This year, Tenafly High School’s theater troupe took on the ambitious task of bringing Meredith Willson’s The Music Man to life. The show opened on Thursday, May 2, and ran through Saturday, May 4. While many enjoyed the final production, copious amounts of behind-the-scenes effort went into making this show a success.
Initially, the cast wasn’t keen on doing The Music Man. Many students were unfamiliar with the show and were hoping for a more contemporary musical. “But once they found out how wonderful the show is, with the script, music, dancing, and essentially how fun it truly was, everyone came to love it,” Mr. Sam Ahn-Cooper, the THS drama teacher, said.
Every show here at THS requires hours of preparation and rehearsal, especially when it comes to Tenafly’s musical production as there are many different facets that go into making the show run smoothly. With the musicals, there is a live orchestra, conducted by Mr. Millar, that plays all the musical scores in real-time, a tech crew who is on top of fine-tuning the details of the show, and of course the talented cast who puts hours of practice into their lines. All of these components are extremely important to the show, but having them come together cohesively can be a struggle.
“It was hard,” Ahn-Cooper said. “We were doing tech rehearsals at the same time as stage rehearsals. The tech crew was painting and building the set at the same time the cast was preparing.”
This overlapping of tasks led to a series of challenges, from coordinating schedules to managing stage space. At times, it felt like a juggling act, with everyone trying to avoid stepping on each other’s toes—literally and figuratively.
One of the most memorable scenes, “Seventy-Six Trombones,” required meticulous choreography and precise timing from everyone involved. The ensemble practiced for hours to perfect the number, ensuring that each step and note was in harmony. “It’s a showstopper, so we wanted to make sure we got it perfect,” said Sara Hau (’25), one of the cast members. “There were times when we would run the scene dozens of times in a row, just to make sure everyone had it down.”
Despite the intense preparation, opening night was not without its hiccups. Right before curtains opened, several of the actors’ microphones malfunctioned, leading to moments in the production where lines were barely audible or where all that could be heard was static.
However, despite the challenges, the show was a resounding success. The audience still enjoyed opening night, and two of the following three nights were sold out. The crowd was captivated by the vibrant set, the lively music, and the heartfelt performances. The energy in the auditorium was palpable, with parents, friends, and community members cheering on the students.
