Music from 76 trombones, 110 cornets, 1,000 reeds and horns of every shape and size will drift through Kimball this weekend as The Music Man comes to town. Over 50 cast members, ranging in age from 4-60+ have spent the last six weeks practicing for the Kimball Community Playhouse’s (KCP) upcoming performance. The play is being directed Valery Hansen, who said her favorite part of the production was seeing people from the town coming together in their various roles. “It is great to see everyone from all walks of life come together to make this production happen,” Hansen said. The play is set in River City, Iowa, 1912. Harold Hill, the main character, comes to town as a traveling salesman. He sells band instruments to the children and talks about his big plans of forming a band. Eager for their children to become involved with music, many of the townspeople buy instruments from Hill. However, Marion Paroo, the town librarian is very skeptical about Hill. She researches his background to find out how legitimate his intentions are. Paroo, too, will be captured by the suave Hill when he sells a cornet to her younger brother, Winthrop. Twelve-year-old Scott Babbitt, of Watkins, plays Winthrop. He described him as “a shy person who comes out in the end. He is a very nice kid,” Babbitt explained. Hill has to dodge the mayor and some skeptical townspeople who are constantly asking to see his references. The play wraps up with an interesting twist. Hansen said the cast and crew have had many laughs together during their practices. Some of the funniest characters are the men in the barber shop quartet and the mayor’s wife, played by Lori Rippentrop. “She is really a character. She is very extreme, she is just so full of herself, she is all [that] in River City.” Rippentrop was involved with the previous two KCP performances. She said that this one is different. “This year, the quality of our production has really gone up,” said Rippentrop. “I think that this has a lot to do with Valery Hansen, she really requires a lot from us.” Other differences are that Music Man will have a music crew playing instruments from flutes and clarinets to trombones and trumpets. Another difference is that the play will be performed on the new, air-conditioned cafetorium stage. Behind the scenes On the street with a livery stable, billiards and grocery store, the play feels like it is set in a town. There is also a home where the Paroo family lives. Ken Rothstein, originally from Cold Spring, designed the sets. Actors and actresses are also dressed in 1912 attire. The costume director is Betty Nystrom. To put together the cast’s wardrobe, she borrowed and sewed items for all 50 performers. Hansen’s daughter, Allison, choreographed the dance numbers in the production. Actors dance to “Marion the Librarian,” “Shipoopi,” and “76 Trombones.” A family affair Hansen said that the most important aspects of the play were how families were brought together through the production. Many families worked on the production together, either as cast members, or behind the scenes workers. Lead actress, Kathleen Albert’s two young children are in the play. Other families strongly involved are the Bruce Mancini and Betty Nystrom family, the Mike and Sue Simacek family, and the Ned and Barb Root family. Families grow closer because of the production. Rippentrop’s daughter Mara is one of the River City youth. It has been fun for Rippentrop to work with her daughter in this outlet. Her three daughters were in previous plays. “It’s really fun to be in the shows with my kids and see them grow and watch their talents. I love to see my children with their friends [in this outlet], because this is something you can’t do when they are in school.” In a similar manner, all performers begin to bond like a family. “It is really amazing,” Rippentrop said. “People who have been in previous plays begin to feel like a family. It is really nice because I wouldn’t have gotten to know some of these people if we weren’t in the play together.” “My favorite part is working with the other characters. It is a really cool experience,” added Babbitt. Opening up the community The Music Man is a family show for area residents. Hansen points out that the production encourages people from other communities to come to Kimball. “Not all of the people in the production are from Kimball,” said Hansen. “[Performers] will bring in their community for the production. The visitors will see how vibrant the community is and open to the arts.” The Music Man will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 17-19. A matinee performance will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 20. Because of limited seating, tickets prices recently changed. The performance is $8 for adults, $5 for students and $3 for children 4 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the State Bank of Kimball, from the school district, or at the doors.
