#MondayMusicalMoments | Music Man Musical | Rock Island | Asolo Rep

Today's #MondayMusicalMoments takes us to the unforgettable opening number of The Music Man, "Rock Island." The final lines of the song: "When the man dances, the piper pays him" became part of director Jeff Calhoun's inspiration for Harold Hill to be a tap dancer. He was also inspired by the incredibly talented Noah Racey. Paul McGill's choreography in "Rock Island" isn't only designed to mimic the movements of people on a train, it's also tied to the lyrics of the song. Notice how each time someone says "talk," they all bounce, each time someone says "bicker," they lean back in their chairs, when someone says "you need a," they sway to the side, etc. This means that every actor had to know the lyrics for the full song, not just the parts they sang.