By By Adrienne McKenzie
The halls of Escambia County High School will be ringing today with the sounds of singing, dancing and reading.
The Greater Escambia Council for the Arts will be holding auditions at ECHS today at 2 p.m. for the upcoming musical, "The Music Man," which was composed by Meredith Wilson.
Phil Johnson, director, said that anybody is allowed to try out for "The Music Man."
"We never have any idea how many people will try out," Johnson said. "The number could be 20 or it could be 100."
Johnson said that the council typically holds their big plays in the summer but this year the Rotary Club of Alabama asked that the play was earlier in the year and that it be performed in Pell City as well.
"The Music Man" had its Broadway opening in 1957 and played more than 1,300 performances.
The musical is the narrative of a nomadic salesman, Harold Hill. Hill visited a small community in Iowa in 1912, where he happened to fall in love with a local librarian, Marian Paroo.
Due to Hill's persuasive ways, he convinced the people of the Iowa community that they should embrace his innovative style of music, even though Hill had no musical experience. Hill influenced the parents to buy high-priced band uniforms and instruments so that they could create the "River City Boys Band." Mayhem resulted because the people of the community began to question Hill's musical qualifications and Hill was asked to prove himself to the members of River City.
Actors who are trying out for the main character, Hill, will be expected to sing a portion of "76 Trombones." Those trying out for Winthrop Paroo will be expected to sing part of "The Well's Fargo Wagon" and for Marian Paroo "Til There Was You" will be the song of choice.
For more information please contact Phil Johnson at gecarts@hotmail.com.