The Music Man

The Music Man is a 1952 stage musical that was adapted for film in 1962. The show's books, lyrics and music were written Meredith Wilson.

Both the stage version and film adaptation of The Music Man starred actor Robert Preston as "Professor" Harold Hill, a con man, who attempts to scam the small town of Gary, Indiana into buying equipment for a boy's marching band. His plans get sidetracked, however, when he falls for the town's librarian. The film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Musical Score and was nominated for Best Picture.

The musical remains popular with regional theaters and is frequently revived. A 2000 Broadway revival proved to be so popular that it was made into a television movie starring Matthew Broderick in the Harold Hill role.

Fast Facts

1. Book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson
2. Broadway Premiere: December 1957
3. Film Release Date: June 1962

Notable Songs

• "Rock Island"
• "Iowa Stubborn"
• "Ya Got Trouble"
• "The Piano Lessons/If I Don't Mind my Saying So"
• "Goodnight My Someone"
• "76 Trombones"
• "Sincere"
• "Pick a Little, Talk a Little/Goodnight, Ladies"
• The Sadder-but-Wiser Girl
• "Marian The Librarian"
• "Gary, Indiana"
• "Being in Love"
• "Wells Fargo Wagon"
• "Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You"
• "Shipoopi"
• "Till There Was You"
• "It's You"

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