Shinn – Azel Dubois

Ethel Toffelmier – Selena Marker

Alma Hix – Marissa Erhard

Maud Dunlop – Kayanna Kristula

Mrs. Squires – Melanie Lane

Olin Britt – Darin Kint

Oliver Hix – Joel Hardin

Ewart Dunlop – Grace Wagner

Jacey Squires – Jessica Maben

Tommy Djilas – David Mayall-Marker

Amaryllis – Allison Burdge

Charlie Cowell – Brody Noerr

Constable Locke/Conductor/River City Youth – Sebastian Richmond

Salesmen/River City Youth – Alivia Auker, Madison Copeland, Julia Martin, John Randolph and Emily Rook

River City Townspeople – Alex Bailor, Elliatt Brown, Claire Ciarrocchi, Lexie Cooper Aleron Dubois, Shylynn Hile, Ava Ingle, Hope Miller, McKenzie Rice, Prudence Richardson, Kaelani Roach, Kiersten Varner and Natalee Wolfe

Student Directors – Lily Hardin and Calla Mianulli

Choreography – Madison Copeland, Lily Hardin, Kayanna Kristula,

Calla Mianulli and Brody Noerr

Lighting – Lillian Allen and Kayanna Kristula

Sound – Fiorella Berbergi and Addison Rutherford

Technical Crew – Ashlyn Fisher, Luke Erhard, Neveah Hess and Andrew Aurand

Pit Orchestra – Damon Batt, Hannah Ehrisman, Jacob Foltz, Carolyn Heidenreich, Nolan Imes, Josh Martin and Teagan Trout