A charismatic con man invents a moral crisis, creating outrage in a small town. He offers himself as the only solution, bypassing logic and institutional authority. When some demand background checks and credentials, he distracts with spectacle and emotion, teaching the crowd to reject the usual checks and balances. Once the scam is revealed, the people don’t want to admit they’ve been duped. Their identities and pride are tied to the shyster, and they want to believe the fantasy more than they want to hear the facts.
Sound familiar? I’ll let you connect the dots. Or you could just be entertained. Taken at face value, “The Music Man” is as light and slight as cotton candy, a shiny relic from the Golden Age of musical theater. It’s the first of many touring shows in the 2026-27 TUTS season.
Harold Hill is the show’s antihero, a traveling salesman who arrives in River City, Iowa, with a scam. The show’s opening scene in a train car sets a frothy, clever tone. Harold convinces the townspeople that a new pool table will corrupt the local youth, and the only way to save them is by forming a marching band. Parents gladly shell out money for instruments, uniforms and instruction books, despite Harold never playing a single note of music.
A show with such a preposterous plot succeeds on the strength of its performers. As Harold, Elliott Andrews has presence and is a skilled dancer. But an experienced shyster like Harold, who claims to have swindled dozens of towns, needs a prickly edge. Andrews plays him too earnestly, and it makes the Act II reveal of his true intentions feel jarring and cruel. His singing is functional but never rises to the level of his powerhouse co-stars. He often goes low when he should belt.
The show’s standout is Elizabeth D’Aiuto as Marian, the town librarian who immediately doubts Harold. She does have the necessary thorny exterior but is eventually swayed by Harold’s charm. She balances it beautifully with poise and longing. D’Aiuto showcases a gorgeous soprano on “Goodnight, My Someone” and “Till There Was You.” The audience audibly reacted every time she sang.
The rest of River City keeps the energy up: a vibrant Charles Antenen as bad boy Tommy; Patrick Blashill as the bumbling Mayor Shinn; a charming Addie Jaymes as piano student Amaryllis. As Mrs. Paroo, Savannah Stevenson grounds every scene she’s in with wit, warmth and charm. The ensemble, from the school board quartet to the Pick-a-Little ladies, gets a fantastic showcase throughout, thanks to Joshua Bergasse’s lithe, athletic choreography.
“The Music Man” is a classic because of its songs and spectacle. But if you care to look closer, it’s a reminder that the most dangerous cons are always the ones that sound this good.