Broadway bad boy MATTHEW BRODERICK is
bringing another classic to life -- as he marches, sings, and stirs up
some BIG trouble in River City! The talented singer, actor and recent
stage star has taken on another fab role playing Professor Harold Hill
in the famous play-turned-ABC-TV-special, "The Music Man."
"I listened to the record all the time when I was a kid," Broderick
shares. "My parents had it, plus I saw the movie a few times. I also
saw the recent Broadway version, so I know the show so well."
Airing on ABC this fall, Broderick joins KRISTIN CHENOWETH, VICTOR GARBER, DEBRA MONK, MOLLY SHANNON and DAVID ARRON BAKER for this exciting TV-movie adaptation of the classic MEREDITH WILSON play.
Broderick has some big shoes to fill. The part is synonymous in the minds of movie-lovers with ROBERT PRESTON, who played Professor Hill in the beloved 1962 film, which also starred SHIRLEY JONES as Marion the librarian.
"I love Robert Preston so much," Broderick admits, "so that is
one of the challenges of this -- to get that out of my head, because
his is one of my favorite performances of all time. I basically will
use that performance as something to jump off from. It won't be the
same, because I am very different, but I can't ignore it either."
The rollicking musical follows the escapades of the
fast-talking Harold Hill, who waltzes into River City, Iowa,
mesmerizing its citizens with the need for a boys' marching band to
keep their children on the path of moral righteousness.
Hill cons the parents into buying his expensive instruments and uniforms,
convincing them that his revolutionary music training program, "The
Think System," will turn their youngsters into virtuoso performers. But
not all the townspeople are excited by Hill's scheme, especially Marion
Paroo, the beautiful but willful local librarian and piano teacher who
catches his eye.
Hill's plans go awry when his feelings for Marion and his attempts to
scam the stubborn small-town citizens collide. He's ultimately forced
to prove himself to them and to Marion.
ET has your exclusive look at the anticipated small-screen flick on tonight's show! Don't miss it!
