76 trombones (or so) set to lead the parade at IPFW

While director Ron Howard may be the most famous former Winthrop Paroo on the face of the earth (he played the little brother of actress Shirley Jones in the 1962 movie), many young actors have waited patiently for the Wells Fargo wagon to deliver the band instruments sold to a Midwestern town by scam artist Professor Harold Hill. IPFW's Winthrop Paroo (not pictured) will be a part of the largest cast ever assembled on the Williams Theatre stage.

The set design for "The Music Man" places the orchestra on the stage of Fort Wayne's Williams Theatre.

The IPFW American Summer Classics Theatre will present The Music Man at the Fort Wayne campus' Williams Theatre on July 8-17, assembling the largest cast ever to step upon the Williams' stage. More than half of the dean's office at the School of Visual and Performing Arts, for example, are in the production, according to Susan Domer, marketing and public relations specialist at the school.

The Fort Wayne community is strutting its stuff, too, with guest artists that include Brad Beauchamp as the fast-talking Harold Hill; Mindy Cox, as Marian the Librarian; and the Executive Sound Quartet, comprised of seasoned barbershop singers Jeff Albert, Doug Bilby, Mark Bonahoom and Pat Garmire.

The musical features 41 cast members, a 22-piece orchestra and some of the cutest kids in Fort Wayne, including Peter Rumsey playing the role of Winthrop.

Directed and choreographed by Larry Life, the Meredith Wilson musical will feature musical direction by Greg Vey and Brittney Tyler Coughlin as associate choreographer. Craig Humphrey has designed the turn-of-the-century costumes, and Mark Ridgeway designed the set that places the orchestra on stage, rather than the orchestra pit.

Admission is free for IPFW students with identification. Regular admission prices are: $14 adults; $12 faculty/staff/alumni/arts advocates; $10 seniors; $8 for other students with ID; and $12 for groups of 10 or more. Because the event is an official Three Rivers Festival activity, patrons will receive a $2 discount on $14 adult admissions by showing their Three Rivers Festival participation buttons.

Curtain time will be at 8 p.m. on July 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 and at 2 p.m. on July 10-17. For reservations, call the box office at the IPFW Department of Theatre between 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday at 260-481-6555. (TTD-260-481-4105) The box office will be closed on July 4.

Sign language interpreter services will be offered during all Thursday night performances of all productions in Williams Theatre. Braille and large-print program books are also available for each performance. Thursday, July 14, is the date of the interpreted performance.

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