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Thursday, July 29, 1999
Youthful 'Music Man': There may be trouble
in River City, but it's smooth sailing in the
Young Actors Company's production of
Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man," which
is given all the trimmings at Cal State
Northridge's Performing Arts Center.
Most of the cast members are teenagers
to young twentysome- things. They don't
pay to be part of this 3-year-old, nonprofit
theater training program, run by Joshua
Meltzer, a veteran television prop master,
and his wife Stacey, a former child actor.
Most of the participants have performed only
on secondary school or college stages, but
that they do have experience and training is
evident.
This full-scale musical is presented with
respectable song-and-dance talents,
including a lively 20-piece professional
orchestra, led by Broadway veteran
conductor Robert Brandzel, a terrific
barbershop quartet from the internationally
known Masters of Harmony, nifty period
costumes and modestly satisfying sets,
spot-on choreography by Joy Enright and
tight direction by Joshua Meltzer.
You won't mistake it for the big time, but
although it stays in the shallows, it's a
pleasantly even community theater effort,
led by baritone Jeremy DiPaolo's assured
presence as traveling salesman Professor
Hill, the lovely trained soprano Ari Kia as
Marian the Librarian, and polished dancer
Christopher K. Leatart as town bad boy
Tommy.
"The Music Man" Cal State Northridge
Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St.
(the center is off Zelzah Avenue; park in
University Lot C), Northridge,
Friday-Saturday 7:30p.m; Sunday,
2:30p.m.(818) 677-2488. Running time:
2 hours, 50 minutes.
"Professional Orchestra!
Terrific barbershop quartet!
Spot-on choreography!
Tight direction by Joshua
Meltzer!
-Lynne Heffley
Los Angeles Times
