This year, Kings Junior High School will be putting on a production of The Music Man Jr.  The musical follows Charlie Cowell (Bryson Wires) as he desperately tries to expose the musically illiterate traveling salesman Harold Hill (Ryan Dilts).

Directed by Junior High Choir teacher Scott Hayward, the show will open Jan. 26 and run through the 28th.  Hayward said that choosing which musical to put on is no easy task.

“It was a difficult decision to make because at the time we were not sure how many Junior High students were going to want to be involved in drama,” he said.

In the end, Music Man Jr. was exactly the type of show he wanted.

Hayward said, “I decided on the Music Man because it is an American classic in terms of musical theatre and we really wanted to give our students that kind of show this year.”

Music Man Jr. is different from Kings Junior High School musicals in years past.  Instead of featuring students solely from the Junior High School, the show has roles played by students from every building in the Kings Local School District.

Kings High School Freshman Lillian Ashworth, who will play Alma Hix in Music Man Jr., said that there are challenges as well as benefits to such a wide range of ages.

“It is a bit difficult because the little kids don’t learn the dance moves that well, but it is great to see all of the different ages together,” she said.

Click here to see the complete cast list.

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