New Hampshire's 'Best Musical Actor' stars in Streetcar Company's 'The Music Man' April 8 10

LACONIA — Rodney Martell, named Best Actor in a Musical at the 2010 NH Theatre Awards, stars in The Streetcar Company’s spring musical, “The Music Man,” at the Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium April 8, 9 and 10. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. on Sunday.

A personal trainer at the Laconia Athletic & Swim Club, Martell was honored at the NH Theatre Awards for his portrayal of Toad in The Winni Players’ “A Year With Frog and Toad,” presented at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in May 2010.

Martell has also appeared as Jesus in "Godspell" and Capt. Albert Lennox in "The Secret Garden" for the Concord Community Players; as Ritchie in "A Chorus Line" for On Stage Productions; The Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz" for Tabula Rasa Theatre Company; and Max Detweiler in "The Sound of Music" for Franklin Footlight Theatre. With The Streetcar Company, he has performed as Freddy Eynsford Hill in "My Fair Lady" and Simon Stride in "Jekyll & Hyde."

"Getting involved in community theatre has been very uplifting on many levels," said Martell. "From my first audition with Streetcar, I have been blessed to have built lasting friendships and to share the stage with so many talented people. These are your friends and neighbors, giving their time and energy for the benefit of the community. It's a beautiful thing."

"The Music Man," a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson based on a story by Willson and Franklin Laceyhe plot concerns con man Harold Hill, played by Martell, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with the cash. In River City, Iowa, prim librarian Marian Paroo (Elaine Reidel) sees through him, but when Hill helps her younger brother overcome his fear of social interactions due to his lisp, Marian begins to fall in love with Harold. Harold, in turn falling for Marian, risks being caught to win her.

The Music Man features a number of unforgettable songs, including "Seventy Six Trombones," “Till There Was You,” "Rock Island," and "Marian The Librarian." Streetcar Company president J Alward is directing “The Music Man” with choreography by Erin Lovett Sherman, musical direction by Johan Andersen, and music performance by Phil Breton. Jordan Tankard is technical director and the show is produced by Matt Demko.

The cast also features Scott Alward (Marcellus), Ginny Barunas (Mrs Paroo), Johan Andersen (Mayor Shinn), Patte Sarausky (Mrs Shinn), Alexa Dembiec (Amaryllis), Braeden Alward (Tommy) , Kayla Zarella (Zaneeta Shinn) , Cecilia Zarella (Gracie Shinn), Riley Alward (Winthrop Paroo ), Doug Embree (Constable Locke/Conductor) and Matt Demko (Charlie Cowell).

Supporting cast and choral ensemble include Larry Thompson , Angelo Gentile , Karl Kimball , Peter Ayer , Lena Luongo , Marcia Trimm , Carolyn Desrosiers , Erin Lovett Sherman , Dave Rowson, Saphaedra Renee, Melissa Bigler, Allie Dennis, Myles, Camryn Dembiec, Kaitlin Cuddy-Egbert, Rebekah Roy , Val Hammond Kimball, Ila Bartensen, Luke Riedel, Zeke Riedel, Dawn Thomas, Sharleigh Thomson, and Alex Thomas.

Tickets for “The Music Man” are on sale at Greenlaw’s Music in Laconia and Innisfree Bookstore in Meredith. Further information may be found at www.streetcarcompany.com.

CAPTION: Award-winning community theatre performer Rodney Martell stars as con man Harold Hill in The Streetcar Company’s presentation of “The Music Man,” to be performed at the Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium on April 8, 9, and 10. Martell was recently named Best Actor in a Musical at the New Hampshire Theatre Awards. (Photo by Erin Fitzmaurice for The Streetcar Company)