Public Invited to Classic Musical Performance ‘The Music Man’ at the Belle Mehus Auditorium
Four theater showings March 17-19 at Belle Mehus Auditorium in downtown Bismarck
BISMARCK, ND — The Music Man musical has been a family-friendly classic for generations. American composer, writer, playwright, musical arranger, conductor, composer, and flutist Meredith Willson debuted his hit musical on Broadway in 1957. Broadway just closed the curtain on this favorite a few weeks ago, after the show brought in $3.6 million across its final eight performances.
University of Mary Theater Director and Chair of Dramatic Arts Daniel Bielinski, who also is the founder of professional film production company Canticle Productions, is raising the curtain and giving The Music Man an encore performance of his own for North Dakota fans.
“I hope our audiences come out of the show with a new love for musical theater,” commented Bielinski. “There’s a reason this show has achieved the popularity it has. It’s been a pleasure to work on this show with the cast and crew from the University of Mary.”
Being faithful to Willson’s original material, Bielinski directs 71 University of Mary students as cast, crew, and musicians to bring this comedy to life. Harold Hill, (Anthony Sester, (Rogers, MN) is a traveling salesman who dupes people of small-town River City, IA, to buy instruments and uniforms for a boy’s band he plans to organize — this, despite knowing nothing about music. His plan to skip town with the loot are foiled when he falls in love with Marian Paroo (Sarah Pankratz, (Billngs, MT), the librarian who transforms him into a respectable citizen.
Bielinski says, “The Music Man is a fun and high-energy musical. Catchy songs, great choreography, and memorable characters have made this show a classic for the past 50 years. It’s been wonderful to dive into it with UMary students. We also have a number of elementary children in the show, cast from the Bismarck community. Dr. Tom Porter, Dr. Melissa McCann, and Dr. Dennis Gowen have done extraordinary work with the students – they all sound like a million bucks.”
The musical has four showings March 17-19, at 7 p.m. in the Belle Mehus Auditorium in downtown Bismarck. There is also a special 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday, March 18, specifically geared towards high school students. While the public is also invited to attend this performance, all high school students can gain admission for free with their student ID. Free refreshments and a post-show talkback with cast and crew are available to these high school students at the March 18, 2 p.m. show only.
Tickets are $10 and available for purchase at the box office before the show. University of Mary students, faculty, staff receive a complimentary ticket by showing their MCard ID.
—UMary—
CAST
Harold Hill ……………………………………. Anthony Sester Rogers, MN
Marian Paroo ………………………………….. Sarah Pankratz Billings, MT
Marcellus Washburn …………………………….. James Adam St. Paul, MN
Mrs. Paroo ……………………………………... Gianna Cooke Santa Clarita, CT
Winthrop Paroo ……………….……………... Xavier Bielinski Bismarck, ND
Amaryllis ………………………………………... Joya Martian Bismarck, ND
Mayor Shinn ……………………………... Michael Hafenbredl Littleton, CO
Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn ………………….. Bernadette Boyle Federal Way, WA
Tommy Djilas ……………………………………. Zach Turner Mandan, ND
Zaneeta Shinn …………………………………… Laura Kunz* Deforest, WI
Gracie Shinn ………………………………….. Veronica Friedt Bismarck, ND
Jacey Squires (Barbershop Tenor 1) ……………….. Kalen Hill Minot, ND
Ewart Dunlop (Barbershop Tenor 2) …………….. Aidan Koop Ham Lake, MN
Oliver Hix (Barbershop Baritone) ……………… DeAnte Kehr Bismarck, ND
Olin Britt (Barbershop Bass) ……………………... Noah Fettig Bismarck, ND
Charlie Cowell …………………………………….. Alec Stork Mandan, ND
Ethel Toffelmier ……………………………. Gabriella Schafer Independence, MN
Alma Hix ………………………………………. Lillian Effertz Velva, ND
Maud Dunlop ………………………………… Sophia Ahlquist Bloomington, MN
Mrs. Squires ………………………………….. Regina McLain Downers Grove, IL
Mrs. Britt …………………………………………... Greta Hall Brainerd, MN
Constable Locke …………………………... Graydon Williams Bismarck, ND
Train Conductor …………………………. Michael Hafenbredl Littleton, CO
Ensemble …………………………………………. Julia Conry* St. John, IA
Anastasia Cyr Tempe, AZ
Gianna Davy Parker, CO
Sean Ford San Francisco, CA
Mary Kracht West St. Paul, MN
Alexis Maher Mandan, ND
Matthew Mendiola Dassel, MN
William Oakes Stillwater, MN
Cecilia Rabaey Minneota, MN
Rebekah Young Harrison City, PA
*Denotes dance captain
ORCHESTRA:
*WOODWINDS
REED I (fl/picc) Calista Rennich Bismarck, ND
REED II (Clar, EH, Ob) Anna Wenning Beulah, ND
REED III (Clar, Eb Cl, Sop. Sax) AnnaMarie Ingalls Bancroft, IA
REED IV (Clar, Bs Cl, Fl/Picc) Meghan Schneider Billings, MT
REED V (Clar, Bari S., Bsn.) Patrick Litton Bismarck, ND
**BRASS
Trumpet 1 Kennedy Cowart Houston, TX
Trumpet 2 Brady Saylor Bismarck, ND
Trumpet 3 Kira DeMaris Sleepy Eye, MN
Stephen Talbot Carol Stream, IL
Trombone 1 Lucas Schlosser Mandan, ND
Trombone 2 Logan Quinn Wilton, ND
Trombone 3 Harrison Walker Missoula, MT
***STRINGS
Violin Mary Storick Bismarck, ND
Margaret O’Donahue Greenbay, WI
Allana Staryzak Monticello, MN
Violoncello Emily Storick Bismarck, ND
String Bass Nicholas Amoranto Oceanside, CA
****PERCUSSION
Edmund Peliska Bismarck, ND
*******REHEARSAL
Emma DeVries Des Moines, IA
Christopher Dill St. Paul, MN
James Dill St. Paul, MN
Zachary King Glendale Heights, IL
CREW
Assistant Director ……………………………………………Kayli Stanger Fargo, ND
Choral Assistant …………………………………………...Curstin Larson Gilman, MN
Choreographer …………………………………………….. Jessica Sester Big Lake, MN
Intimacy Director ………………………………………..... Megan Krantz Bismarck, ND
Costumer ………………………………………………… Michele Renner Bismarck, ND
Lighting Designer ………………………………………….. Nicholas Schindler Mankato, MN
Sound Designer …………………………………………….. Josh Stokka Bismarck, ND
Stage Manager ………………………………………………. Megan Krantz
Assistant Stage Manager …………………………………….. Clare Pankratz Billings, MT
Assistant Stage Manager …………………………………….. Olivia Burmeister Billings, MT
Costuming Assistants ……………………………………Lucy Bartholomew Montgomery, AL
Costuming Assistants ……………………………………Theresa Luke Kohler, WI
Costuming Assistants ……………………………………Hattie Muellenbach Corona, SD
Properties Manager ……………………………………….. Whitney Benson Soldotna, AK
Sound Assistants …………………………………………. Ariella Fogel Bismarck, ND
Run Crew ……………………………………………………Stephen Buckley St. Louis, MO
Catherine Boeser
Katherine Cordes
Fly Operators …………………………………………….... Zachary King Glendale Heights. IL
Charles Ansardi Mandeville, LA
House Manager …………………………………………………Stevie Lalonde
Faculty:
Director …………………………………………………………………………………… Daniel Bielinski
Musical Director ………………………………………………………………………... Tom Porter, DMA
Conductor …………………………………………………………………………………... Dennis Gowen
Vocal Director ……………………………………………………………………. Melissa McCann, DMA
Special Thanks to:
Theresa Karrmann (Alumni), Fond Du Lac, WI
Anyone who wishes to learn more about any undergraduate or graduate programs can do so at www.umary.edu, or online.umary.edu, respectively, or by contacting an admissions representative at enroll@umary.edu, or by calling (701) 355-8030. The University of Mary is one of only 15 Recommended Cardinal Newman Society Residential Colleges and Universities in the US.
About the University of Mary: True to its motto “lumen vitae”—The Light of Life—the University of Mary offers education for the whole of life through cutting-edge professional programs and graduate programs animated by moral courage and leadership in chosen professions and service to the community. A private, co-educational Catholic institution, the University of Mary welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds.
A Christian, Catholic, Benedictine institution founded in 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Mary offers nearly 60 bachelor’s, 15 master’s, and five doctoral programs—in Business Administration, Education, Nursing Practice, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. The 19-sport Athletic Department adheres to its Greatness Through Virtue mission under the governance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) conferences. With more than 3,800 students, Mary has locations in North Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Rome, Italy, as well as vibrant online offerings. For more information, visit www.umary.edu.