The music men
By Casey Gillis on Feb. 09, 2010
(434) 385-5525
The cast of E.C. Glass’ production of “The Music Man” is rehearsing in one of Virginia School of the Arts’ basement studios, and director/choreographer Enrique Brown is right in the middle of the action.
He stands directly in front of the actors, following along on a script set up on a music stand. Occasionally, he’ll jump into the scene to act out a line or go over some choreography, swiveling the stand around so the script is always right there with him.
Brown, a 1995 Glass and VSA grad, brings the kind of real-world experience that many of his young actors — students from both schools, which are collaborating on the production — hope to one day achieve.
He’s been dancing and acting professionally since he left Lynchburg and has appeared in Broadway shows like “The Music Man,” “Oklahoma,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and, most recently, “The Little Mermaid.” (That production also starred another Glass graduate, Tony winner Faith Prince.)
“It’s been such a privilege,” says VSA senior and cast member Stuart Coleman, who will major in theater performance at Indiana’s Butler University next year. “It puts my dreams of being an artist and going into that world into reality. He used to be where I am.”
Brown isn’t the only alum taking part in the production.
Matt Fletcher, who graduated from Glass in 2003 and now runs his own Chicago-based theater company, is playing the lead role of Harold Hill, a con man who convinces small-town parents he can teach their musically disinclined children to play instruments and start a band.
A musical dunce himself, Hill usually flees town after the parents pay up. But everything changes when he shows up in River City, Iowa, and falls for local librarian Marian, played by VSA senior Megan Asano.
“There’s no one more confident than Harold Hill, and then he takes such a 180. To explore that is really something,” Fletcher says. “It’s such a love story. He meets his match, and he never really thought it would be possible.
“She really catches him at his own game.”
Asano says working with Brown and Fletcher has been inspiring, if a little intimidating at times.
“You’re never completely relaxed, which is really good as an artist,” she says. “There’s always a little bit of that pressure that pushes it to another level.
“It’s great to have them as mentors and peers.”
Their involvement is part of Glass Theatre’s dual celebrations: the 100th anniversary of the program itself, and the 30th anniversary of department head Jim Ackley’s arrival.
“It doesn’t seem that long,” Ackley says. “I’ve always been proud of the program. I think the thing that makes me happiest about it … is 30 years later, we’re still doing new things and looking for ways to challenge the kids.”
Every production they’ve done this year has been one from the program’s past; “The Music Man” was the first musical the school ever did back in 1971. The new production opens at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, which coincides with the school’s All-Alumni Theatre Reunion (see below for more information).
Ackley says they’ve brought alums back to meet with the casts of each play this season, but they wanted to do a little more for the year’s big musical.
Enter Brown and Fletcher.
“The kids are learning so much from them,” Ackley says. “It’s neat to see. Whenever there’s a break, they ask questions.”
Fletcher says he loves talking to the students about the realities of a career in the arts.
“I can tell them it’s probably not what (they) think it’s going to be, but it’s rewarding, and it’s still possible,” He says. “That was one obstacle for me to overcome: is it possible?”
IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: ‘The Music Man’
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and 28
WHERE: E.C. Glass’ Auditorium
TICKETS: $10 for adults and $8 for seniors. They can be purchased online at http://www.ecglasstheatre.org or in person at the box office lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the week prior to the show or at the door one hour before each performance.
INFO: (434) 522-3712
All-Alumni Theatre Reunion
Glass Theatre’s alumni weekend also kicks off Feb. 19.
Events include a kick-off party, a post-performance gala, a farewell brunch and an open forum, “I Was a High School Arts Kid and Look Where I am Today,” where alumni will discuss how arts education helps prepare young people to be productive citizens. It is scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 20 in Glass’ Marie Waller Lecture Hall.
Tours of the school and the newly renovated drama department will also be available.
Most of the events are free, but registration is required. To do so, or for more information, visit http://www.ecglasstheatre.org and click on “Reunion Site.”
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