To counteract a culture rife with tension and division, Deacon Jim Reinhardt is trying to spread joy and hope by bringing Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” to the stage.
Near the end of last summer, he got the itch to put together a show that he hoped would bring people together and build working relationships that could become lasting friendships.
He got a call in August from his sister-in-law, Carolyn Reinhardt, of St. Helena in Minneapolis, who had been talking with a friend, Rose Marquis, of St. Bonaventure in Bloomington, about the idea of producing a play. Deacon Reinhardt had the same idea, and quickly jumped on board. Shortly after that phone conversation, the three formed a partnership. They put together a cast of 46, with performances taking place Feb. 23, 24 and 26 at River Ridge Auditorium in Eagan.
“We started meeting in September,” said Deacon Reinhardt, 63, a father of 10 who belongs to Holy Family in St. Louis Park with his wife, Nadine, and who ministers as a deacon at Nativity of Mary in Bloomington. “We quickly decided we were going to do a musical. And, we quickly decided on ‘(The) Music Man.’”
The three directors liked the wholesome story line, and that they could use a wide range of ages to fill the roles. Deacon Reinhardt was itching to get back into the director’s chair after helping produce a variety show 17 years ago for People of Praise, an ecumenical Christian lay community in the Twin Cities. This was his chance. It also would rekindle a lifelong passion.
“I have always loved musicals — always,” he said. “Since I saw my first one with my mom.”
Deacon Reinhardt and Nadine have tried to instill that love of musicals in their children. It worked. Two of their 10 are in this production, along with two of their 24 grandchildren.
Other families have multiple members participating. Carolyn Reinhardt’s husband, Bill, plays one of the lead roles, Harold Hill, a con man who comes to a small Midwestern town posing as a marching band organizer and leader to sell instruments and uniforms to the people. Bill and Carolyn also have four of their five children in the play. Marquis, a mother of five, has three children in the production.
The Reinhardt involvement goes further. Nadine, who has a college degree in costume design and is a sewing expert, made the costumes. She had help, but still did “tons” of work, Deacon Reinhardt said. “It has been nice doing (the production) with Nadine. That has been a plus.”
The starting point for getting the production off the ground was finding people to play the two lead roles. Deacon Reinhardt said several talented men and women tried out for the roles, making it a difficult selection process. Bill Reinhardt was picked to play Harold Hill, and the female lead — Marian Paroo — went to Kristin Schmitz.
The production is sponsored by People of Praise. All three directors, Bill Reinhardt and Schmitz are members, as are many others in the cast. Deacon Reinhardt said practicing up to six days a week over seven weeks was a big push for the cast, but cast members responded enthusiastically.
“People are having a blast,” Deacon Reinhardt said. “Everyone that I’ve talked to said they love practice. It’s just fun work.”
It’s also prayerful. Every practice begins with prayer, the deacon said, and there is a focused effort “to glorify God.” Although the play itself is not religious, he said he believes the wholesome themes will warm the hearts of those who come and see it.
“I’m sure the audience will be delighted,” he said. “It’s definitely, I think, a beacon in our dark world.”
For more information about the production, visit musicman.popservants.org.
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