A classic family musical, The Music Man tells the story of traveling salesman, Harold Hill, and his visit to a small Iowa town in 1912 where he meets and falls in love with the willful spinster librarian, Marian Paroo. With his fast-talking style, "Professor" Harold Hill convinces the town that unless they adopt his revolutionary music program, the youngsters of River City will be forever doomed. He gets the parents to buy instruments and expensive uniforms in order to form the River City Boys' Band. Chaos ensues as Hill's credentials are questioned and he is called upon to prove himself to the citizens of River City.

Vincentio, the Duke of Vienna, makes it known that he intends to leave the city on a diplomatic mission. He leaves the government in the hands of a strict judge, Angelo. Under Vincentio's government, the city's harsh laws against fornication have been laxly enforced, but Angelo is known to be a hard-liner on matters of sexual immorality.

But the Duke has not in fact left the city. He remains there disguised as a friar in order to spy on his city's affairs, and especially the actions of Angelo.

Often characterized as a "problem play" Measure for Measure is best described as a dark comedy.

The scene is a fishing lodge in rural Georgia often visited by "Froggy" LeSeuer, a British demolition expert who occasionally runs training sessions at a nearby army base. This time "Froggy" has brought along a friend, a pathologically shy young man named Charlie who is overcome with fear at the thought of making conversation with strangers. So "Froggy," before departing, tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone the fun really begins, as Charlie overhears more than he should—the evil plans of a sinister, two-faced minister and his redneck associate; the fact that the minister's pretty fiancée is pregnant; and many other damaging revelations made with the thought that Charlie doesn't understand a word being said. That he does fuels the nonstop hilarity of the play and sets up the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry for the "bad guys," and the "good guys" emerge triumphant.

Steel Magnolias

The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle, who is not sure whether or not she is still married, the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich and eccentric curmudgeon, Ouiser; Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby, is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with witty repartee, the play poignantly reflects the enduring bonds of friendship and sisterhood in good times and bad.

One of Simon's earliest and best loved comedies, this show tells the story of Barney Cashman, desperate for a fling, but always meeting the wrong woman. First he attempts to seduce a very experienced woman of the world. The next object of his desire is a full-blown kook. His wife's best friend rounds out the group. It DEFINITELY doesn't work out and Barney is a bundle of neuroses. Witty and laugh-out-loud funny, Last of the Red Hot Lovers will provide a wonderful evening of escape.

A musical based upon the Gospel According to Saint Matthew. GODSPELL is one of the most successful musicals in history. It presents a whimsical view of Jesus, who is dressed like a clown with a red nose, a red heart painted on his forehead, and a Superman shirt. His followers and disciples re-enact parables and scenes from Jesus' life with great energy.

The rock musical was an immediate hit when it opened in the spring of 1971 at an off-Broadway theatre. Ticket sales were brisk for three years. Between 1971 and 1973, productions opened in Los Angeles, London, Paris, Washington, D.C., Toronto, San Francisco, Melbourne, Sydney, Hamburg, and Berlin. Several songs from the show, including Day by Day, became chart hits. The show, written by then-college student John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz (of Pippin), and more recently Pocahontas, Prince of Egypt, and Fame -- went on to win rave reviews and a Grammy Award for Best Score.

Last updated - July 19, 2008

The Music Man

Steel Magnolias