Each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we have 143+ kids, ages 6-18,
blocking scenes, learning choreography and memorizing harmony parts to this amazing show! From the adorable Munchkins, to Flying Monkeys, to jazzy Jitterbugs, to the “yo-he-ho” of the Winkies – their high level of commitment is sure to make this an outstanding show.
You don’t want to miss it, so mark your calendars now – December 2-11, at the North Kitsap Auditorium.
In preparing to design and work on sets for an upcoming show it’s become very helpful for me to do a bit of historical research of the location and time period. Here are some of the historical highlights of North Central Iowa where our upcoming musical, THE MUSIC MAN, takes place.
Located in the 29th State of the Union (1846), Mason City, Iowa is known as the “River City” mainly due to Mason City’s very own “Music Man” Meredith Willson, who was born and raised there. (Clarification for some of you: Meredith is a man, and Willson DOES have two “L’s.”)
Mason City, Iowa is a gorgeous city with a small town atmosphere. This place is the central activity hub of northern Iowa and is ideal for having small town values coupled with big city conveniences.
The rivers and woods in North Central Iowa were originally home to the Winnebago and Sioux Indians.
In 1853, John Long and John Bilford came from Illinois to claim timber and prairie land along the Winnebago River. They laid out a town which was later named Masonville, in honor of Long’s deceased son. Due to duplicate city names, Mason City became its incorporated name in 1870.
In 1866, the Mason City and Fort Dodge railroad line was established. The railroad opened the door for Mason City to grow quickly and became established as a significant retail and manufacturing center in the Midwest.
By 1912, Mason City was shipping the largest freight tonnage in the state of Iowa and producing more brick and tile and more Portland cement than any city in the world. At one time there were nine brick and tile companies in Mason City.
At the turn of the century (1907), an architect came to the area to complete some design work for a prominent businessman. Frank Lloyd Wright went on to design The Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank, both which opened in 1910.
By 1934, the Great Depression hit North Iowa along with the rest of the country. Throughout the Upper Midwest, John Dillinger and his gang began making a name for themselves. Dillinger was somewhat of a hero to depression weary farmers, as he would often destroy foreclosure records during bank robberies. It was on March 13, 1934 that “public enemy number one” came to Mason City and robbed the First National Bank.
In 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson departed from the Mason City Municipal Airport in a small airplane and crashed just north of Clear Lake with no survivors.
In 1951, Meredith Willson began working on a fun-filled musical story of “River City.” The story was about a salesman trying to convince the citizens of River City to start a boys’ band. The musical played several theaters in the East until Warner Brothers bought the movie rights and began production in 1961.
On June 19, 1962 at the Palace Theater in Mason City, The Music Man premiered. And today, Meredith Willson’s love of music lives on at The Music Man Square, where his personal memorabilia and a replica of the original movie streetscape are on display. Annually, Mason City hosts the Mason City Band Festival in tribute to the rich musical and cultural history the city is known for.
So, now I have a better sense of the town that needs designing – and designing I better get doing!
Due dates, commitments, and spreadsheets! Oh, and all the meetings and due dates… and spread sheets… and plans. So many “to do’s” – so little time to do the “to do’s!”
But then… But then… But then… I get to dance! I get to be silly! I get to talk into a microphone. (Talking into a microphone makes you feel oh so important, powerful and LOUD.)
The next few weeks at KCMT will be a mad rush to position, move and teach which foot you start with, and which way you turn. We will be teaching the ever important lesson of moving as a group – all at the same time. While this is going on KCMT kids will feel frustrated, defeated and once in a while bored. However, when their feet move the right way, at the right time, they will feel VICTORY!
Do you know what I feel the first few weeks of production?
I feel the burn.
I move. I dance. Over and over, step by step. The kids hardly break a sweat. I wake up the next day feeling like I got hit by a train. Now, we have teen staff to do the dancing and moving, but I can’t help myself. It is so much fun to get in there and teach. So much fun watching their faces when they do it right and we can move on; all the time knowing how silly I look and how much I am going to hurt in the morning.
Now I can put together one mean spreadsheet; but the bottom line is – I only do that stuff because in the end I know I get to dance!
Sara Adams
The Music Man Director
I waited to write today’s blog until after Music Man was cast. But my time is up and still no solid cast list. I want to be perfectly fair.
After the final callback, the directors deliberated deep into the night. There is much to take into consideration.
* There was a lot of new talent. How committed will they
be?
* There are quite a few kids who can sing, act and/or dance really well.
* Who can we count on to show up to rehearsal prepared?
* What about the kids who took the time to memorize their audition lines and
callback songs?
* What about the kids who have put their time into the chorus or a bit part show
after show?
There are so many kids. What to do?
Well, let’s take a look at who is committed, with a good attitude. They treat others with respect. They don’t gossip or act like they are better than others. They obey the adults. They don’t disturb rehearsals or goof off during production weeks.
Now, let’s take a look at who is the best for each part. Who can sing it? Who can act it? Who can dance it? Okay, I think we’ve got it!
WAIT! She’s too tall. He’s too short. Forget about keeping siblings together! (sigh)
Well, sorry guys – I guess it’s back to the drawing board!
Kerby
The Music Man Executive Director
Busy, busy, busy! Auditions are coming up soon and registrations are tomorrow and the next day. As a teen staff I am super excited for this show – especially for the new pre-teen staff called, “AIM.” This new area of leadership will allow middle school pre-teens to train under our high-school-aged teen staff members who are known as, “Target.” As a part of Target, I will be able to teach choreography to kids who are younger than I am and who share the same passion for dance, teaching and leadership. I started my teen staff position at age fourteen and have been leading the same kids, who are now a part of AIM, for the past three years.
So far, I have been in every production put on by KCMT and have seen teens come and go. As a younger child, I remember looking up to these teens and wanting to be just like them. Some teens have been a great influence on my life and I will always remember the relationship I had with some of the performers who are now students in various colleges across the United States.
Today, I try to be the influence and example I have always wanted to be since I was a little girl. In two years I will be off to college. By that time, the great group of pre-teens we have in training for this show will be the best Teen Staff ever!
KCMT is a growing organization and I know that the teen staff programs are a huge part of our success. As time goes on, KCMT will grow bigger and bigger, and as a result, our community will grow closer and stronger.
Hava Criss
The Music Man Choreographer
and Target Teen Staff Member
In my hall closet are two boxes. They’ve been there since we moved in 35 years ago this coming March. I take them out every so often and go through them; usually for some upcoming musical endeavor. One box has seen more use than the other … my husband, Merle’s box of wedding, sacred solos and quartet music. They’ve had a lot of use over the years!
The other box is from my mom, Georgia Lea Jordan. It contains pieces of her very well-used sheet music. Mostly from the 30’s and 40’s … then it skips most of the 50’s (that’s when my sister and I came along, I think she was busy!). The dates pick up again in the early 60’s.
Momma loved music, which is something she passed along to me. You see, she and I would spend HOURS in an evening or on a Saturday afternoon going through every piece she had. She played, and I stood beside her at the piano and sang. “Don’t Blame Me,” “I Cried for You,” “You Were Meant for Me,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” “Temptation,” “When I Fall in Love” and the list goes on and on.
So I went to look again. I was pretty sure it was there, and I found it … Not as a single piece of sheet music, but in one of her “30 Years – 30 Hits” books.
She’s been gone a long while now, but every so often I’ll hear a reference to one of those songs and I’ll remember all the time I spent with my mom learning to love music. That’s something I now have the privilege of doing at KCMT … pass along a love of music. I count it an honor to work with these talented and AMAZING kids. Their dedication and professionalism is outstanding.
So, be looking (and listening) for the song; it’s the culmination of the love story of our upcoming show, THE MUSIC MAN. Marion Paroo & Professor Harold Hill, on the footbridge, in the moonlight and “Till There Was You.”
Thanks, Momma!
Karen Trostad
KCMT Director
Thinking about THE MUSIC MAN, I see happy KCMT’ers – creating – kids, moms, dads and even toddlers. There are big smiles stretching into laughter. And then my brain focuses better and I see us in our Rehearsal Hall (that’s the Chevy Building!) ambitiously rehearsing FOUR CASTS AT ONCE! Now things become a blur! But, my positive outlook takes over and the planning begins. Soon we’ll have 4 incredible directors doing their part to make it all work.
I also remember, KCMT is just for fun and God is in charge. I have that faith and that gives me hope.
So, strike up the band, get your embouchure in shape (that’s a musical term for the facial muscles and shaping of the lips to play a wind instrument!) and get your registration forms filled out. The Wells Fargo Wagon is a-coming down the street and you don’t want to miss the parade!
In all the prep and rehearsing for our upcoming show, THE WIZARD OF OZ, we were encouraged to receive the following note from a grandpa who paid 5 times our ticket price to see a professional show in Texas:
“… Before the show was over I knew that I had seen a more professional and vibrant performance by your Kitsap theatre group last year… I acknowledge that I am not a professional theatre critic but I know what I like, and I liked your show so much better. Now I’m looking forward to seeing The Wizard of Oz in December.”
It is so heartening to know that KCMT’s performances are viewed as far from juvenile. Our kids are professionally trained to give a Broadway-type performance worth more than our ticket price suggests.
“Curtain up” is coming quickly; so get your tickets (KCMT tickets are just $10!) and invite your friends to join us as we enter the Merry Old Land of Oz!
Each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we have 143+ kids, ages 6-18, blocking scenes, learning choreography and memorizing harmony parts to this amazing show! From the adorable Munchkins, to Flying Monkeys, to jazzy Jitterbugs, to the “yo-he-ho” of the Winkies – their high level of commitment is sure to make this an outstanding show.
You don’t want to miss it, so mark your calendars now – December 2-11, at the North Kitsap Auditorium. Tickets are available now!
Auditions were AMAZING and we’re delighted with the awesome talent that will be showcased during our upcoming fall production!
Callbacks are underway this week (check under the AUDITIONS tab above and then CALLBACKS if you need a copy of the lines and songs) and the final cast will be announced soon. (REMEMBER: No “cheat sheets” during callbacks! J)
We’re also busy sprucing up our rehearsal facility, with Phase One beginning MONDAY, AUGUST 22 FROM 6 – 8 PM. Bring your scrub brush and cleaning supplies to join the fun!
Rub, rub here; Rub, rub there …
That’s how we laugh the day away
In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
— Kerby