As the song goes, there’s certainly “trouble right here in River City,” but, contrary to what the townspeople are led to believe, it isn’t from the new pool hall. Rather, chaos has erupted since smooth talking con artist Harold Hill came to this sleepy fictional town in Iowa. Harold poses as a boys’ band organizer and tries to swindle people into buying expensive instruments and uniforms for their children. What the “professor” doesn’t plan on, however, is falling in love with Marian Paroo, a librarian and part-time piano teacher. To find out what happens next, grab your tickets to Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage’s production of The Music Man, June 16 through July 9.
The show was originally produced on Broadway in 1957 and, during its run, won five Tony Awards. A Broadway revival took place years later in 2000. Flat Rock Playhouse’s production will star Brian Robinson as Harold and Erin Rubico as Marian.
Chase Brock will direct and choreograph the production. Now living in New York City, Chase grew up in Flat Rock and attended youth performing arts classes at the Playhouse. At age 16, he attended an open call in New York City for the Broadway revival of The Music Man, earned a role, and stayed with the show through its entire 700-performance run. Chase has been called “prolific” by The New Yorker and The New York Times. His Broadway choreography has included Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark and the Broadway revival of Picnic for Roundabout Theatre Company.
Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage is located at 2661 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 P.M.; Friday and Saturday at 8 P.M. Matinee shows are Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 P.M. Tickets ($15–40) can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling the box office at 828.693.0731 or visiting flatrockplayhouse.org.
