UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department and Ukiah Civic Light Opera will hold auditions on Saturday, Dec. 8, for their upcoming co-production of the classic American musical “The Music Man,” Meredith Willson’s affectionate paean to Smalltown, USA of a bygone era.

The beloved show features some of the greatest songs in American musical theater history, including “76 Trombones,” “Goodnight my Someone” and “The Wells Fargo Wagon.”

The production’s directors are looking for a large cast of 40-50 singers, dancers and actors of all ages.

The plot follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boy’s band he vows to organize – this despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef.

His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.

Theatre professor Reid Edelman will be directing the production with the help of choreographer Maria A. Monti, vocal director Marilyn Simpson and music director Les Pfutzenreuter. The show will run April 12-21 in the Mendocino College Center Theatre.

According to Edelman, “Producing a major musical, such as ‘The Music Man,’ is always exciting. It is a joyful opportunity to collaborate with our wonderful dance and music faculty and to involve a large cast of enthusiastic performers. This is one of the greatest musicals ever written, one that celebrates life, love and the transformative power of music.”

The cast of the play includes many roles for adults and children. Edelman encourages anybody with an interest in being a part of this delightful show to come to the auditions on Dec. 8.

All roles will be cast through open auditions; no roles have been precast. Interested performers should arrive at the Mendocino College Center Theatre at 10 a.m. and plan on staying until 3 p.m. if needed. Scripts are on reserve at the Mendocino College Library for those wishing to read the play in advance.

At the audition, performers will be asked to sing a song and to learn a short dance routine. Ideally, the song should be from a Broadway musical and should be 1 minute or shorter. An accompanist will be provided, so performers should bring sheet music for their song if possible.

Singers who do not have a prepared song will be taught one of the songs from the show at the audition. The song will also serve as the initial acting audition, so Edelman recommends choosing “a character driven song with some dramatic interest.”

For the dance audition, performers should wear comfortable movement clothes. Some performers may be invited to attend additional call-back auditions on Sunday, Dec. 9.

Available male roles include:

• Professor Harold Hill: 30-40 years old, a fast-talking con man who is redeemed by play’s end through his love for Marian the librarian.
• Charlie Cowell: 30-45 years old, a traveling anvil salesman intent on exposing Hill as a fraud.
• Mayor George Shinn: The skeptical mayor of River City.
• Marcellus Washburn: Hill’s old friend and fellow con man.
• Winthrop Paroo: age 10, younger brother of Marian, speaks with a lisp and painfully shy and withdrawn since the death of his father. Professor Hill and his new boy’s band bring Winthrop back to life.
• Tommy Djilas: 17 years old, a town trouble maker who is transformed by Professor Hill and by his love for the Mayor’s eldest daughter Zaneeta.
• The school board quartet: four members of the River City school board (Jacey Squires, Ewart Dunlap, Olin Britt and Oliver Hix) can’t stand each other, but became inseparable when Hill joins them into a barbershop quartet!
• Plus all the boys in Professor Hills band (ages 7-12), a variety of teen agers, at least 5 salesmen (ages 20-60) and other members of the chorus.

Available female roles include:

• Marian Paroo: 26 years old. An “old maid.” She is a music teacher and town librarian. She longs for true love, but rejects Hill as a faker, but sees him differently when she witnesses his effect upon her young brother Winthrop.
• Amaryllis: age 8, “in love” with Winthrop. She is terrified of becoming an “old maid” like Marian.
• Mrs. Paroo: age 45-50, Marian’s mother. An Irish matriarch who would really like to see Marian lighten up and get married.
• Zaneeta Shinn: 17 years old. The mayor’s eldest daughter. In love with Tommy Djilas.
• Pick a little talk a little ladies: counterpart to the school board quartet, a singing gaggle of gossipy women who become inspired when Hill convinces them they can dance!
• Plus a group of teen-age girls in River City’s Fourth of July pageant, possibly some female members (ages 7-12) of Professor Hills “boy’s” band, and other members of the chorus.

Rehearsals will begin Jan. 8, 2013, and continue until the show opens on April 12. Performances will run through April 21, and will include a special student matinee on Tuesday, April 16, at 10:30 a.m.

Several college courses are associated with the production, and all performers will receive college credit. In addition to the performance opportunities, numerous backstage production positions are available. Crews are needed to build scenery, props and costumes, as well as to work as stage managers, light and sound operators and run-crew.

For those with an interest in learning to build costumes, there will be a costume construction course taught by Kathy Dingman Katz. This class will meet Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.

Alternate audition times can also be arranged, so actors who cannot attend the scheduled auditions on Dec. 8 should contact Reid Edelman ASAP.

For additional information about auditions, or to join the backstage production team, call 707-468-3172 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .