Music Man «SIMPLE»

: Willson reportedly went through over 40 drafts and wrote more than 40 songs over several years before the show finally hit the stage.

: The opening number is a "galvanic" rhythmic speech piece performed by traveling salesmen, designed to mimic the sounds and cadences of a moving train. Music Man

: One of Willson's original (and eventually discarded) concepts was to center the show around a child with autism, before pivoting to the nostalgic, middle-American town setting that became a cultural phenomenon. Musical Innovations : Willson reportedly went through over 40 drafts

THE MUSIC MAN. May 18, 2017: Theatre Yesterday and… | by Ron Fassler Musical Innovations THE MUSIC MAN

: Musically, the ballad "Goodnight My Someone" and the march "76 Trombones" share the same melody, simply played at different tempos to contrast Hill's and Marian's initial personalities. Critical and Cultural Impact

: The show was written by composer-lyricist Meredith Willson, who drew deep inspiration from his own childhood in Mason City, Iowa.

The show is renowned for its rhythmic and creative use of language: