Director's Notes for
The Music Man
There is no bigger undertaking than bringing an American classic
to the stage. When a show like The Music Man is produced,
one of the primary areas of focus must be placed on a consistent
and thorough concept. Everything onstage must appear as if it were
brought directly from 1912. The credit for the outstanding
visual quality of the sow must go to Laurie Klapperich and Lance
Copeman.
It has been a true honor to work with Laurie. Her graceous donation
of time, and more importantly talent, has added an incredible dimension
to the production. It not often that a professional is willing to
share themselves so generously. On behalf of the entire cast and
crew I would like to extend a truly heart felt thank you.
Lance's set design is truly spectacular. His research and
dedication to authenticity has brought River City's Main Street
to life. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity of
working with Lance these past several years. Few scene designers
have Lance's ability to balance the asthetic and functional aspects
of design. In other words, the sets don't just look good, they work!
However, it's not just tech that makes a show work.
Robin Gayton, as alway has made the company move, not an easy task
with a stage of 75 people. The choreography is the element which
adds grace to the production. Robin never fails to bring energy
and motion to our stage.
Finally, my thanks go to my great counter part Debbie Miller. Many
people never understand how many hundreds of hours go into
pulling off a quality production and Debbie is there every step
of the way. From the brainstorming of titles in April, to the final
curtain call on closing night in March, here work is never done.
Debbie not only works tirelessly with each crew member on the songs,
but also with Robin and her choreography and then spends the last
few weeks pulling the orchestra together. I see firsthand how
hard she works to create a production of which Pomona can be proud.
I consider myself very fortunant to work with some one who is dedicated
to providing our students with a meaningful theatrical experience.
What you will see tonight is the culmination of 2 1/2 months of
rehersal, hundreds of hours of technical work and the dedication
and perseverance of more than 100 students. Thank you for joining
us tonight, we hope you enjoy The Music Man .
- Gavin