State Street Theater presents Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man,” July 25-27.

“People grew up with this show, but a big question for me was – when is the mundane everyday life okay?” said Hudson.

This may be director Landon Hudson’s first big community show, but he has had plenty of directing experience. He has his own theater company in Kansas City called Sandstone, he directed at City Theater of Independence in Missouri and has directed and acted in several fringe shows. College brought him to Minnesota, where he currently studies as a senior at Mankato State University.

“These characters, these people in this small town, think they’re serious and not funny at all– the funny moments are when the characters don’t even realize they’re funny. It’s a different style of humor. Harold Hill, the lead, has comedic moments and then he really grounds the whole town through figuring out his own life,” said Hudson.

The some of the cast members in “The Music Man” show off their dresses. In the back row are, left to right, Jennifer Olseth, Sarah Koetke, Lizzie Rossow, Claire Brown And in the front row are, left to right, left to right, Ally Schultz, Callie McConnell, Shilo Arndt

Hudson overcame the challenge of making this older show feel new by working with the actors for over three months.

“A routine and rehearsal every night is a big thing. When actors come into the idea for their character, sometimes they say I already know music man, but I say, don’t just play it how the movie was. Ask yourself how you can play it as authentically to you,” said Hudson.

Actor Michael Koester has always loved music, and he’s been doing shows for as long as he could remember. He brings both his love of storytelling and his years of acting experience to Harold Hill, getting the lead just right.

“I like a combination of silly goofy high energy and a little bit of seriousness, so Harold kinda fits that. Burt from Merry Poppins, Lumière from Beauty and the Beast, I just melded a lot of past roles together. I like a good combination of semiserious and high energy. I’m happy for the different spin the role has taken on. It’s been a little bit of a challenge in a good way,” said Koester.

While Marian, the town’s librarian, challenges Harold to examine his scheming and find love, find home, find happiness in small moments of joy–actress Callie McConnell found more of herself in Marian’s bubbliness and playfulness.

Michael Koester and Callie McConnell bring playfulness and moments of joy to State Street’s stage as Harold and Marian in Meredith Willson’s The Music Man.

“I don’t want Marian to be such a cold shoulder; she has more to her than that. I love Marian’s character because she stands up for herself so frequently, and when Harold comes to town he’s very forward and Marian is like, no I’m setting my boundaries this is not what I want right now, and eventually her shield starts breaking, and she wants Harold to know her more, and she opens up to him. Her character arch throughout the story is a good tale for women,” said McConnell.

McConnell has been acting since she was 8 years-old. She absolutely loved it, and continued through high school and now in college, she’s a theater major at MSU. Sometimes she still gets nervous before a show, but it’s a nervous excitement, a mixture that ends a once the first show goes well.

Like Koester and McConnell, Director Landon Hudson has really enjoyed working at New Ulm’s State Street Theater.

“I think Harold is finding those moments that he can really appreciate in life, and through this experience I have as well,” said Hudson.

Full cast for Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” at State Street Theater running the weekend of July 25th - 27th .