This beloved musical classic tells the tale of the fast-talking salesman Harold Hill as he arrives in River City with plans to charm the town and make a quick buck. What happens next takes the entire town by surprise, especially himself and Marian, the town’s uptight librarian.
In 1957, The Music Man became a hit on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for 1,375 performances. The cast album won the first Grammy Award for “Best Musical Theater Album” and spent 245 weeks on the Billboard charts. The show’s success led to numerous Broadway and West End revivals, a popular 1962 film adaptation, and a 2003 television adaptation.
Nick Miller of Concord stars as Harold Hill and is thrilled to be sharing the stage with his teenage daughter, Sage, as Gracie Shinn, along with other Concord residents Tim Daughters as Oliver Hix, a member of the Barbershop Quartet, and Charlie Layton in the Kids’ Ensemble.  Sudbury residents are Mike Lague as Olin Britt, another member of the Barbershop Quartet, and Barry Ahern as a Salesman and member of the Adult Ensemble. 
Other local residents include Chuck Holleman of Carlisle as Mayor Shinn, Andrew Swansburg of Groton as Marcellus Washburn, Laurie Penney of Acton as Maud Dunlap, and Michael Govang of Ayer as Salesman Charlie Cowell. The Adult Ensemble includes Erika Wilde of Maynard along with Bedford residents Alexia Towne and Tahlia Butler as members of the Teen Ensemble.
Meredith Willson was inspired by his boyhood in Mason City, Iowa, to write and compose his first musical, The Music Man, and began developing this theme in his 1948 memoir, And There I Stood With My Piccolo.  The character Marian Paroo was inspired by Marian Seeley of Provo, Utah, who met Willson during World War II, when Seeley was a medical records librarian.
Join The Concord Players as they travel back to 1912 Iowa on this wonderful musical adventure suitable for all ages, including the memorable production numbers “Till There was You,” “Marian the Librarian,” “Wells Fargo Wagon,” and “Seventy-Six Trombones.”
With Musical direction by Kathryn Denney of Marlborough, Stage direction by Paul Murphy, and Choreography by Brad Robinson, you won’t want to miss this full-scale musical production with a live 14-piece orchestra and talented cast of 34 adults, teens and children.
Performances: April 26, 27, May 3, 4, 10 & 11 at 8:00 pm with Matinees on April 28 & May 5 at 2:00 pm.
For Tickets and more information: concordplayers.org or call 978-369-2990

In nearly 400 years, Concord has never named a public building  after a person of color  and an attempt to break that pattern is challenging the community to reveal itself.
For well over a year now, a grassroots effort to name a newly constructed middle school after a Black, native daughter and heroine of the town Ellen Garrison, continues to spark discussion , controversy and charges of bias and historical erasure.
What seemed like an easy win  for elevating BIPOC  history and citizens in the town was defeated by a slim vote of 2 yes, 2 no and 1 abstain at the Concord  School Committee this February.
The town’s DEI commission,  with the support of the Select Board , the LWV and a growing group of grassroots volunteers, insisted the issue go before Town Meeting to let the entire community weigh in.
Weeks of letter writing, public hearings , campaigning and emerging serious discussions about what this means for the community will come to a head at the Concord Town meeting on Monday, April 29 at 7pm.
Why Ellen Garrison? She is a Concordian and an Educator. She was a Patriot who stood for Concord’s founding values of freedom, democracy, and liberty for all. These are the same values that helped spark the birth of our great Nation.
She was a Freedom Fighter. As a product of Concord’s public schools, she contributed to our town’s rich history as a woman...educator... freedom fighter, and... champion of civil rights. Ellen stood up for others her entire life. It’s time for us to stand up for her. We can honor her legacy for today’s generations. And every generation that follows.
This is a chance to acknowledge — with an institution we hold dear — our collective respect for a Black woman, raised and educated in Concord, who excelled in academics and gave generously to her community and country in the face of insurmountable obstacles.
Additionally, what many are most excited about — what a beautiful opportunity to present Ellen Garrison as a platform for educating and preparing our children about the complexities of our nation’s history and how and why she, though constantly challenged, dedicated her life to the meaning of liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness.
The  story of Ellen Garrison will make  a meaningful impression on all students and families .  The community will  have had Garrison in name and story lodged in their sub-consciousness with Thoreau, Walden, Alcott, and Emerson.
As noted historian  Robert Gross reminds us   “ The past we honor  often shapes the future we desire, and so it is with the proposal to name the new middle school in honor of Concord native and civil rights activist Ellen Garrison
In Ellen Garrison, we can affirm our community’s dedication to the larger American project of inspiring and sustaining the rights and achievements of all our citizens. Let her legacy chart a path to the future.”
To learn more about Ellen Garrison and the movement to name the school in her honor, please go to  https://standupforellen.com/ and join us at Town Meeting April 29 at 7pm CCHS 500 Walden St, Concord MA.
Let’s do this Concord !

CONCORD: The Board of Directors of The Umbrella Arts Center announced today the appointment of Eileen Williston as the Center’s next Executive Director, effective July 1, 2024. Williston, an experienced arts administrator with over 16 years of proven success in nonprofit management, joined the organization in 2020 and currently serves as The Umbrella’s Deputy Director.
“Eileen has made the arts the center of her life’s work. Her proven track record, strategic vision, and operational expertise, as well as her deep understanding of the arts landscape in our region, make her the perfect candidate to lead The Umbrella into its next chapter.” said Board Chair Ellen McHale. “After a thoughtful and detailed selection process over several months, the Board has voted to unanimously and enthusiastically welcome Eileen as the next Executive Director.”
In her new role, Williston will oversee the strategic direction of The Umbrella Arts Center, working closely with staff, artists, patrons, and the broader community to advance its mission of enriching lives and building community through the arts. She will also be responsible for cultivating partnerships, developing programming, and ensuring the organization’s financial sustainability.
“The arts are more critical than ever with their intrinsic ability to inspire, educate, and catalyze conversation and connections across communities,” shared Williston. “It’s an honor to be chosen to lead The Umbrella Arts Center, with its unique, interdisciplinary approach to the arts, and its extraordinary staff.”
Williston will succeed the current Executive Director, Jerry Wedge, who will be retiring from The Umbrella after 12 years of leadership marked by the renovation and expansion of the arts center. “I am absolutely thrilled the Board has selected Eileen to take over as The Umbrella’s new Executive Director.” said Wedge. “She has been central to our planning and growth over the past four years, and she is exceptionally well-equipped to lead this organization into the next generation of growth and success.
As Deputy Director, Williston spearheaded initiatives that resulted in significant organizational growth and impact across The Umbrella’s Performing Arts, Education, and Visual Arts programs. She restructured the organization’s administrative and operations teams and led fundraising through the COVID-19 pandemic achieving a record-setting 64% increase in contributed revenue. In her new role, Williston will work with the Board to initiate a strategic planning process to guide what has become a well-regarded regional visual, performing, and educational arts destination in the Greater Boston MetroWest region.
Prior to joining The Umbrella, Williston was the Managing Director at Boston Lyric Opera where, as a member of the leadership team, she helped to strategically guide the company and led its first comprehensive campaign. Her career began as a performing artist in the Boston region and beyond including roles with SpeakEasy Stage, The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Wheelock Family Theatre, The Gloucester Stage Company, and more. Before moving to arts administration, she worked at Fidelity Investments coordinating client events around the country.
Williston holds a degree in communications and performing arts from Marywood University in Scranton (PA).