#78: The Music Man

March 23, 2026
  • Performances: 1,375.
  • Open / Close: December 19, 1957 – April 15, 1961
  • Theater: Played at the Majestic Theatre for nearly three years before transferring to the Broadway Theatre for the completion of its run.
  • Tony Awards: Nominated for 9, won 5 (or 6 – see Fun Fact below). The production picked up Best Musical and Robert Preston won as did Barbara Cook. As mentioned in the podcast, David Burns won for playing the mayor, a role that involves virtually no singing.
  • Fun Facts: Somewhat weirdly, Sam Knapp was nominated for a Best Stage Technician award in 1958, which he did not win. However, he won the award the next season for “The Music Man,” meaning that the production technically won 6 Tony Awards, one just came a year late!

Podcast

Happy April Fool’s Day! Sure, “The Music Man” included some incredible songs, featured one of the most career-defining performances in Broadway history, and captured a unique clash of squeaky-clean Midwestern living with the machinations of a cynical con-man. But it also has what I would call the only April Fool’s style prank at the core of its plot: Prof. Howard Hill’s “Think Method” leading a whole town to believe they could simply think their way into musical proficiency.

When it comes to proficiency in musical history, there are few people I’d rather talk to than “Dr. Broadway,” Kristin Stultz Pressley, Ph.D., who is literally writing the book on Golden Age musicals. “The Music Man” is arguably the shiniest of those celebrated stalwarts as it’s been produced on stages from elementary schools to colleges, by regional and community theater companies around the country for decades. 

If you’ve been involved in theater in any way, you’ve seen, worked on or been in “The Music Man.”

I’m sure you’ll love this in-depth conversation thanks to Dr. Broadway’s extensive knowledge and lively way of translating history into digestible info.

Here is one of many iconic scenes in the show that was captured so well in the movie version of “The Music Man.”
Same scene in the most recent revival starring Hugh Jackman.
The movie trailer discussed in the podcast.
Barbara Cook (with a few guests) performs songs from the show, giving a sense of what she would have been on stage.
Barbara Cook discusses “The Music Man” back in 2000.
A great dive into the unique music that animates the characters of “The Music Man.”
Sure, the subject of conversation seems crazily old fashioned, but the innovation of this scene hasn’t aged at all.
Shirley Jones talks about the choice of Robert Preston versus Frank Sinatra for the movie.
Wow – the production values of this clip are wacky. It’s fun to see Robert Preston still vibrant and fun in his later years.