WOLFVILLE, N.S. — Stage Prophets Theatrical Society is getting ready to transport audiences straight into the small town of River City, Iowa.has announced its 2024 production of Meredith Wilson’s Tony, Oscar, Grammy and Emmy award-winning show The Music Man.It will be presented during two weekends at Festival Theatre in Wolfville. Rehearsals are well underway with more than 150 cast, crew and pit band members taking part.
The classic family favourite is described as a transformational story of a fast-talking salesman, a skeptical smalltown librarian and the citizens of River City, whose lives are forever changed through the power of music and love. In 1957, the show became a hit on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards, including best musical, and ran for 1,375 performances. The cast album won the first Grammy Award for best original cast album and was No. 1 on the Billboard charts for 245 weeks. The show’s success led to revivals, including a 1962 film adaptation and a 2003 TV remake.
This year, Stage Prophets are adding descriptive audio for the visually impaired and assisted listening for the hearing impaired to enhance the accessibility for the shows.Stage Prophets, a Nova Scotia-based registered charity, has been dedicated to creating and sharing community theatre in the Annapolis Valley since 2002. Its mandate is to offer family friendly, high-quality musical theatre for the children, youth, adults and seniors in the community.
Past productions include Godspell, Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast, Anne of Green Gables, Mary Poppins, Anne and Gilbert, The Wizard of Oz and Fiddler on the Roof.