“Seventy-Six Trombones” on Scottsdale Prep Stage

Scottsdale Prep Theatre Arts is excited to present Merideth Wilson’s The Music Man. The beloved musical opens tonight, October 5^th at 7:00pm. Additional shows are Friday, October 5^th at 7:00pm and a matinee on Saturday, October 7^th at 2:00pm. The show runs approximately two and a half hours. Performances take place at the academy’s performing arts center and tickets are on sale at https://spatheatre.ticketleap.com/musicman/.

The ensemble cast of high school students is being directed by Anna Chasse Clement. Mrs. Clement is the 12th Grade drama teacher and a Dean of Students at Scottsdale Prep. She has been a part of the academy since 2015. She is a Fine Arts Master Teacher and Director for the Extra Curricular Drama Clubs, Thespian Troupe #8334 Director, and spearheads the Improv Troupe, Laughletes. She attended Barrett, the Honors College at ASU, and received her BA in theatre arts with an emphasis in education and production management. Her previous stage experience includes multiple theatres in Chicago as a Stage Manager and Dramaturg. Travis Clement, Mrs. Clement’s husband and the Assistant Headmaster at the school, serves as the production’s music director.

By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is family entertainment at its best. Meredith Willson’s six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.

The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize – this, despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.

“The songs are iconic! They’re forever remembered because they’re just so good,” said Allison Detzer, who plays the mayor’s wife in the production. “The dancing is immaculate. We worked so hard as dancers. Our set is incredible [and] our costumes are incredible. It’s such a period piece and such a celebration of life and a celebration of the man who was first a con artist and turns out to be the super wholesome sweet guy who really wants to make an impact on the world.”

The cast recently gave students a preview of the show at an assembly where they performed the energetic number, “Shipoopi.” The large cast, colorful costumes, and infectious choreography earned high praise and cheers from the audience of their peers. The rest of the show is sure to be a treat with other favorite numbers like “(Ya Got) Trouble” and “Seventy-six Trombones.”

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets at https://spatheatre.ticketleap.com/musicman/ and be sure to support this talented cast of young thespians. Performing arts are being cut from education throughout the country at a dramatic rate.  We are pleased to have a strong presence of the arts in our academies as we celebrate their Beauty in our classrooms.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.