The Music Man Character Breakdown
MALES:
HAROLD HILL: (Baritone, A Flat to High F) A smooth talking con man and traveling
salesman with plenty of charm, who tries Iowa after saturating Illinois; convinces
townspeople they need a boys’ band to keep them out of trouble. He falls for Marian, &
kisses her on stage; does need some movement ability, & sings “Trouble”, “Seventy-six
Trombones,” “The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl,” “Marian the Librarian,” “Shipoopi,”(Dance
only) “Till There Was You,” & “Goodnight My Someone” reprise.
MARCELLUS WASHBURN: (Tenor, G to High A) Former con man and friend to
Harold Hill who now lives in River City; becomes fast friends with Harold again and
helps him learn about the town, tries to help Harold get out of town after the con; his is a
comic role; kisses Ethel Tofflemeier whom he is dating. Should have some dance
movement ability, and sings “The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl,” and “Shipoopi,” also the
chorus numbers.
MAYOR GEORGE SHINN: (Non-Singing or Chorus Only) The Mayor of River City,
self-important, blustery, pompous, not terribly intelligent. Gets lots of things wrong!
Listens to his wife. Protective of daughter, Zaneeta, whom he thinks is dating the wrong
boy in town. Takes himself seriously, but comes across funny. Sings: Chorus Numbers.
WINTHROP PAROO: ( Alto, C – E Flat) Marian’s little brother, cute as a button. Does
not talk much because of a lisp and missing his dead father. Learns to trust again and is a chatterbox by the end of the show. Sings: “The Wells Fargo Wagon,” and “Gary,
Indiana,” plus some Chorus Numbers.
BARBERSHOP QUARTET (Members of the School Board)
OLIN BRITT: (Bass) Editor of the Gazette, Member of the School Board turned into
Barbershop Quartet, a bickering business man until he is united with the others by Harold
Hill, and learns not only to sing in harmony, but to behave in harmony. Sings: “Sincere,”
“It’s You,” “Goodnight Ladies,” “Lida Rose” and all the Chorus numbers.
OLIVER HIX: (Baritone) Banker, Member of the School Board turned Barbershop
Quartet, another bickering business man until he is united by the others by Harold Hill
and begins to sing and act in harmony with them. Married to Alma. Sings “Sincere,”
“Goodnight Ladies,” “It’s You,” “Lida Rose,” and all Chorus numbers.
JACEY SQUIRES: (High Tenor) Owner of the livery stable, Member of the School
Board turned Barbershop Quartet, another bickering business man until he is united with
the others by Harold Hill, and sings and acts in harmony. Married to Mrs. Squires. Sings:
“Sincere,” “Goodnight Ladies,”, “It’s You,” “Lida Rose,” and all Chorus Numbers
EWART DUNLOP: (Second Tenor) Owner of the General Store, Member of the School
Board turned into Barbershop Quartet, another bickering business man until he is united
with the others by Harold Hill and sings and acts in harmony. Married to Maud Dunlop.
Sings: “Sincere,” “Goodnight Ladies,” It’s You,” “Lida Rose” and all Chorus Numbers.
CHARLIE COWELL: A rival traveling salesman, first seen on the train at the start of
the show, he returns to town to warn them about Harold and hopefully make himself a
hero and earn sales himself. Kisses Marian onstage. Sings “Rock Island” and Finale. (We
may also use him as a River City Townsperson in disguise.)
TOMMY DJILAS: A teenager from the “wrong side of town” who starts out as a
trouble maker, but falls for Zaneeta, the Mayor’s daughter, and encouraged by Harold,
begins dating her secretly. He also becomes the assistant leader of the Boys’ Band, thanks to Harold giving him confidence and trust.
CONSTABLE LOCKE: The town Sheriff. Sings the Chorus Numbers
TRAIN CONDUCTOR: He is on in the first scene with lines, and then will become a
River City Townsperson for the rest of the show.
TRAVELING SALESMEN: Salesmen on the train that warn each other about what
they’ve heard about Harold Hill. None of them have ever met him, but all know about his
reputation. They do not realize that he is there among them on the train and can hear
everything they are saying. They have a syncopated song in the beginning of the show –
no singing, but patterned to sound like a moving train. Very clever. Sing: “Rock Island”
(NOTE: The Traveling Salesmen will become Townspeople once Act 1, Scene 1 is over.)
RIVER CITY BOYS/TEENS: These are the dancing and singing ensemble in all the
numbers that the townspeople are in with the addition of “Seventy-six Trombones” and
“Marian the Librarian.” Featured Dancers will come from this group. Also sing: “Iowa
stubborn,” “Trouble,” “The Wells Fargo Wagon,” “Shipoopi,” & Finale.
RIVER CITY TOWNSPERSONS: These are small town folks who are proud of their
town. They are of all ages, sizes and shapes. They will be part of a “family” and assigned children. They sing all the chorus numbers “Iowa Stubborn,” “Trouble,” “Seventy-six Trombones,” “The Wells Fargo Wagon,” “Shipoopi” & “Finale”. Note: Some of the Men will also be Traveling Salesmen and sing “Rock Island”
FEMALES:
MARIAN PAROO:(Soprano, Low G to High A) Daughter to Mrs. Paroo and sister to
Winthrop, she is the stuffy, conceited librarian and piano teacher in town. She is very
learned and defends the “questionable” books that are in the library. She was close to her
deceased father’s friend, Mr. Madison, and the town believes that she had an affair with
him. After all, he left the library to the town, but all the books to her! There was no
affair, and he was like an uncle to her. At first, after meeting Harold Hill, she dislikes him
but then gets to know him better, and we see a transformation in her while she falls in
love. She comes to realize that he really does want to make a difference, and changes
things in the town. They end up together. She has stage kisses with Charlie Cowell and
with Harold Hill. Does need some dance movement ability, & Sings: “Piano Lesson,”
“Goodnight My Someone,” “My White Knight,” “Shipoopi,”(Dance only) “Will I Ever
Tell You,” “Till There Was You,” & “Seventy-six Trombones” reprise.
MRS. PAROO: (Mezzo Soprano A Flat to E Flat) Widowed Irish mother to Marian and
Winthrop, she speaks with an Irish accent. She is a sweet, cheerful homemaker who
wants the best for everyone. She gives Marian a lot of advice about how to find a man.,
and dotes on Winthrop. She falls for Harold’s con. Always keeps her hands busy. Sings:
“Piano Lesson,” and most of the chorus numbers.
EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN (Alto, D to D) Mayor Shinn’s wife, she is
definitely a society lady, knows everyone in town, struts about like a peacock and is
somewhat snooty. A Member of every auxiliary organization in town, she has some
strange ideas and doesn’t think she looks as ridiculous as she really is. Keeps her husband in line. Leads the “Ladies Dance” group in the Grecian Urn. Sings: “Pickalittle,” “It’s You,” and all Chorus Numbers.
AMARYLLIS (Alto, C to E) She is the young piano student of Marian’s, and likes
Winthrop, but doesn’t understand why he won’t talk to her. The actress does not
necessarily have know how to play the piano. Sings: “Piano Lesson,” and Chorus
Numbers.
ZANEETA SHINN: Mayor Shinn & Eulalie’s daffy teenage daughter, she has a crush
on the town “bad boy” Tommy. She is not rebellious, but is learning to stand up for
herself. Very cute and feminine, she is a dancer, especially in “Marian the Librarian” and
“Seventy-six Trombones”. Also can sing in Chorus Numbers.
GRACIE SHINN: She is the Mayor’s younger daughter, and somewhat of a tomboy and
a bit devilish. Sings Chorus Numbers.
ETHEL TOFFELMIER: She is jolly and friendly, and plays the player piano. She is
dating Marcellus and has a stage kiss with him. She does gossip with the other ladies, and
is one of the Pickalittle ladies and Grecian Urn performers. Dances in “Shipoopi” and
sings “Pickalittle,” “It’s You,” and Chorus Numbers.
ALMA HIX: The wife of Oliver Hix, she is a gossipy friend of Eulalie and the other
“Pickalittle” women who also perform the Grecian Urn. Sings: “Pickalittle,” “It’s You,”
and Chorus Numbers.
MAUD DUNLOP: The wife of Ewart Dunlop, and another of Eulalie’s gossipy friends
who are the “Pickalittle” women and perform in Grecian Urn. Sings: “Pickalittle,” “It’s
You,” and Chorus Numbers.
MRS. SQUIRES: The wife of Jacey Squires, she is also one of Eulalie’s gossipy friends
who are the main “Pickalittle” women and perform in Grecian Urn. Sings: “Pickalittle,”
“It’s You,” and Chorus Numbers.
RIVER CITY GIRLS/TEENS: Of all ages, they are the singing and dancing ensemble,
in all numbers that the townspeople are in, and especially in “Seventy-six Trombones,”
and “Marian the Librarian.” Featured Dancers will come from this group. Also Sing in
Chorus Numbers.
RIVER CITY TOWNSPERSONS: These are the small town folks who are proud of
their town. They are women of all ages, sizes and appearance. Some of these women will
also be in “Pickalittle” along with Eulalie’s friends. All will be part of a “family” and
have children assigned to them. All will sing: “Iowa Stubborn,” “Trouble,” “The Wells
Fargo Wagon,” “Shipoopi,” “It’s You,” reprise, & “Finale”
All ethnicities are encouraged to audition. Age ranges are approximate to characters but may not reflect actual age of the actor.