Emotions were high as Broadway's starry revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man played its final performance at the Winter Garden Theatre January 15, ending a record-setting, high-grossing run of 46 previews and 373 performances.
After the final curtain call, the production's Tony-winning star Hugh Jackman delivered an emotional thank-you speech, calling out the families of the cast and crew and the audience members—including one particularly passionate fan who had seen the production a staggering 176 times, nearly half of the total performance count. Watch Jackman's full speech above.
Jackman, as Harold Hill, led the revival alongside fellow Tony winners Sutton Foster as Marion Paroo, Shuler Hensley as Marcellus Washburn, Jayne Houdyshell as Mrs. Shinn, and Marie Mullen as Mrs. Paroo. The closing cast also included Mark Linn-Baker as Mayor Shinn, Remy Auberjonois as Charlie Cowell, Gino Cosculluela as Tommy Djilas, Emma Crow as Zaneeta Shinn, Benjamin Pajak as Winthrop, Emily Jewel Hoder as Amaryllis, Garrett Long as Ethel Toffelmier, Linda Mugleston as Alma Hix, Jessica Sheridan as Maud Dunlop, Rema Webb as Mrs. Squires, Tony nominee Phillip Boykin as Olin Britt, Eddie Korbich as Jacey Squires, Daniel Torres as Ewart Dunlop, Nicholas Ward as Oliver Hix, Lance Roberts as Constable Locke, and Max Clayton as the standby for Harold Hill.
READ: Hugh Jackman and Shuler Hensley on Reuniting to Make 'Trouble' Onstage in The Music Man
Rounding out the ensemble were Nick Alvino, Jordan Beall, Lauren Blackman, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Audrina Brudner, Michael Cash, William Thomas Colin, Kammie Crum, Aydin Eyikan, Ethen Green-Younger, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Amanda LaMotte, Kayla LaVine, Devin Miles Lugo, Drew Minard, Sean Montgomery, Kennedy Pitney, Tanner Quirk, Sherisse Springer, Mitchell Tobin, and Branch Woodman, with Maria Briggs, Richard Gatta, Daniel Patrick Russell, Ann Sanders, Kathy Voytko, and Ryan Worsing serving as swings.
The Music Man, which features music and lyrics by Meredith Willson and a book by Willson and Franklin Lacey, tells the story of what happens when con artist Harold Hill arrives in River City and falls in love with the straight-laced librarian, Marian. It first opened on Broadway December 19, 1957, at the Majestic Theatre. A 2000 revival played the Neil Simon Theatre.
Jerry Zaks helmed the revival, which also featured choreography by Warren Carlyle, sets and costumes by Santo Loquasto, sound design by Scott Lehrer, lighting by Brian MacDevitt, vocal and dance arrangements by David Chase, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, and music direction by Patrick Vaccariello. Thomas Recktenwald was production stage manager.
Kate Horton was named producer following the departure of Scott Rudin, who announced his intentions to step down from his theatrical ventures as allegations of workplace abuse and intimidation came to light. Also leading the producing team were Barry Diller and David Geffen.
Shuler Hensley and company of The Music Man
Marie Mullen and company of The Music Man
Benjamin Pajak and company of The Music Man
Nicholas Ward, Daniel Torres, and Eddie Korbich
Company of The Music Man
Hugh Jackman and company of The Music Man
Hugh Jackman and company of The Music Man
Sutton Foster and company of The Music Man
Hugh Jackman and company of The Music Man
