The Music Man - FSU's 10th Annual Benefit Concert

The School of Theatre is proud to present the tenth annual Benefit Concert with a performance of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man on the Fallon Stage, Saturday, December 17th. This classic musical features the book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson and the story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey. Meredith Willson’s The Music Man promises to be an extraordinary night full of talent, familiar songs, and memories.

This Tony Award®-winning, classic American musical tells the story of travelling salesman Professor Harold Hill and his visit to River City, Iowa. He cons the townspeople into purchasing musical instruments for the school children, including “76 Trombones” by proclaiming that he will teach them to play. However, with no musical ability of his own, he plans to flee the town after collecting the money. What he did not count on was caring about the people of the town and falling in love with Marian, the librarian.

The cast features FSU Alum and Broadway actor Davis Gaines as Harold Hill and BFA Music Theatre student Berkley Jones as Marian Paroo. The cast also includes Tallahassee favorites Larry Gerber and Mark Ziegler. This year’s Benefit Concert is guaranteed to be a talent-filled evening you will not want to miss.

The Director, Fred Chappell, lauds the production saying, “The Music Man is a heart-warming tale set in rural America with brass-band music and rollicking songs.  Davis Gaines IS the “Music Man” and it’s the perfect musical vehicle for him!”

The Music Man premiered in 1957 at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. It played there for three years until it moved to The Broadway Theatre to complete its run of 1,375-performances.

It won the Tony Award® for Best Musical and it’s stars Robert Preston and Barbara Cook also took home Tonys. The Music Man’s 2000 revival received the Tony Award® for Best Revival of a Musical. It’s leading actors, Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker, were awarded Tonys as well. Robert Sean Leonard and Eric McCormack also played Harold Hill later in the run. The Music Man is a beloved American musical that is often produced by both professional and amateur theatre companies.

The School of Theatre has a reputation for delivering nationally recognized work and has a rich history of fostering talented artists who go on to make an indelible impact on the performing arts world. All proceeds benefit student scholarships and the music theatre and acting showcases, as well as perpetuate the School of Theatre’s position in the national spotlight as one of the country’s top theatre training programs.

Don’t miss Meredith Willson’s The Music Man playing at the Fallon Theatre at Florida State University Saturday, December 17th!

For additional media, information, or interview opportunities, contact: Suzanne Lucas at

(850) 644-1377 or sdl15@my.fsu.edu