One of the most universally cherished treasures of the American musical theater, The Music Man was an instant smash hit when it premiered on Broadway on December 19, 1957. It went on to win five Tony Awards®, including the prize for Best Musical, and ran for 1,375 performances. The Smithsonian Institution ranks The Music Man as one of the “great glories” of American popular culture.

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"As American as apple pie and a Fourth of July oration.... The Music Man is a marvelous show, rooted in wholesome and comic tradition. ...Willson's music is innocent; the beat is rousing and the tunes are full of gusto. He has given it the uniformity of a well-designed crazy-quilt in which every patch blends with its neighbor." – The New York Times

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"One of the few great musical comedies of the last 26 years. ...This musical is put together so expertly and acted and sung and danced by so many enchanting people that it should be either twice as long or performed twice at each performance." – Daily News

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"A whopping hit.  This salute by Meredith Willson to his native Iowa will make even Oklahoma! look to its laurels." – The Journal-American

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"An entertaining, heartwarming evening of theater that will seduce audiences of all ages and sensibilities just as handily as Harold Hill seduces the denizens of River City!" – USA Today