Public Invited to Classic Musical Performance ‘The Music Man’ at the Belle Mehus Auditorium

The Music Man

Four theater showings March 17-19 at Belle Mehus Auditorium in downtown Bismarck 

BISMARCK, ND — The Music Man musical has been a family-friendly classic for generations. American composer, writer, playwright, musical arranger, conductor, composer, and flutist Meredith Willson debuted his hit musical on Broadway in 1957. Broadway just closed the curtain on this favorite a few weeks ago, after the show brought in $3.6 million across its final eight performances.

University of Mary Theater Director and Chair of Dramatic Arts Daniel Bielinski, who also is the founder of professional film production company Canticle Productions, is raising the curtain and giving The Music Man an encore performance of his own for North Dakota fans.

“I hope our audiences come out of the show with a new love for musical theater,” commented Bielinski. “There’s a reason this show has achieved the popularity it has. It’s been a pleasure to work on this show with the cast and crew from the University of Mary.”

Being faithful to Willson’s original material, Bielinski directs 71 University of Mary students as cast, crew, and musicians to bring this comedy to life. Harold Hill, (Anthony Sester, (Rogers, MN) is a traveling salesman who dupes people of small-town River City, IA, to buy instruments and uniforms for a boy’s band he plans to organize — this, despite knowing nothing about music. His plan to skip town with the loot are foiled when he falls in love with Marian Paroo (Sarah Pankratz, (Billngs, MT), the librarian who transforms him into a respectable citizen.

Bielinski says, “The Music Man is a fun and high-energy musical. Catchy songs, great choreography, and memorable characters have made this show a classic for the past 50 years. It’s been wonderful to dive into it with UMary students. We also have a number of elementary children in the show, cast from the Bismarck community. Dr. Tom Porter, Dr. Melissa McCann, and Dr. Dennis Gowen have done extraordinary work with the students – they all sound like a million bucks.”

The musical has four showings March 17-19, at 7 p.m. in the Belle Mehus Auditorium in downtown Bismarck. There is also a special 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday, March 18, specifically geared towards high school students. While the public is also invited to attend this performance, all high school students can gain admission for free with their student ID. Free refreshments and a post-show talkback with cast and crew are available to these high school students at the March 18, 2 p.m. show only.

Tickets are $10 and available for purchase at the box office before the show. University of Mary students, faculty, staff receive a complimentary ticket by showing their MCard ID.

UMary

CAST

Harold Hill ……………………………………. Anthony Sester             Rogers, MN

Marian Paroo ………………………………….. Sarah Pankratz          Billings, MT

Marcellus Washburn …………………………….. James Adam        St. Paul, MN

Mrs. Paroo ……………………………………... Gianna Cooke                       Santa Clarita, CT

Winthrop Paroo ……………….……………... Xavier Bielinski         Bismarck, ND

Amaryllis ………………………………………... Joya Martian              Bismarck, ND

Mayor Shinn ……………………………... Michael Hafenbredl        Littleton, CO

Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn ………………….. Bernadette Boyle    Federal Way, WA

Tommy Djilas ……………………………………. Zach Turner             Mandan, ND

Zaneeta Shinn …………………………………… Laura Kunz*             Deforest, WI

Gracie Shinn ………………………………….. Veronica Friedt           Bismarck, ND

Jacey Squires (Barbershop Tenor 1) ……………….. Kalen Hill   Minot, ND

Ewart Dunlop (Barbershop Tenor 2) …………….. Aidan Koop  Ham Lake, MN

Oliver Hix (Barbershop Baritone) ……………… DeAnte Kehr    Bismarck, ND

Olin Britt (Barbershop Bass) ……………………... Noah Fettig     Bismarck, ND

Charlie Cowell …………………………………….. Alec Stork              Mandan, ND

Ethel Toffelmier ……………………………. Gabriella Schafer         Independence, MN

Alma Hix ………………………………………. Lillian Effertz                Velva, ND

Maud Dunlop ………………………………… Sophia Ahlquist           Bloomington, MN

Mrs. Squires ………………………………….. Regina McLain             Downers Grove, IL

Mrs. Britt …………………………………………... Greta Hall               Brainerd, MN

Constable Locke …………………………... Graydon Williams        Bismarck, ND

Train Conductor …………………………. Michael Hafenbredl       Littleton, CO

Ensemble …………………………………………. Julia Conry*              St. John, IA

                                                                             Anastasia Cyr   Tempe, AZ

                                                                             Gianna Davy    Parker, CO

                                                                             Sean Ford   San Francisco, CA

                                                                             Mary Kracht    West St. Paul, MN

                                                                             Alexis Maher   Mandan, ND

                                                                             Matthew Mendiola Dassel, MN 

                                                                             William Oakes    Stillwater, MN

                                                                             Cecilia Rabaey    Minneota, MN

                                                                             Rebekah Young    Harrison City, PA

*Denotes dance captain

ORCHESTRA:

*WOODWINDS

REED I (fl/picc)                                       Calista Rennich           Bismarck, ND

REED II (Clar, EH, Ob)                            Anna Wenning             Beulah, ND

REED III (Clar, Eb Cl, Sop. Sax)             AnnaMarie Ingalls       Bancroft, IA

REED IV (Clar, Bs Cl, Fl/Picc)                Meghan Schneider      Billings, MT

REED V (Clar, Bari S., Bsn.)                   Patrick Litton              Bismarck, ND

**BRASS

Trumpet 1                                               Kennedy Cowart         Houston, TX

Trumpet 2                                               Brady Saylor                Bismarck, ND

Trumpet 3                                               Kira DeMaris               Sleepy Eye, MN

                                                               Stephen Talbot           Carol Stream, IL

Trombone 1                                            Lucas Schlosser           Mandan, ND

Trombone 2                                            Logan Quinn               Wilton, ND

Trombone 3                                            Harrison Walker          Missoula, MT

***STRINGS

Violin                                                       Mary Storick               Bismarck, ND

                                                                Margaret O’Donahue Greenbay, WI

                                                                Allana Staryzak           Monticello, MN

Violoncello                                              Emily Storick               Bismarck, ND

String Bass                                              Nicholas Amoranto     Oceanside, CA

****PERCUSSION                                

                                                                Edmund Peliska          Bismarck, ND

*******REHEARSAL               

                                                                Emma DeVries            Des Moines, IA

                                                                Christopher Dill           St. Paul, MN

                                                                James Dill                   St. Paul, MN

                                                                Zachary King              Glendale Heights, IL

CREW

Assistant Director ……………………………………………Kayli Stanger          Fargo, ND

Choral Assistant …………………………………………...Curstin Larson          Gilman, MN

Choreographer …………………………………………….. Jessica Sester           Big Lake, MN

Intimacy Director ………………………………………..... Megan Krantz         Bismarck, ND

Costumer ………………………………………………… Michele Renner             Bismarck, ND

Lighting Designer ………………………………………….. Nicholas Schindler  Mankato, MN 

Sound Designer …………………………………………….. Josh Stokka             Bismarck, ND

Stage Manager ………………………………………………. Megan Krantz        

Assistant Stage Manager …………………………………….. Clare Pankratz  Billings, MT

Assistant Stage Manager …………………………………….. Olivia Burmeister        Billings, MT

Costuming Assistants ……………………………………Lucy Bartholomew    Montgomery, AL

Costuming Assistants ……………………………………Theresa Luke               Kohler, WI

Costuming Assistants ……………………………………Hattie Muellenbach    Corona, SD

Properties Manager ……………………………………….. Whitney Benson    Soldotna, AK

Sound Assistants …………………………………………. Ariella Fogel              Bismarck, ND

Run Crew ……………………………………………………Stephen Buckley         St. Louis, MO

                                                                                         Catherine Boeser        

                                                                                         Katherine Cordes

Fly Operators …………………………………………….... Zachary King             Glendale Heights. IL

                                                                                         Charles Ansardi           Mandeville, LA

House Manager …………………………………………………Stevie Lalonde     

Faculty:

Director …………………………………………………………………………………… Daniel Bielinski

Musical Director ………………………………………………………………………... Tom Porter, DMA

Conductor …………………………………………………………………………………... Dennis Gowen

Vocal Director ……………………………………………………………………. Melissa McCann, DMA

Special Thanks to:

Theresa Karrmann (Alumni), Fond Du Lac, WI

Anyone who wishes to learn more about any undergraduate or graduate programs can do so at www.umary.edu, or online.umary.edu, respectively, or by contacting an admissions representative at enroll@umary.edu, or by calling (701) 355-8030. The University of Mary is one of only 15 Recommended Cardinal Newman Society Residential Colleges and Universities in the US. 

About the University of Mary: True to its motto “lumen vitae”—The Light of Life—the University of Mary offers education for the whole of life through cutting-edge professional programs and graduate programs animated by moral courage and leadership in chosen professions and service to the community. A private, co-educational Catholic institution, the University of Mary welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds.

A Christian, Catholic, Benedictine institution founded in 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Mary offers nearly 60 bachelor’s, 15 master’s, and five doctoral programs—in Business Administration, Education, Nursing Practice, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. The 19-sport Athletic Department adheres to its Greatness Through Virtue mission under the governance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) conferences. With more than 3,800 students, Mary has locations in North Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Rome, Italy, as well as vibrant online offerings. For more information, visit www.umary.edu.

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