The Music Man: An Unlikely Broadway Smash Hit

The first five decades of Meredith Willson’s life formed the foundation for his best-known work, THE MUSIC MAN. During his career prior to writing the music, lyrics and book of THE MUSIC MAN, Willson played with John Philip Sousa and Arturo Toscanini, conducted the New York Philharmonic, achieved great fame in radio and television, musically scored successful motion pictures and composed pop hits of his day, as well as full symphonies.

The official impetus to write THE MUSIC MAN came when his good friend and fellow composer Frank Loesser suggested he adapt his stories of growing up in Mason City, Iowa into a full-length musical. Willson had for years entertained friends like Loesser with these stories.

THE MUSIC MAN evolved over a six year period in the early to mid-1950s. The story was based on real people from Mason City, as well as actual occurrences that Willson witnessed and experienced growing up.

Initially 3 hours and 45 minutes long, Willson continuously re-worked the script and score of THE MUSIC MAN, cutting songs, changing characters, writing new songs and changing lyrics. During this time, while concentrating on cutting the score, Willson added a new song to the show—“Seventy Six Trombones” and it became the show-stopper. Many re-writes, and cutting continued. Some 45 songs were written, with many discarded, ending up with about 18 in the final version.

Kermit Bloomgarden, noteworthy for producing Broadway hits like DEATH OF A SALESMAN and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK was an unlikely candidate to produce THE MUSIC MAN. After hearing Meredith Willson and his wife Rini perform the show for him, Bloomgarden called Willson into his office and said, “May I have the privilege of producing your play?” One year later, to the day, THE MUSIC MAN debuted on Broadway—six years and several producers after Willson started working on it.

The casting search was the next phase. Many notable musical comedy performers were considered and offered the lead role of Harold Hill and turned it down: Danny Kaye, Dan Dailey, Gene Kelly, Ray Bolger, Jackie Gleason, Milton Berle, Jason Robards, Art Carney, Andy Griffith and Bert Parks. Meredith Willson was finally asked to view an audition by Robert Preston, known mostly for dramatic Hollywood movie roles. Preston performed “Ya Got Trouble” and was chosen on the spot to play the slick salesman, Harold Hill.

An interesting casting note: ten year old Eddie Hodges was spotted by Willson’s wife Rini while he was appearing as a contestant on a TV quiz show, NAME THAT TUNE, where he had been wowing viewers with his knowledge of music. Rini told Meredith, “There’s Winthrop.” Several weeks later he was a member of the cast.

THE MUSIC MAN opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on December 19, 1957. The show that some people thought might be too folksy for the sophisticated Broadway audiences became an instant hit and played for 1,375 performances. It won the Tony Award as the Best Broadway musical of that season, beating out WEST SIDE STORY for this honor. THE MUSIC MAN endures as a salute to a by-gone era—as a Valentine to a more innocent America—and is one of the most popular and most-produced musicals throughout the United States.

I have been a fan of this show since I was a boy and am really excited to finally be able to direct it!

-Ron Law
Director, THE MUSIC MAN at Theatre Charlotte
8/11/11

THE MUSIC MAN runs September 9th through 25th at Theatre Charlotte. Tickets can be purchased through CarolinaTix at (704) 372-1000 or online at http://www.carolinatix.org/default.asp?tix=59&objId=2565