San Benito Stage Company will donate $1 of each ticket sale to
Save the Music Drive
The San Benito Stage Company opens its summer production of ‘The
Music Man,
”
today at the Granada Theatre, on Fifth Street. The show runs
Friday and Saturdays at 7 p.m. through July 30, with 2 p.m.
matinees on July 17 and 24.
Patricia Whalen, a co-producer of the show with Anne Hall, said
that the board members vote on which shows to do and this year
”
The Music Man
”
won out.
San Benito Stage Company will donate $1 of each ticket sale to Save the Music Drive
The San Benito Stage Company opens its summer production of ‘The Music Man,” today at the Granada Theatre, on Fifth Street. The show runs Friday and Saturdays at 7 p.m. through July 30, with 2 p.m. matinees on July 17 and 24.
Patricia Whalen, a co-producer of the show with Anne Hall, said that the board members vote on which shows to do and this year “The Music Man” won out.
“Once we decided to pick it, it kind of ties in with the whole Save the Music Drive,” she said, of local efforts to keep the middle school and elementary school music programs intact. “This is a way we can incorporate that into the show. It fits in with the whole storyline of the show as this guy trying to bring music into a town.”
The story of “The Music Man” is about a con man Harold Hill, who comes to a small Midwestern town pretending to be a boys’ band organizer. He sells the residents instruments and uniforms based on the promise that he will start a great band. The residents all fawn over him, except for librarian Marian who thinks he is up to no good.
As with past summer shows, the Stage Company increases the price of the show by one dollar, to $16 for adults, so that they can donate a dollar of every ticket sale to a different cause. This year the Save the Music Drive will benefit.
“Hopefully, we have sell-out crowds so we can make a lot of money for them,” Whalen said.
The show is an all-ages production with adults and kids participating.
“It’s a huge cast,” Whalen said. “We have 58 in the cast.”
Stephanie Hicks is the choreographer for the show, and she has had to find a way to manage all the actors on stage for the ensemble numbers.
“She is a miracle worker,” Whalen said. “What she can do with 60 people who all have left feet is amazing. She has been able to whip up these huge numbers, with 40 people on stage at a time. It’s been a lot of fun watching them progress.”
Going into the final week of rehearsal and set designing, Whalen said the main duties left are just finishing off the detail on the set pieces, costumes and making sure the actors have their parts down.
“The biggest challenge was for our costumers,” she said. “We have to costume 59 people for such a huge show so it’s one of the biggest challenges. They have been amazing with what they have been able to come up with.”
The seamstresses and costumers have made hats from scratch, created elaborate skirts and dresses, and have even turned items from the Goodwill into detailed pieces. She described how adding piping to a jacket from Goodwill turned it into a great outfit She acknowledged all the other volunteers who have also helped with the production.
“They are so creative,” Whalen said.
Rehearsals started May 9, and Whalen said she planned to sit down to watch a full run-through of the show the Thursday before it opened.
“It’s a surprise watching it all come together – just learning the songs and learning the dances,” she said. “It’s a big puzzle and all of a sudden it all comes together. The camaraderie has been a lot of fun when everyone’s together and you start to watch it come together.”
For the summer show, the members of the cast have been trying to drum up ticket sales in a unique way. A few cast members attended a wine tasting at the San Benito Historical Society, where they sang some of the numbers from the show. They have also visited the Farmers Market in downtown Hollister, selling tickets to residents there.
In keeping the connection with the Save the Music Drive, Whalen said that guests can expect participation by some of the band students from the high school and middle schools.
“I really hope we have a great turnout,” she said. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s always worth it when you get to see it.”
‘The Music Man’
San Benito Stage Company presents Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man,” July 15-16, 22-23, 29-30 at 7 p.m. and July 17, 24 and 30 at 2 p.m., at the Granada Theatre, 336 Fifth St., in Hollister. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for student/senior or $42 for a group 4-pack (available through advance purchase only.) Tickets are available at Postal Graphics and Pinnacle Floor Coverings. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Save the Music Drive. For more information, visit www.sanbenitostage.org.
