Dustin Parmley, left, as Harold, Suzana Garrett as Marion, Austin Sisneros as Tommy and Julie Clyde as Zaneeta in SCERA's production of "The Music Man."
Jason Olson, Deseret Morning News
OREM — Be prepared for a younger, livelier version of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man" when it comes to life on the SCERA Shell stage.
Director Jerry Elison says its more energetic and different because he has a very young cast and crew.
"I think it's an excellent cast and crew," said the veteran director. "They're young and inexperienced, but that's what community theater is all about."
Elison said his Harold Hill character — played by 24-year-old Dustin Parmley — takes a different approach to the leading man, and, as a result, the show has a slightly different feel.
"He and Marcellus (played by Justin Call) are an absolute hoot," Elison said.
Parmley said this is his first major role in a musical, although he's been in a number of shows. He has deliberately avoided watching DVD and television versions of "The Music Man" since he learned he had the part of the fellow who comes to town with scamming in mind "so I'm not corrupted," he said.
"I'm not trying to play it older," Parmley said. "I want to give it a little bit of energy and not copy anybody else."
Suzana Garrett plays Marion the Librarian and Hill's love interest.
"She's a lot like me," she said. "She's a music teacher, too."
However, Marion is a spinster ready to give up on finding true love while Garrett was married at 21 and happily so.
Other cast members include Julie Clyde as Mayor Shin's daughter Zaneeta and Austin Sisneros as her boyfriend, Tommy.
The roles of Amaryllis and Winthrop are double-cast: youngsters Charlotte Harrison and Tara Stringham play Amaryllis and Joseph Laudie and Conner Paulson play Winthrop.
"They're cute kids," said Elison. "They all play the piano."
Elison said more than 60 little girls came out to audition for Amaryllis, and every one could have played the part.
Elison said "The Music Man" is an enduring favorite because it's an all-American show about every town in the country.
"You have this little town, and there are those kinds of people in every town," he said.
If you go
What: "The Music Man"
Where: SCERA Shell Amphitheater, 699 S. State, Orem
When: 8 p.m. nightly except Sunday, Aug. 3-18
Cost: prices vary
Phone: 225-2569
Web: www.scera.org
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com
Sharon Haddock is a former full-time writer and editor for The Deseret News. She currently does freelance writing from her home in American Fork where she lives with her fellow journalist husband Marc Haddock. They have 12 more ..
Subscribe
Mobile
RSS
DeseretNews.com encourages a civil dialogue among its readers. We welcome your thoughtful comments.
— About comments