(Posted Feb. 22, 2018)
Oh, they are throwing a picnic.
One that takes you back to River City.
The small town of River City, Iowa, is the setting for one of musical theatre’s most beloved family events, “The Music Man.” Coming in March, a local production will star students from West Jefferson’s high School, middle school and Norwood Elementary.
As part of their musical journey, the drama students of West Jefferson schools want to take you back 100-plus years to experience small-town Iowa with them.
For the second year in a row, the district’s musical production will have a dinner-theatre component on opening night. The West Jefferson High School auditeria will become River City’s own Madison Picnic Park, circa 1910, on March 8.
The dinner theater experience begins at 6 p.m., followed by the show. The menu includes a choice of fried chicken or BBQ ribs, with a gluten-free/vegetarian option available upon request. Ann & Tony’s Restaurant is catering the meal; O’Charley’s Restaurant is donating dessert.
Entrée selections must be made when ordering tickets. The dinner-musical package is $25 per person, with a child portion available for $20. These tickets are pre-sale only. According to director Rachel Armas, tickets are going fast. Reservations can be paid with cash or check at the high school office.
Pre-show festivities will include a variety of tasty treats, celebrity servers, a balloon animal artist, face-painting, and a special appearance by the Music Men of London Barbershop Quartet.
Other performances of “The Music Man’ will take place at 7 p.m. March 9 and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 10. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Order tickets by calling (614) 879-7681 or emailing westjeffdrama@gmail.com. Tickets for the Friday and Saturday performances are also available at the door.
This is the third show under Armas’s direction, with the first two –”Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ and “Beauty & the Beast”–earning rave reviews.
