At 5th Avenue Until March 10th, 2013: The Music Man

There’s nothing like a tribute. Be it to a lost loved one, a retiring coworker, or an art medium, paying tribute is an ode of appreciation. A celebration of both achievements and mere existence. A love of other.

Meredith Willson – American playwright, composer, conductor, and songwriter – had his own tribute. A tribute (in the form of his first written musical) to both the Midwestern United States of America (think Iowa) and this indigenous art form in the United States of America (the musical). He composed the book, music and lyrics, based on a story originally written by himself and Franklin Lacey: The Music Man. A true Valentine to musical theater and the Midwest, this creation became his most famous work.

The Music Man premiered on Broadway in 1957 (when Meredith Willson was 55 years of age), at the vertical height of musical theater worship. Right now, from February 7th until March 10th, 2013, it is currently running at The 5th Avenue Theatre. (Your Hedonista recently attended as media.) Directed by Bill Berry (RENT and First Date) with the choreography by Bob Richard, this musical tells a love story between a fast and feckless con man by the name of Harold Hill (performed by Noah Racey) and a prim and proper Marian Paroo (played by Laura Griffith).

This cast – made up of 29 adults and 16 children – has several familiar local faces, such as Richard Grey, who plays both the Train Conductor and Marcellus Washburn (ELF and First Date) and Darragh Kennan, who plays Charlie Cowell in this, his 5th Avenue début (Antony and Cleopatra, As You Like It, Sylvia,Hamlet,The Dumb Waiter, Celebration). The entire cast pulls off both acting and singing with ease. And Noah Racey’s athletic antics in the library as Harold Hill are both impressive and hilarious.

Tickets start at $31, but until midnight (12:00 a.m.) on Thursday, February 28th, 2013, 5th Avenue is offering 50% off all available seating in the house before the show closes. This discount applies to the following performances:

• Tuesday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m.• Wednesday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. • Friday, March 1 at 8 p.m. • Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. • Friday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, March 9 at 7 p.m.

To get this deal, mention the promotion code SHINN via telephone (206-625-1900), in-person at the Box Office,  or online by way of their promotional link.

Also – The Rising Star Project: The Music Man performs at The 5th Avenue Theatre on March 22nd, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. and on March 23rd, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This is a youth-led production involving over 100 high school students and teens, aged 14 to 19 years of age, from close to 60 Washington State schools. Tickets start at $29.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.