The Music Man is one of the most beloved and well-known Broadway musicals of all time. With music, lyrics, and book by Meredith Willson, The Music Man first premiered on Broadway in 1957 and went on to win five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based partly on Willson’s own childhood in small-town Iowa, the musical tells the story of fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill, who cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize – despite having no music background. The Music Man remains popular over 60 years later, with numerous revivals and tours happening annually. But with ticket prices for Broadway shows higher than ever, is The Music Man really worth the investment? Looking at factors like the story, music, choreography, and overall spectacle, we’ll examine if The Music Man stands the test of time and provides a worthwhile theater experience in 2022.
Story
The story of The Music Man is one of its biggest strengths. It’s a simple but charming tale of a con man whose plan starts to go awry when he falls in love with the town librarian, Marian Paroo. Harold Hill is the definition of a wise-talking showman, making grand promises to naive Midwestern townsfolk to sell them on his bogus boys’ band idea. Marian sees through Harold’s scam but is won over by his enthusiasm and personality. Their unlikely romance drives the plot and provides many funny and tender moments. Underneath the humor and romance is a message about how Hill’s brand of salesmanship, while dishonest, actually brings the stubbornly old-fashioned River City together. Some critics have noted the story portrays a sentimentalized view of the Midwestern past, but the small-town setting remains quaint and appealing. Overall, The Music Man’s story is highly entertaining, whimsical, and full of nostalgia, with characters and songs that have become standards of the musical theater canon.
Music
With rousing production numbers and soaring ballads, the score for The Music Man is another huge reason for its enduring popularity. Meredith Willson was known for creating old-fashioned, toe-tapping musical numbers, and The Music Man is filled with them. Songs like “Ya Got Trouble,” “Seventy-Six Trombones,” and “Gary, Indiana” capture the brass band sound of the early 20th century Middle America setting. “Till There Was You” is a romantic ballad later covered by The Beatles. The opening number “Rock Island” innovatively uses the rhythm of a train to kick off the show in an energetic way. Willson’s clever lyrics are packed with rhymes, alliteration, and wordplay that add to the humor and fun. A radio broadcast-style song “Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little” is another innovative number. The Music Man features no showstopping ballads on par with songs from Rogers & Hammerstein shows, but the score is consistently upbeat and charming from start to finish. For its encapsulation of Americana songwriting, the music of The Music Man is some of Broadway’s best.
Choreography
While not necessarily a dance-heavy show, The Music Man contains some iconic choreography by Onna White. Most notable is the “Marian the Librarian” production number, in which bumbling teenager Tommy Djilas sings of his love for Marian while doing dance steps with the other teens. The fast-paced song and choreography captures the youthful spirit of the young people Hill is promising to mold into a marching band. Other numbers like “Shipoopi” also feature energetic period-style dance breaks and movement. The overall choreography evokes early 20th century fads and crazes like square dancing. The movement fits seamlessly within the show without showcasing anything too elaborate. But numbers like “Marian the Librarian” definitely stand out and have become most associated with the show. Simple but clever choreography was one of the elements that made The Music Man a complete package of a Broadway hit in the 1950s, and it remains appealing today.
Spectacle
One of the chief draws of any Broadway show is the visual spectacle – the costumes, sets, and overall production design that bring the story to life. The Music Man’s Midwestern period setting of 1912 is beautifully brought to the stage through scenic and costume design. Many revival productions strive to make the look as authentic as possible to the early 20th century, with lush painted backdrops of River City’s buildings and houses. The costumes evoke small-town America fashions with long dresses, straw hats, pin curls and more. The spectacle makes the world of River City feel like a nostalgic trip back in time. Standout design elements include the Madison Park pavilion where many town scenes happen, the Paroo family’s front porch, and the footbridge where the song “Till There Was You” takes place. The sets give a sense of River City as an idyllic American town. While perhaps not as dazzling as newer shows with high-tech sets and effects, The Music Man relies on nostalgic Americana design that serves the material beautifully. The spectacle captures the essence of time and place with charm.
Conclusion
Looking at all these elements – story, music, choreography, design – The Music Man remains one of the all-time great examples of the Golden Age Broadway musical. The show features a near perfect blend of humor, romance, infectious songs, energetic dance, and American nostalgia that thrills audiences of all ages. While some aspects like the choreography are simplistic compared to today’s Broadway shows, the entire package holds up incredibly well. Most importantly, the songs, characters, and story are among the most beloved in musical theater. The Music Man continues touring regularly because it provides an enjoyable, smile-inducing theater experience. With premium ticket prices, The Music Man may be more costly than shows without “classic” status. But it’s a safe bet that the show will deliver an evening of entertainment worth the cost for musical theater fans. The Music Man isn’t always considered “cool” or “edgy” – but it promises an evening of wholesome, touching, all-American theatrical joy.