News

County native comes home to direct 'Music Man'

Brian Robinson and Erin Rubico star in 'The Music Man' at Flat Rock Playhouse. [PHOTO BY SCOTT TREADWAY/TreadShots]

By Bill Moss, Published: June 13, 2016

The Music Man, starring Brian Robinson as Harold Hill and Erin Rubico as Marian Paroo, opens Thursday on the Main Stage of the Flat Rock Playhouse.

The Music Man centers around a fast-talking con artist who attempts to swindle the folks of River City, Iowa,by posing as a band instructor. He convinces the local folks to purchase various instruments with promise of lessons, but Hill plans to skip town without making good. However, the charm of the small town and its people grow on Harold, and he begins to change his ways. A story of Americana, faith and community with such hits as “76 Trombones,” “(Ya Got) Trouble,” and “‘Til There Was You,” The Music Man is a classic American musical that promises as much excitement as it does endearment.
Sharing the stage with Robinson in principal roles are Scott Cote as Marcellus Washburn, Monte J. Howell as Mayor George Shinn, Tauren Hagans as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, Marcy McGuigan as Mrs. Paroo, Christian Elan Ortiz as Tommy Djilas, Kayln West as Zaneeta Shinn, and Scott Treadway as Charlie Cowell. Jonah Jakubielski and Harrison Burnette will be alternating the role of Winthrop, and Kyra Hewitt and Julia Higginbotham will be alternating the role of Amaryllis.
The show is directed and choreographed by Chase Brock, a successful Broadway-based director and choreographer who grew up in the area attending youth performing arts classes at Flat Rock Playhouse and directed the Playhouse’s own production of The Nutcracker in 2012. Brock’s Broadway choreography includes SPIDER-MAN Turn off the Dark and the Broadway revival of Picnic for Roundabout Theatre Company.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $15-40 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731 or visiting www.flatrockplayhouse.org.