The Music Man 1971

This production opened on July 8, 1971.

Production Staff:

Director – David Harper

Musical Conductor – Ramsey Meredith

Set Design – Chris Finn

Costume Design & Execution – Sharman Harper/Stephenson

Choreographer – Diane Benson

Otts Laupus

Cast:

Traveling Salesmen – Charlie Cowell, Richard Marron

Harold Hill – Otts Laupus

Mayor Shinn – Stan Weisman

Ewart Dunlop – Gene Jackson

Oliver Hix – Jack Morris

Jacey Squires – Mel Downs

Olin Britt – Pat Varre

Marcellus Washburn – Rick Wade

Tommy Djilas – Joe Leon

Marian Paroo – Elizabeth Kirkpatrick

Alternate – Ann Ault

Amaryllis – Francine Joyce

Winthrop Paroo – Patrick Collins

Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn – Bea Saks

Zaneeta Shinn – Cathy Graham

Gracie Shinn – Charlene Smith

Alma Hix – Doris Mednick

Maud Dunlop – Rita Peterson

Ethel Toffelmier – Diane Benson

Mrs. Squires – Loretta Smith

Constable Locke – Jim Middleton

Dancers – Joe Moore, Robin O’Dwyer, Jean Modesitt, Ron O’Dwyer

Townspeople of River City – Vachik Mangassarian, Dianne Miller, Judi Jackson, Jared Matesky, Cheryl Smith

Alternates:

Harold Hill – John Kinnamon

Eulalie & Mrs. Paroo – Betty Morgan

Winthrop Paroo – Matthew Cauley

Ewart Dunlop – Dick Bentz

Alma Hix – Donna Gosnell

Dancer – Steve Sigel

Dancer – Myra Straus

Dancer – Susan Bowser

Data for this production was provided by Francine Joyce.

Music Man 1971

(L-R) Francine Joyce, Otts Laupus, Patrick Collins

A note from Arthur “Otts” Laupus:

My first show at Burn Brae was Music Man in 1971, after spending the previous year at Wayne State University on a theatre fellowship with the Hilberry Repertory Company. I didn’t do well there, scoring such roles as “Marcellus” in Hamlet, where I had to say “What ho, my Lord” at least seventeen times and “Peaseblossom” in Midsummer Nights Dream where I played a flower. I also played the Sixth Citizen in Julius Caesar, the highlight of my year there.

My wonderful friend Bea Saks (who played Mrs. Shinn) recommended that I audition at Burn Brae for “Harold Hill” in Music Man. I found my place thanks to John Kinnamon, and have performed the show three times at Burn Brae.

John called recently and wants me to do one more production of Music Man, contingent upon ongoing contract negotiations with Betty White to play Marian.

John, I’m available.
– Otts Laupus

A note from Sharman Harper/Stephenson:

I costumed this show, then went to Dallas to do Stop the World… for K&L. My first night back to watch the show, Elizabeth had lost her voice, Ann was doing something out of town and Bernie asked ME to go on! I had never done the role, but had been to most of the rehearsals and knew the music. Otts and I had 30 minutes to run lines for the first act and intermission to run the second act! This was the first but not nearly the last time I would go on in a show on minimal notice! Bless Otts and the rest of the cast for getting me through it!