TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Topeka Civic Theater’s newest show ended this weekend.
The curtain fell on The Music Man at the Topeka Civic Theater.
“We started all of this production in mid-May and were just about to get out of our seclusion that was closed for a full year,” said Shannon Reily, Artistic Director.
“I dreamed of a show that was always bigger than life, and thanks to this line-up, this orchestra, this crew, they exceeded everything we had hoped for.”
Before the performers could make that final bow, they had to put in a lot of work.
“Early in rehearsals you think, at least I thought, the premiere will never come here because of the long rehearsal process and then we’ll be here on our last day.”
“It’s night after night, five days a week, until six days a week, until it becomes the performance week itself, so they really put their entire summer into this production.”
The cast started rehearsing without face masks, but when COVID cases increased again they had to make some adjustments.
“It took a couple of nights to figure out what the best situation on the face would be so the audience could still understand us and we could still be safe for ourselves and the audience so it was an adjustment but when we got there “It was still the same show and the audience is still enjoying it.”
The Music Man was able to bring the music and the audience back into the theater.
“A lot of people who walk out of the theater don’t just hum the music, they say it’s the best show they’ve ever seen and it just feels really good, the theater for such a warm, engaging, wonderful Open a musical of the Americana type. “
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