The Music Man took Meredith Willson over six years to write before it made the Broadway stage. It premiered at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on December 17, 1957.
Among the original cast of the musical were Robert Preston, Barbara Cook, Pert Kelton, Paul Reed, David Burns, Iggie Wolfington, and The Buffalo Bills.
Among the original cast of the musical were Robert Preston, Barbara Cook, Pert Kelton, Paul Reed, David Burns, Iggie Wolfington, and The Buffalo Bills.
Robert Preston (1918-1987) was an actor and singer, most famous for his role of Harold Hill in The Music Man. This role made Preston a well-known actor, and he was later invited to star in other movies and Broadway musicals. He won a Tony Award for his work in The Music Man.
Barbara Cook (b. 1927) is a singer famous for her work on Broadway. She played roles such as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!, Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, and Hilda Miller in Plain and Fancy before gaining the role of Marian Paroo in The Music Man, the female lead.
Cook was disappointed when she did not win the role of Marian in the movie version of The Music Man.
Cook was disappointed when she did not win the role of Marian in the movie version of The Music Man.
The Buffalo Bills
Before The Music Man, a barbershop quartet had never been included in a Broadway musical.
See the Barbershop Wiki Project for more information.
Before The Music Man, a barbershop quartet had never been included in a Broadway musical.
See the Barbershop Wiki Project for more information.
References:
Larkin, C. (n.d.). Cook, Barbara. Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 4th ed. Retrieved from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/subscriber/article/epm/5564
Larkin, C. (n.d.). Preston, Robert. Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 4th ed. Retrieved from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/subscriber/article/epm/22457
Willson, M. (1959) But he doesn't know the territory. University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis.
Larkin, C. (n.d.). Cook, Barbara. Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 4th ed. Retrieved from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/subscriber/article/epm/5564
Larkin, C. (n.d.). Preston, Robert. Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 4th ed. Retrieved from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/subscriber/article/epm/22457
Willson, M. (1959) But he doesn't know the territory. University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis.