Sinatra Gets Ready for The Music Man
Every year at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (FSSA) the musical theatre class puts on a huge musical production. When an FSSA student becomes a member of the musical theatre cast they dedicate all their time and effort into the musical. It is at the top of their list at all times and after one puts in all of that hard work and effort it becomes something beautiful. This year the musical theatre company put on Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. The show was an absolute success and got all of the underclassmen excited for next years musical, The Music Man.
The Music Man is about a traveling con-man named Harold Hill who has just arrived in River City. He convinces the locals to start a band by purchasing the uniforms and instruments from him. His intention is to flee as soon as he receives the money. But soon the librarian, Marian Paroo, suspects Harold is a fraud, but holds her tongue since her moody brother, Winthrop, is excited about the band. As Harold begins to develop feelings for Marian, he faces a difficult decision about fleeing town and leaving Marian behind.
“We were looking at a lot of titles specifically in traditional musical theatre because in the past three years we’ve done all contemporary musical theatre performances,” the director of the musical theatre program Mr. Cacciola-Price said. “Music Man ended up being our top choice because both Ms. Best and I were in a marching band in high school. I was a drum major and she was a flute and trombone major. It was a common ground for the both of us so shortly The Music Man became our top choice for next years musical.”
Both Mr. Cacciola-Price and Ms. Best are fully aware of the challenges next year’s musical will bring because of what Mr. Cacciola-Price calls the triple threat.
“In order to be a member in this production you are going to have to be a triple threat. Song, dance and acting weigh equal amounts in The Music Man and we are looking for cast members that are capable of pulling all of their weight,” he said.
Students are already preparing for auditions by listening to all of the soundtrack getting a feel for the time period.
“Getting a feel for the time period takes a big part in developing a character,” Patrick Mahowald a junior vocal major said.
Students who want to be in the musical, but who have a dance background are preparing in a different way.
“I am preparing for The Music Man a little differently then my peers” stated Kiana King a sophomore dance major.
“I am taking more dance classes outside of school related to the style of dance in music man and stretching overnight. I am not as strong a singer as I am a dancer and plan to impress the Choreographer because I am auditioning for the lead dance role in this production,” Kiana said.
The Music Man is going to be a very exciting production that all of Frank Sinatra should try to be apart of, because once you’re in you will want to be apart of it forever.
– by Anthony Rana ’16