CEDAR CITY — Few musicals capture the charm of small-town America quite like The Music Man. Meredith Willson‘s classic follows charismatic traveling salesman Harold Hill, who convinces the citizens of River City, Iowa, to purchase instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he never intends to organize. His carefully crafted scheme begins to unravel when he unexpectedly falls in love with the town’s skeptical librarian, Marian Paroo. Filled with memorable songs, lovable characters, and plenty of humor, it’s easy to see why this musical has remained a family favorite for generations.
American Crossroads Theatre‘s production at the Heritage Center Theater in Cedar City embraces that charm from beginning to end. Co-directors Desiree Whitehead and Chrystine Potter Hyatt, along with music director Kris Barber, have created an energetic production that keeps the audience smiling throughout the evening.
The fun begins before the curtain even rises as eight traveling salesmen roam through the audience, interacting with patrons before launching into the iconic opening number, “Rock Island.” It immediately immerses the audience into the world of River City and sets the lively tone for the rest of the show.
Jared Davis commands the stage as Harold Hill. From his first entrance, his charisma is undeniable, and his comedic timing keeps the audience laughing throughout the evening. Davis makes every interaction feel genuine, whether he’s charming Marian, convincing the townspeople to trust him, or navigating his run-ins with the mayor. His performances of “Ya Got Trouble” and “Seventy-Six Trombones” showcase both his strong vocals and commanding stage presence, making it easy to believe why the citizens of River City fall under his spell.
Rachel Cox delivers a performance that only grows stronger as the evening progresses. Her finest moments come during Act Two as Marian passionately defends Hill against the traveling salesmen and Mayor Shinn. Cox’s emotional commitment makes the moment completely believable, and moments later, her chemistry with Davis shines during the footbridge scene. Her heartfelt rendition of “Till There Was You” was easily my favorite musical performance of the night.
Trey Patterson is wonderfully entertaining as Mayor Shinn. His portrayal perfectly captures the blustering politician whose opinion of Hill changes with the slightest shift in circumstance. Kara Lund matches him well as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, using expressive physical comedy and excellent comic timing to generate plenty of laughs.
One of the evening’s biggest highlights comes from the River City School Board quartet. Taylor Williams, Jalen Hyatt, Ryan Olsen, and Nathan Brenner transform from constantly bickering school board members into an exceptionally polished barbershop quartet. These roles are often overlooked, but this group delivered beautiful harmonies with remarkable precision and became one of the musical highlights of the production.
Dustin Davis brings infectious energy to Marcellus Washburn. His natural charisma and comedic delivery make every appearance enjoyable, and he confidently leads the ensemble during “Shipoopi,” one of the show’s most entertaining production numbers.
The ensemble deserves equal recognition. From the youngest performers to the veteran cast members, everyone remained fully engaged throughout the production. Their enthusiasm was contagious and helped create a vibrant River City that felt alive from start to finish.
Because I attended the preview performance, a few technical issues still remain to be polished. There were occasional microphone cue problems, music that started late, and a few forgotten lines. What impressed me most, however, was how effortlessly the cast covered those moments. At one point, Jared Davis casually quipped, “Let’s take that again from the top,” completely in character. Several people in my group assumed it was written into the script, a testament to both his quick thinking and the cast’s confidence.
Most of my critiques focus behind the scenes rather than on the performers. During several numbers, the orchestra and ensemble occasionally overpowered soloists or spoken dialogue. “Pick-a-Little (Talk-a-Little)” was the clearest example. The ensemble sounded wonderful, but many of the song’s funniest one-liners were lost because the principal microphones weren’t balanced well enough.
I was also surprised by the minimal scenic design. The production relied primarily on projected backdrops with only a few physical set pieces. While most of the projections effectively established the various locations, a few felt less convincing. The library projection, for example, looked more like the grand library from Beauty and the Beast than a small-town Iowa library. Additional practical scenery would have helped create a richer visual environment.
Even with those technical concerns, American Crossroads Theatre has assembled an exceptionally talented cast that delivers a thoroughly enjoyable evening of theatre. The audience was clearly entertained, and the joy coming from the stage was impossible to miss. The July setting of the story pairs perfectly with the production’s patriotic touches, including the American flag and a festive projected fireworks finale that leaves the audience with a smile.
American Crossroads Theatre’s The Music Man is a fun, feel-good musical packed with strong performances, memorable songs, and infectious energy. The preview-night technical issues will likely be ironed out quickly, leaving behind an entertaining production that the whole family can enjoy.
The Music Man runs at the Heritage Center Theater in Cedar City through August 8, 2026, with evening performances at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday matinees at 2:00 p.m. Tickets range from $20–34 and can be purchased here: https://axrtheater.org/.