Students and production leaders rehearse for Jamestown High School’s 2024 musical production of “The Music Man” at the Merton P. Corwin Auditorium. Submitted photo

Students and faculty members at Jamestown High School, are hard at work in preparation for their upcoming production of “The Music Man.”

And according to the musical director, the turnout for students wanting to act, perform and support this endeavor are at an all-time high, as compared to pre and post -COVID-19- productions.

“We had a great turnout for the auditions for our upcoming production of The Music Man,” said Lauren Scharf, JHS director of choral activities and musical director. “COVID-19 really hurt our shows. However, we’re a strong program … and have a tremendous body of talented students who are passionate and dedicated.”

Meredith Willson’s melodic-comedic drama is set in July 1912, when a fast-talking traveling salesman “Professor” Harold Hill comes to River City, Iowa, where town folks are hesitant of allowing strangers in, especially ones trying to sell something. Harold calls himself a music professor, selling band instruments, uniforms, and the idea of starting a boy’s band with the local youth. However, to propagate better sales, he concocts a scheme whereby he creates a situation of concern for the town populist. Additionally, to counteract Hill’s fictitious “situation” and to sell more musical instruments, he convinces the town to buy into his idea of starting an all-boys band, with himself and the appointed leader.

The onus for the town’s troubles is a pool table that will lead the town’s youth down “troubled” roads and cause corruption and delinquency of the city’s youth.

The choosing of The Music Man by Scharf follows a rotating schedule which she set up for her department to use when selecting the year’s production.

“Each year I try to rotate between more modern and contemporary acts and those of a more classical nature,” Scharf said. “Last year’s show was based on the book, movie and play, Big Fish. So, this year we went with a more traditional musical, which has several throwback settings and well-known classical pieces.”

The Music Man showcases a wide variety of singing and musical features, which highlights aspects of The Roaring 1920s.

“The songs in this musical cover a wide-range of vocal styles and skill sets. This production should be challenging for our students to perform, but also a lot of fun for them.”

The following students have been assigned to the main-cast of characters: Isaac Sinatra as Harold Hill; Marian Paroo, played by Ruby Schneider; Mayor George Shinn played by Joshua Skinner; Mrs. Paroo, portrayed by Xavier Champagne; Marcellus Washburn played by Samuel Mathis; Charlie Cowell portrayed by Stavros Singleton; Tommy Djilas played by Matthew Johnson; Amaryllis presented by Camille Czerniak; Winthrop Paroo played by Madeline Sipior; Eulalie Mackenzie Shinn, performed by Ashlyn Galeazzo; Zaneetta Shinn, portrayed by Ryleigh Johnston; Gracie Shinn, played by Josie McCraw; Constable Locke, portrayed by Cameron Cooper and Conductor, by Conner Garcia.

The cast also includes:

— traveling salesman: Zaporah Sparrow, Ziery Rosa, Lillian Stormont, Kenzie Carpenter and Hayden Langford

— newspaper readers: Eddie Meyer, Brady Classon, and McKenzie Pickett

— barbershop quartet: Rya Giuffre, Eddie Meyer, Hayden Langford and Anthony Blakeslee.

— Pick-a-Little ladies: McKenna Schneider, Olivia Olmstead, Olivia Beach and Kaitlyn Kennedy.

— River City townspeople: Brady Classon, Conner Garcia, Lucy Haskell Karlymar Labrador, Madeline Leenders, Bethany Malloy, Ziery Rosa, Olivia Sandberg, Jolee Schultz, Zaporah Sparrow, Charlee VanGuilder, Eli Walrod and Dante West.

— River City kids: Olivia Anderson, Charlotte Baehr, Issabelle Becker, Camille Czerniak, Ava Dale, Aracelli DiNapoli, Piper Eckloff, Alexa Holmes, Kendall Kennedy, Siena Loomis, Kendalynn Marion, Patience Fawn Sprague, Gracelyn Stevenson, Liravia Stone, Camryn Storms and Catori Trace.

— additional Pick-a-Little ladies: Kenzie Carpenter, Allison Latona, McKenzie Pickett, Kaylin Russell, Lillian Stormont, Ella Storms and Kelianet Torres Marrero.

“This is one of the best groups I’ve had the privilege of working with and directing,” said Scharf. “It’s never easy to get up in front of a live-audience and perform, especially ones that are packed, but this group has the talent, dedication and work ethic to make this a great show.”

The Music Man scheduled showtimes are March 14 at 7 p.m., March 15, 7 p.m. and March 16, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. For more information about JHS’s “The Music Man” see the school’s webpage.