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Monroe High School bringing ‘The Music Man’ to the stage

More than 30 students will perform in the ‘classic’ musical

From left, students Michael Luciano, 17; Saxon Hall, 15; Hunter Teegarden, 18; and Zachary Morris, 19, rehearse lyrics March 8, 2010, with Music Director Mark Jauss at Monroe High School. The school's spring musical

Apryl Pilloli/Staff photographer From left, students Michael Luciano, 17; Saxon Hall, 15; Hunter Teegarden, 18; and Zachary Morris, 19, rehearse lyrics March 8, 2010, with Music Director Mark Jauss at Monroe High School. The school's spring musical "The Music Man" will be performed March 26-28.

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 11:32 AM Friday, March 26, 2010

MONROE — Jeff Mack is making his acting debut in the lead role of Harold Hill in Monroe High School’s rendition of “The Music Man.”

Mack, 17, of Middletown, is one of 38 cast members in grades 5-12 preparing to take to the stage in the Meredith Willson musical from March 26-28 in the high school auditorium.

Mack, a senior at Monroe High School is planning to attend Wright State next year majoring in either music education or musical theater. He said he is excited about playing Hill, whom he described as a “very phony and a smooth talker.”

“I think with the exception of my character, everybody’s character has the potential to really steal the show and they can really be over the top.

“My character is kind of reserved and has to be the regular guy,” he said.

Willson authored and composed “The Music Man,” which premiered on Broadway in 1957 and won the Tony Award for the best musical in 1958.

Devan Norsworthy, an English and drama teacher at the high school who is directing the musical, said the plot revolves around “Professor” Hill, a salesman who — in order to sell band instruments and uniforms — convinces the residents of River City, Iowa, to buy them as part of a scam. He tells the residents he can teach them how to play the instruments in a marching band, but his plan is to skip town, she said.

Norsworthy said before Hill can leave town, he falls in love with Marian the librarian, played by Kaitlynn Nall, who also is the piano teacher in town. Hill feels if he can win her over, the rest of the town will believe he is legitimate, but she finds out he’s lying and stands up for him when he is turned in by another salesman who knows his racket.

Norsworthy said the musical is definitely a “crowd-pleaser” for all ages.

“There are a lot of cool dance numbers and the music is catchy and fun. There’s nothing to really wrap your mind around. It is what it is and lots of things just happen back to back. It’s one of those classic favorites,” she said.

Mark Jauss, the music director at the high school, said he made the decision for the students to perform the musical because he has experience with it from his student teaching days at Fairmont High School in Kettering.

“I actually kind of fell in love with the musical and I love the humor in the musical, and I like the fact that it’s educational from a different time period,” he said.

Jauss said since the high school students have performed Disney musicals in the past, he wanted to switch up and do something completely different.