Seventy-six trombones

POLSON — The Port Polson Players are putting a beloved musical classic on the stage for all of the Mission Valley to see. Get ready for 76 trombones and more as over 35 local performers will bring to life Meredith Wilson’s Tony Award winning musical “The Music Man.”

The play, originally written in 1957, has been revived on Broadway two more times and has ran for 1,375 performances under New York’s bright lights.

“The whole gang is fantastic,” Karen Lewing, who is directing the show along with her husband Neal, said. “I can’t say enough about the talent on our singing and dancing team.”

The show’s music is conducted by Bob Mazurek.

Set in the summer of 1912, the Music Man is about a con man by the name of “Professor” Harold Hill, who arrives in River City, Iowa to swindle the townsfolk by pretending to be a traveling band instructor. Hill’s scheme is to get the citizens of River City to pay him to instruct a boys marching band and he’ll sneak out of town before they realize the kids have learned nothing. Of course, love gets in the way and the play takes some twists and turns.

Playing the charismatic character of Hill will be Polson’s Bob DiGiallonardo. DiGiallonardo’s real life son, Danny, will also be in the production as River City’s delinquent hoodlum, Tommy Dijilas, who appears with Hannah Madsen as Zaneeta. Also starring, Nancy Lindsey as Marian the Librarian and Kellen Wright as Winthrop share the footlights with Louis Jepson as Marcellus and the show’s barbershop quartet Les Lundeen, Jesse Barry, Rob Sloan and Neal Lewing.

“The talent and energy of our entire team is bar none!” claim the Lewings. “This show is a must see — Americana at it’s best.”

The Music Man will hit stage May 11,12, and 13 and May 18,19, and 20 at the John Dowdall Theatre in Polson. Curtain times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays. For more information, go to www.portpolsonplayers.com or call 883-9212 for reservations.