MUSIC MAN COMES TO NHS STAGE
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
Get ready for some foot tapping when Nantucket middle and high school students take to the stage this weekend to present "Music Man," a popular Broadway hit in the 1950s that was made into two film versions.

With co-directors Barbara Elder overseeing the music and dance portions and Mark White leading acting role rehearsals and painting sets, students are hard at work preparing for the play's opening Friday, Feb. 8 in the high school auditorium. Based on a story written by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, "Music Man" takes place in 1912 in the Midwest. It centers around Professor Harold Hill, a slick con artist who convinces parents he can teach their children music, sells them instruments and uniforms and then, before his dupe is discovered, hops on the next train out of town with his ill-gotten gains.

Things take a turn, however, when he arrives in River City, Iowa. Seizing on the fact that a new pool table has been installed in the town's billiards hall, Hill persuades River City's mothers and fathers that their offspring are surely destined to become low lifes unless they learn to play music and take up the healthy pasttime of being in a band. Once again, the sleazy salesman sells the community on his hollow promise as an instructor. But this time, just before he readies to disappear with their cash, Professor Hill realizes he is smitten with the town's librarian, Marian Paroo. Deciding to stay in River City and face the consequences of his scheme, Hill finds that Ms. Paroo is willing to stand up for him in front of the townspeople, stressing how he made their summer exciting.

There are 40 students in the performance with 20 having speaking parts and 20 in the ensemble presenting many duets and a barbershop quartet. Some of the approximate 15 songs in "Music Man" include the well known "76 Trombones," "Lida Rose," "My White Knight" and "Trouble (in River City)." The leading role of professor Hill will be played by Brian Chitester and the part of librarian Paroo will be performed by Nellie Morley.

"We take everyone, so we had 40 people audition who were really auditioning for five main parts," said White. "The hardest thing we do is try to cast - that's part of the selecting of a play. We have a lot of talented kids and there are always hard feelings when we cast."

PHOTOS BY ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent From top: Jasper Young and Becky Glidden. Emanuel Johnson plays the part of Winthrop. From left: Dan Glidden, James Roggeveen (black suspenders), Mariah Jones and Dylan Fleischut.

Besides assisting with lighting, White is helping with sets designed by George Thomas, Bruce Dilts and Jordana Fleishut. One set includes a large front porch that spins to reveal a River City Main Street scene on its reverse side. The biggest scene takes place when Professor Hill faces the community in its school gym, so White said a stage was built for that act that will sit on top of the NHS auditorium stage. Jill Lentowski is in charge of the "Music Man" costumes, and Diane Lehman plays piano throughout the performance and directs the band. It is a lot of work, but gratifying, said White.

"It's fun. It's creative," he said. "It's nice to be there and watch [the kids] create something."

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Mark White with Russell Bartlett, right, and Sean Allen.

Performances of "Music Man" will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9 and at a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Feb. 10. Tickets are available at the NHS office and at the door, and cost $15 for

adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. I