Choreographer-turned-director Susan Stroman struck gold twice in the 1999-2000 Broadway season, first with her dance play Contact and then with her grand revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man. One of the most loving--and beloved--celebrations of Americana ever to grace the stage, The Music Man captures the soul of the heartland with its evocation of brass bands, barbershop quartets, and even piano lessons. The titular role of the fast-talking con man who hoodwinks an Iowa town has, perhaps more than any other role in musical theater, always belonged to one performer: Robert Preston, who starred in the original 1957 Broadway cast and subsequent 1962 film. Craig Bierko, a movie actor making his Broadway debut, acquits himself well, sometimes sounding astonishingly like Preston but without aping him. In his hands, "76 Trombones" remains a rousing signature tune. As Marian the librarian, a radiant Rebecca Luker (star of the Broadway revivals of Show Boat and The Sound of Music) beautifully delivers her ballads, including "My White Knight," which was written for the original stage production but replaced in the film by "Being in Love." Longtime fans will appreciate the inclusion of the barbershop tunes "Ice Cream" and "It's You," and the dance music in "76 Trombones," "Marian the Librarian," and "Shipoopi," as well as a booklet with full lyrics. Preston's magical performances are irreplaceable, but this energetic revival is worthy of a spot on your shelf. --David Horiuchi
Tracklisting
1. Overture -- Orchestra (3:09)
2. Rock Island -- Dan Sharkey, Michael Duran, Blake Hammond, Kevin Bogue, E Clayton Cornelious, Ralph Byers, John Sloman, Liam Burke & Michael McGurk (3:28)
3. Iowa Stubborn -- Company (2:24)
4. Ya Got Trouble -- Craig Bierko & Company (4:06)
5. Piano Lesson/If You Don't Mind My Saying So -- Rebecca Luker & Katherine McGrath (1:49)
6. Goodnight, My Someone -- Rebecca Luker (2:34)
7. Seventy Six Trombones -- Craig Bierko & Company (7:21)
8. Ice Cream -- Craig Bierko, Michael-Leon Wooley, John Sloman, Jack Doyle & Blake Hammond (1:09)
9. Sincere -- Craig Bierko, Jack Doyle, Blake Hammond, Michael-Leon Wooley & John Sloman (1:25)
10. The Sadder But Wiser Girl -- Craig Bierko & Max Casella (1:55)
11. Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little / Goodnight Ladies -- Leslie Hendrix, Tracy Nicole Chapman, Ann Brown, Martha Hawley, Ellen Harvey, Mary Illes, Joy Lynn Matthews & Ruth Williamson / Craig Bierko, Michael-Leon Wooley, John Sloman, Jack Doyle & Blake Hammo (2:28)
12. Marian the Librarian -- Craig Bierko (6:24)
13. Gary, Indiana -- Craig Bierko & Katherine McGrath (1:57)
14. My White Knight -- Rebecca Luker (2:48)
15. The Wells Fargo Wagon -- Company (3:17)
16. It's You -- Jack Doyle, Michael-Leon Wooley, Blake Hammond & John Sloman (1:04)
17. Pick-a-little, Talk-a-little -- Ann Brown, Tracy Nicole Chapman, Ellen Harvey, Martha Hawley, Leslie Hendrix, Joy Lynn Matthews & Ruth Williamson (1:02)
18. Lida Rose
Will I Ever Tell You -- Jack Doyle, Blake Hammond, John Sloman, Michael-Leon Wooley & Rebecca Luker (3:50)
19. Gary, Indiana -- Michael Phelan (0:56)
20. Shipoopi -- Max Casella & Company (3:38)
21. Till There Was You -- Rebecca Luker (2:57)
22. Seventy Six Trombones
Goodnight, My Someone -- Craig Bierko & Rebecca Luker (1:19)
23. Finale Ultimo -- The River City Marching Band (2:59)
