RPS Production of “The Music Man” Takes Center Stage

Students from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools at Rutgers Prep transported audiences to River City with their production of “The Music Man” at Villagers Theatre on March 6, 7, and 8.

The cast delivered memorable performances, bringing the colorful characters of this show to life with confidence and energy. Special recognition goes to our seniors in their final RPS musical: Shaun Bose ’26, Laela Domanski ’26, Clement Lacroix ’26, Nate Lawton ’26, Buyu “Michael” Lyu ’26, and Neil Mistry ’26. Behind the scenes, Jurnee Caldwell ’26 and Andrew Tian ’26 worked with the RPS pit orchestra and Zachary Evans ’26 led our amazing stage crew. Freshmen Anna Chang ’29 and Parker Mitchell ’29 also gave standout performances, underscoring the strong talent among the younger members of the Upper School cast.

Congratulations to all our performers, stage crew, orchestra, and director Anna Espinoza and her production team for their fantastic work bringing Meredith Willson's classic musical comedy to the stage.

Synopsis
There's trouble in River City. The Music Man, Meredith Willson's six-time Tony Award-winning musical, follows Harold Hill, a fast-talking traveling salesman who arrives in River City, Iowa, with a scheme: sell the townspeople instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he has no intention — or ability — to lead. He doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. But when he meets the town librarian, Marian, his plans begin to unravel in the best way. Featuring songs including "Seventy-Six Trombones," "Trouble," "'Til There Was You," "Pickalittle," and "Gary, Indiana," The Music Man is a story for every generation.

Cast
Amari Campolongo, Amelia Aron, Aneesa Khan, Anna Chang, Anvit Khanna, Brad Gu, Buyu Lyu, Clement Lacroix, Dara Odusote, Emma Loscalzo, Emmie Fleming, Inayah Khan, Indra Domanski, Juliana Deyhle, Laela Domanski, Lexi Kamvosoulis, Mackenzie Brown, Madison Perotte, Maxi Krumholz, Micah Stowe, Milan Williams, Myra Bajaj, Nate Lawton, Naya Jérémie-Brink, Neil Mistry, Parker Mitchell, Rebecca Panacek, Shaunak Bose, Siddharth Ghosh, Sophia Soares, Stella Buyanovsky, Zara Nagabhushana

Stage Crew
Stage managed by Victoria Gu and Zachary Evans
Assistant stage managed by Phoenix Custer and Madeline Ngo

Alefiyah Danish, Ellen Albert, Zak Baig, Neil Bajaj, Phoenix Custer, Tanmayi Donepudi, Zachary Evans, Sasha Gordon, Benjamin Gu, Victoria Gu, Sophia Lensborn, Maelee Liu, Madeline Ngo, Quinton Ngo, Kayo Odusote, Ashwika Tipparaju, Alexandra Vu, Linfei (Fiona) Zhu

Pit Orchestra
Ammar Baig, Jurnee Caldwell, Ian Chang, Maddox Chu, Andrew Li, Andrew Tian, Mr. Stanley Figaro

Production Staff
Directed and produced by Anna Espinoza; music directed and pit conducted by Jeron Stephens; choreographed by Johsian Martinez; costume design by Anna Espinoza; assistant costumer, graphic design, and copy editing by Maria Printon; front of house management by Ashleigh Morrow Simpson; set design by Ben Menahem; sound design by Chris Mallari; lighting design by Joey Braccino