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'''The Music Man''' is a 1957 musical comedy by Meredith Willson. It is unusual in that the music, lyrics, and book were all written by the same person. It is set in "River City," Iowa<ref>A fictionalized version of Willson's childhood home town, Mason City, Iowa</ref> in 1912. It is a light-hearted, "feel-good" musical (in marked contrast to 1957's ''West Side Story.'') Brooks Atkinson's opening-night review made much of Willson's Iowa background, saying "Mr. Willson’s roots are not in Broadway show business but in Americana.".<ref>Atkinson, Brooks (1957): "The Music Man. Robert Preston Becomes Lyric Stage Star in Meredith Willson's Revel." ''The New York Times, December 29, 1957, p. 53</ref> It ran for 1375 performances.<ref name=ibdb>[http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=2664 The Music Man], Internet Broadway Database]</ref>   

'''The Music Man''' is a 1957 musical comedy by Meredith Willson. It is unusual in that the music, lyrics, and book were all written by the same person. It is set in "River City," Iowa<ref>A fictionalized version of Willson's childhood home town, Mason City, Iowa</ref> in 1912. It is a light-hearted, "feel-good" musical (in marked contrast to 1957's ''West Side Story.'') Brooks Atkinson's opening-night review made much of Willson's Iowa background, saying "Mr. Willson’s roots are not in Broadway show business but in Americana.".<ref>Atkinson, Brooks (1957): "The Music Man. Robert Preston Becomes Lyric Stage Star in Meredith Willson's Revel." ''The New York Times, December 29, 1957, p. 53</ref> It ran for 1375 performances.<ref name=ibdb>[http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=2664 The Music Man], Internet Broadway Database</ref>   

The plot revolves around Harold Hill, the "music man" of the title, who comes to town to organize a boy's marching band; a central theme of the musical is the importance of marching bands and the pride they inspire in their members and in the town.

The plot revolves around Harold Hill, the "music man" of the title, who comes to town to organize a boy's marching band; a central theme of the musical is the importance of marching bands and the pride they inspire in their members and in the town.

The song "Till There Was You" has become a standard, and was recorded by the Beatles on one of their early albums.

The song "Till There Was You" has become a standard, and was recorded by the Beatles on one of their early albums.

''The Music Man'' is the only Broadway musical to feature a barbershop quartet. An integral part of the plot, they are not initially a quartet, but four members of the school board who are always sniping and bickering. As soon as Harold Hill coaxes them to sing one single, perfect chord together, they are thrilled with the sound they have produced. They are now, literally, in harmony. Harold Hill predicts, correctly, that henceforth they will never be seen out of each others' company.

''The Music Man'' is the only Broadway musical to feature a barbershop quartet. An integral part of the plot, they are not initially a quartet, but four members of the school board who are always sniping and bickering. As soon as Harold Hill coaxes them to sing one single, perfect chord together, they are thrilled with the sound they have produced. They are now, literally, in harmony. Harold Hill predicts, correctly, that henceforth they will never be seen out of each other's company.

In 1962, ''The Music Man'' was translated into an unusually faithful screen adaptation, starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones and directed by Morton da Costa, mostly from the original Broadway production.<ref name=ibdb/><ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056262/combined The Music Man], Internet Movie Database]</ref>

In 1962, ''The Music Man'' was translated into an unusually faithful screen adaptation, starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones and directed by Morton da Costa, mostly from the original Broadway production.<ref name=ibdb/><ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056262/combined The Music Man], Internet Movie Database]</ref>