The VOS production of The Music Man was a great success! Now you can rent certain elements from this spectacular show for your own production.
Category: Music Man
Florence Fletcher: Returning to THE MUSIC MAN after 35 Years
VOS THEATRE chatted with Florence Fletcher about her upcoming role in The Music Man and what it’s like to do the show the second time around.
VOS THEATRE: Hey there! So you’re a Pick A Little Lady. What’s fun about those ladies – the characters and the actresses.
Florence Fletcher: The Pick a Littles are a terrific group, we have so much fun whenever we are rehearsing. We have Michele McAdam who plays Eulalie, the Mayor’s wife who is, of course, the leader of our little group. Eulalie likes to think she is better than the rest of us due to her elevated position as the Mayor’s wife. She always has to be in charge. Heather Town in the role of Ethel Toffelmier, the youngster in the pack, is unmarried and by 1912 standards,is the most daring of the women. Maude Dunlop is played by Krista Sluiman, Alma Hix by Kara Milner, Lydia Amaro brings us Mrs. Squires and there’s me rounding out the ladies as Mrs. Brit.
We get some of the best, most comfortable costumes in the show.
VOS: You have a history with the show don’t you?
Florence: I do. The Music Man was the first show I ever performed in Cobourg. That was back in 1983. I auditioned for Ruth Harcort, who was the director of the show, along with a man I did not know at the time, Blair MacFadden. Little did I know at the time that Ruth would cast us as Harold and Marian and that we would still be friends 35 years later!
It was a wonderful experience, I had an absolute blast doing the show and have not stopped being involved in local community theatre since.
VOS: Favourite line in the show.
Florence: But he doesn’t know the territory!
VOS: Favourite song.
Florence: My White Knight. But I also loved the Lida Rose, Will I Ever Tell You number that Marion sings with the Quartet.
VOS: What’s your best memory of your first experience and what do you hope the VOS THEATRE production will bring.
Florence: The excitement of performing for the first time in a lead role and my father bringing roses to me at the end of the performance that Mum & Dad came to. Also the people I met while working on that show, many of whom I still see around town and are still numbered amongst my friends.
So many things have changed in community theatre in the past 35 years. Our set the first time around was not fully completed until the end of the first weekend. It was always a surprise to come out each night and see what had been added since the night before. I know that the current VOS Theatre production will be a warm, loving portrayal of a wonderfully written show that is an absolute classic. That it will be a smoother, slicker production with wonderful costumes, a terrific set, inspired direction, terrific performances and brilliant music. Community theatre has evolved in the last couple decades.
It’s the kind of show that you come out humming the songs and feeling great – a really marvelous night out.
Jill Baker – The Music Maker behind The Music Man
Jill Baker 
VOS Theatre caught up with The Music Man’s Orchestra Director Jill Baker for a chat. Here’s what we learned.
VOS THEATRE: You are such an important part of the VOS family. Actors love looking down in the pit and knowing you’ve got them covered and production teams love the fact that you have fun doing what you do and you pull it all together for us. Tell us about leading an orchestra with a group of local musicians.
Jill Baker: Musicals are like a big family pot-luck and I am so honoured to have the best seat in the house! There is so much talent involved in making this all come together from the directors vision to the seamstress’ last stitch to the tuning of the instruments. After seeing the two groups rehearse separately, the day the cast and pit get together to sing through the show is when the magic really begins for me. Everyone plays an important part, I just signal the musical changes to keep the magic alive for the audience.
VOS: Has music always been an important part of your life?
Jill: Absolutely! My family is filled with talent at the piano in bands and choirs and a huge portion of my family sings Barbershop. I’ve been to many countries because of different bands and have proudly worn 3 different military uniforms.
VOS: You’re a talented musician as well as a conductor/orchestra director. What do you play? Where did you learn?
Jill: I’ve pretty much done it all except oboe and bagpipes but only dabbled in a few string instruments. I studied trumpet at the University of Western where I learned so many tricks for all the instruments. Currently I play percussion instruments, primarily the timpani. One of the joys in the arts is that you work with so many people from different experiences and are constantly learning from each other.
VOS: You do a lot of work in the community with theatre companies and with The Concert Band of Cobourg What is it that fuels you?
Jill: People! Even in long rehearsals so many fun things happen to make us all laugh and I love reminiscing together during social times. I also love being so close with the audience with the VOS shows. It’s fun having a chat with them during intermission.
VOS: The Music Man – tell us about the score or about what drives the music in this show.
Jill: This is such a classic musical in many ways but it’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard the song Goodnight Ladies or 76 trombones! The amazing pairing of the melodies creates fun harmonies in Lisa Rose/ Will I everTell you and Goodnight my Someone/76 Trombones. If you don’t leave the show with a bunch of tunes in your head then … Ya got Trouble!
VOS: Your girl is in this production with the VOS! She’s such a lovely addition to the team. Fun right?
Jill: Oh my gosh yes! It’s a bit of surprise but it’s amazing to see her excitement hard work and dedication to catching up with all the choreo. I can’t wait to see her in those cute costumes!
See Jill and her orchestra at the VOS Theatre Production of The Music Man runs from April 25th to May 4th at Victoria Hall in Cobourg.
Reserve them today before they’re gone!
Get Tickets Now or call the box office: 1-855-372-2210
Meet the Cast
The VOS Theatre Production of The Music Man runs from April 25th to May 4th at Victoria Hall in Cobourg.
Get Tickets Now or call the box office: 1-855-372-2210
Friends together again in VOS THEATRE’s The Music Man.
“It’s indecent to meet boys at the footbridge.”
– Zaneeta Shinn, The Music Man.
The footbridge might be scandalous but the rehearsal hall is just fine for Gemma Varty (Zeneeta Shinn) and Ewan Mireault (Tommy Djilas) in VOS THEATRE’s production of The Music Man.
The show opens in April at Victoria Hall in Cobourg but rehearsals are well underway and these two friends are enjoying the opportunity to sing and dance together once again.
This pair have grown up with the VOS.
From Camelot and Spamalot to Shrek, Chitty and Anne
From wee young thing in her first show (far right Oklahoma!) to showgirl (far left Guys and Dolls).
The VOS Theatre Production of The Music Man runs from April 25th to May 4th at Victoria Hall in Cobourg.
Get Tickets Now or call the box office: 1-855-372-2210
VOS Theatre 