The 草莓社区 department will present George Frideric Handel’s magnificent oratorio, “The Messiah,” 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, in Lehman Auditorium at EMU.

participating include the EMU Chamber Singers, the University Chorale, and the University Orchestra, conducted by , professor of music.

Soloists are EMU students Bethany Blouse, soprano; Annie Johnson, soprano; Ariel Ressler, alto; Matthew Garber, tenor; Steven Horst, tenor; Michael Dezort, bass; EMU graduates Katie Derstine, alto; Matthew Hunsberger, bass; and guest Joel Ross, countertenor.

Admission is a $10 suggested donation, with proceeds to be split between the EMU Scholarship Fund and Mennonite Disaster Service for hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf region.

The classic musical, "The Music Man," may be one of the most fun ever to come out of Broadway. Yet the guest director of the production at Eastern Mennonite University said she thinks the show has been underrated.

"One unexplored aspect is that it’s an example of unconditional love," said L.B. Hamilton, the show’s director.

EMU will present "The Music Man" for its spring mainstage production in Lehman Auditorium. Performances begin today and run through next week.

A 45-member student cast will recreate the Broadway musical that won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and nine Tony Awards. The 1962 film version received an Academy Award for Best Musical Adaptation.

Confidence man Harold Hill (Michael Dezort) arrives at staid River City intending to cheat the community with his standard scam of offering to equip and train a boy’s marching band, then skip town with the money since he has no music skill anyway. Things go awry when he falls for librarian Marian Paroo (Bethany Blouse), whom he tries to divert from exposing him while he inadvertently enriches the town with a love of music.

"It’s a satire of small-town life but with a love for the community and what lies beneath the exterior of human beings," said Hamilton.

When she was young and the music was popular, Hamilton thought "The Music Man" was "just a fun and frothy thing."

"And I thought that when I directed it before, but now I look at it with different eyes," Hamilton said. "It’s all about love, yet there is no line that says ‘I love you.’"

In the midst of all the music and dancing and fun, "they give each other love asking nothing in return, which is the highest form of love there is," she said.

Hamilton said the production also speaks to "the persona we create in order to protect our soft cores."

This comes through in the students’ performances, said Hamilton.

"I don’t have a reputation as a sentimental or warm and fuzzy director, but this is warm and fuzzy," she said.

Hamilton began her theatrical career as an actor, then worked in the film, television and recording industries. An award-winning published/produced playwright, she continues free lance work while serving as consulting director for C.L.I.M.B. Theater in Minnesota and as director of special programs for Washington Shakespeare Company (WSC) in D.C.

Hamilton directed the EMU theater production of "Twelve Angry Jurors" in the fall of 2002.

Performance times for "The Music Man" are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 18 & 19 and Feb. 24, 25 & 26. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $8 non-EMU students, and $6 senior citizens and children 12 and under.

To reserve tickets, call the EMU box office at 432-4582.

The sound of "76 trombones" will reverberate through Lehman Auditorium as presents the spring mainstage production of Meredith Willson’s "The Music Man."

The 45-member student cast, directed by L.B. Hamilton, recreates the Broadway musical that won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and nine Tony Awards. The 1962 film version received an Academy Award for "best musical adaptation."

Professor of Theater Barb Graber handed over her responsibilities as director to Hamilton in order to fully recover from a 2003 vehicle accident. Graber continues to teach part-time and will stay involved with .

Confidence man Harold Hill (Michael Dezort) arrives at staid River City intending to cheat the community with his standard scam of offering to equip and train a boy’s marching band, then skip town with the money since he has no music skill anyway. Things go awry when he falls for librarian Marian Paroo (Bethany Blouse), whom he tries to divert from exposing him while he inadventently enriches the town with a love of music.

Guest director L.B. Hamilton began her theatrical career as an actor, then worked in the film, television and recording industries. An award-winning published/produced playwright, she continues free-lance work while serving as consulting director for C.L.I.M.B. Theater in Minnesota and as director of special programs for Washington Sheakespeare Company (WSC) in D.C.

Hamilton directed the EMU Theater production of "Twelve Angry Jurors" the fall of 2002.

Performance times for "The Music Man" are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 18 & 19 and Feb. 24, 25 & 26 in EMU’s Lehman Auditorium. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $8 non-EMU students, $6 senior citizens and children 12 and under.

To reserve tickets, call the EMU box office at (540) 432-4582.

Serpina, Uberto’s housekeeper, has decided he should marry her and make her mistress of the house. He disagrees and tries to send his other servant, Vespone, out to find him a wife. Serpina decides to win Uberto over by becoming engaged to a tyrannical army officer (Vespone in disguise).

The cast includes Bethany Blouse as Serpina, Michael Dezort as Uberto and Stephen Horst as Vespone. The work is accompanied by Monica Hochstedler on piano; Anne Gross, instructor in voice at EMU, is musical director.

Admission is free; donations are welcomed for the EMU Music Department Scholarship Fund. Seating is limited.