Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill? — Page 3

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#51

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 6:26pm

Esparza has none of the charisma and smoothness needed for the role, he's tough, harsh, and has the potential to be incredibly hammy. In a role like this, you need someone who can be hammy and make it work (the Stephen Colbert idea is brilliant, he was great in the NYPhil COMPANY), Esparza would suck the fun out of it.
Speaking of Esparza, an unconventional Harold Hill--sort of in the mold of Daniel Radcliffe--would be David Hyde Pierce.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#52

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/18/12 at 6:31pm

I would love a Swenson/McDonald Music Man

#53

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/19/12 at 11:45pm

Neil Patrick Harris

“It is suicide to be abroad. But what it is to be at home, ... what it is to be at home? A lingering dissolution.” - Samuel Beckett, ALL THAT FALL

#54

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 12:23am

I love the Daniel Radcliffe idea.

#55

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 1:17am

Donny. Osmond. Film or stage.

"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had the practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Alice in Wonderland

#56

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 3:24am

I think Radcliffe is still too young for it at this point. If people had a problem with his FInch being too young, I can only imagine what people would think of his as Prof. Hill. I do love the ideas of Norbert Leo Butz or David Hyde Pierce though. Would love to hear either of them sing Ya Got Trouble. I am imagining them both now and quite enjoying it.

#57

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 10:53am

Radcliffe could have only graduated the Gary Conservatory Class of "Ought Five" if he was a Doogie Howser type prodigy who got his degree at age 16.

#58

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 11:16am

Seth MacFarlane has long stated a desire to someday play Harold Hill. He references this repeatedly, between multiple Family Guy references to the songs from the show, to recording "Sadder But Wiser Girl" on his solo big band album, to writing and performing a new version of "Trouble" satirizing reality TV for a television executive conference.

#59

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 11:20am

I think McFarlane could pull it off.

To me, Hugh Jackman is the most obvious choice.

I also think that Matthew Morrison has the charm for the role. (I like him, anyway.)

#60

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 11:20am

Brian D'arcy James

A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#61

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 11:22am

OK, how old IS Harold Hill supposed to be? I've always had the impression that he was mid-30's at the youngest, that he's been at this con game a long time.

But if the character is presenting himself as having graduated from the Gary Conservatory in "ought five", and it's currently 1912, it's only been 7 years since he was at the Conservatory, which would imply that he's either a lot younger than he appears or he was awfully old when he "graduated". That has always nagged at me.

Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.

#62

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 11:34am

Matt Bomer

"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#63

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 11:38am

I don't know much about higher education in that time period, but couldn't he have just allegedly finished his Master's degree? He is presenting himself as "Professor".

#64

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 12:21pm

I'm thinking more about the perception of the "hicks" in a town like River City. How old would they think a "college man" would have been when he graduated? Not sure they'd be that aware of the differences between undergraduate and post-graduate ages, and I'm not sure there =was= that great a difference a hundred years ago. I mean, all Marian said was there =wasn't= a class of "ought five", not "you're too old to have graduated in ought five".

Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.

#65

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 2:34pm

Michael McGrath, Donny Osmond, Brian d'Arcy James, Definitely Hugh Jackman, and I've thought of Daniel Radcliffe as well, but not now. When he's a little older he'll make a wonderful Harold Hill.

#66

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 2:51pm

I remember reading an interview Robert Preston did after Victor Victoria opened. He was asked why he didn't do a revival of Music Man. He said the character should be in his early 30's and he loved the character too much to change that.

It's also interesting to note that when Robert Prreston was first cast he was known for doing the heavy or the villain in the movies. He wasn't known for being a song and dance man til after "The Music Man".

#67

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 2:54pm

I first thought of Norbert and Danny Burstein, but I am sold on the idea of Colbert. Amazing.

#68

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 4:19pm

Who would be a great Marian opposite Colbert

#69

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 5:52pm

I think any high school f-baller could tackle him. He seems a bit of a wimp.

#70

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 6:23pm

Well in the near future, Colbert wouldn't happen. I doubt that he would take on doing 8 shows a week, while filming Colbert Nation (even though it films in Manhattan). And I really doubt that Colbert would drop his show. I still think that as far as selling tickets, and getting a strong actor that could handle the role, Dan Radcliffe as I said before would be my top choice. Of course, in all reality, a revival wouldn't come for at least another couple years, unless someone has already been on this. By that time he would be a couple years older yet (25-26), so even if he could only pass for a couple years older than that, he would still be approaching 30ish in his playable age, which would fit just fine with the book.

As for another couple ideas to throw out there: if he wasn't going to be filming a show of his own, I would say Andrew Rannels. John Stamos might be a thought, he might be able to bring in an audience, and he would be an interesting choice that would be very different than the Preston's Hill.(Which I see as the biggest thing that would have to be done for a revival to actually be viable. It can't just be a repeat of 2000, which was basically just a Robert Preston impersonation.) Tony Yazbeck might be good, but he wouldn't bring in the type of crowds than my other suggestions, and most of the other suggestions here. Stephen Bogardus would be a great Hill, but he is getting on the older side, by quite a bit (58 ). Harry Connick Jr, might also be a thought.

Updated On: 6/20/12 at 06:23 PM

#71

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 6:33pm

Another possible gimmick to bring in tickets: cast Julie Andrews as Mrs. Paroo. She wouldn't really have to sing aside from that little bit in "Piano Lesson", which could frankly just be spoken.

#72

Who could tackle Professor Harold Hill?

Posted: 6/20/12 at 7:50pm

and we're to believe that Julie Andrews gave birth to a child nine or ten years ago?

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