Auditions are complete and the cast has been chosen for Columbia High School’s annual musical next spring.
“The Music Man” will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. on March 2 and March 3 at the newly renovated Crystelle Ford Auditorium. It will mark the 40th time Columbia High School students have performed a musical at the school.
“Our first production was Lil’ Abner,” Connie Wood, one of the producers, said. “We did Music Man for the first time in 1986 and for the 25th anniversary show in 2003. Joe Wiggins, who is now the pastor at North Columbia Baptist Church, played the lead role of Harold Hill in that production.”
This year, Harold Hill will be played by Lane Smith in the Blue Cast and Harrison Foxworth in the Gold Cast. The CHS musical traditionally has a different cast of lead characters each night.
This year’s leads include Liza Hathorn and La’Keirah Sims as Marian Paroo, Christian McCance as Oliver Hix (quartet) on both nights, Aarion Watts as Olin Britt (quartet) both nights, Kolton Sorrell as Jacey Squires (quartet) and Bryce Ramshur (quarter) on both nights. Marcellus Washburn will be played by Drayton Purvis on both nights. Eulalie Mackecknie Shin will be played by Sawyer McDowell and Carson Lawley, Jacob Brown will play Mayor Shinn for both performances, Mrs. Paroo will be played by Sadie Willis and Kennedy Newson, Winthrop Paroo will be played both nights by Olivia Carney, Alma Hix will be portrayed by Molly Monk both nights and Kayla Hammond is featured as Maude Dunlop both nights. Also performing both nights are Jennifer Stringer as Ethel Toffelmier, Sarah Mason as Mrs. Squires, Brennan Wells as Tommy Djilas, Hannah Watts as Zaneeta Shinn, Gracie Purvis as Amarylis, Cole Bourne as Constable Locke, Christian Spiers as Charlie Cowell, Jacob Brown as salesman No. 1, Jason Ball as salesman No. 2, Brennan Wells as salesman No. 3, Elijah Pilcher as salesman No. 4, Drayton Purvis as salesman No. 5 and Lanna King as newspaper reader No. 1.
The “Kids Band” includes Olivia Carney, Gracie Purvis, Amber Wascomb, Amanin Sheikh, Brennan Wells, Maurice Sims and Kyle Buckley.
The “Pick a Little Ladies/Grecian Urn Dancers” are: Angeni Cahanin, Layla Herbert, Lanna King, Jada Barnes, Sarah King, Abby King, Jessica Morris, Kennedy Browning, Leah Nolan, Elizabeth Sanford, Jade Thompson, Jireh Spencer, Sawyer McDowell, Carson Lawley, Molly Monk, Kayla Hammond, Sarah Mason and Jennifer Stringer.
Dancers include: Madison Phillips, Elizabeth Knight, Joy Magee, Jade Slemaker, Carley Davis, Dasia Allen, Daysha Wilson, Eboni Hayes, Mica Novinski and Abby Morris.
Deputies are Trayvin Woodward, Gavin Fairburn and Zachary Sanders.
Citizens of the River City include (full company): Angeni Cahanin, Layla Herbert, Lanna King, Jada Barnes, Sarah King, Abby King, Jessica Morris, Kennedy Browning, Leah Nolan, Elizabeth Sanford, Jade Thompson, Jireh Spencer, Sawyer McDowell, Carson Lawley, Molly Monk, Kayla Hammond, Sarah Mason, Jennifer Stringer, Olivia Carney, Gracie Purvis, Amber Wascomb, Amani Sheikh, Dahnia Sheikh, Brennan Wells, Maurice Sims, Kyle Buckley, Madison Phillips, Elizabeth Knight, Joy Magee, Jade Slemaker, Carley Davis, Dasia Allen, Daysha Wilson, Eboni Hayes, Mica Novinski, Abby Morris, Trayvin Woodward, Gavin Fairburn, Zachary Sanders, Lane Smith, Harrison Foxworth, Jacob Brown, Jason Ball, Elijah Pilcher, Drayton Purvis, Christian Spiers, Cole Bourne, Liza Hathorn, Lakeriah Sims, Christian McCance, Aarion Watts, Kolton Sorrell, Bryce Ramshur, Sadie Willis, Kennedy Newson and Hannah Watts.
