Windham High production of ‘The Music Man’ to open next week

By Erin Rose

An upcoming musical will take audiences on a journey to small-town Iowa in 1912 to witness the redemption of a con artist thanks to the power of love. Students from Windham High School will present “The Music Man,” with performances at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 and again Nov. 20 and 21, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15 and Nov. 22.

The student cast of 'The Music Man' rehearses at Windham
High School's Performing Arts Center in advance of the
performances of the legendary musical at 7 p.m. on
Friday and Saturday Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, and again 
Nov. 20 and Nov. 21, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15
and Nov. 22.  COURTESY PHOTO

“The Music Man’ is about a small town in Iowa, which is very uptight and set in their ways,” explained Rob Juergens, the show’s director. This will be Juergens’ 18th musical for the school, and his 25th year of working on shows with students. “A traveling salesman comes through town and decides he’s going to sell the town on the idea of having a boys’ band. Of course, he’s a con man, so it’s all to make himself richer and then skip out of town.”

The salesman, Harold Hill, soon finds himself entangled in small town life, falling in love, and unable to plot against the people he has come to care for.

“He becomes involved in the day-to-day happenings of the town and, in essence, becomes stuck and cannot escape,” Juergens said. “He’s become involved in the town and romantically involved with the librarian.”

Maddy Sabine, a WHS junior who will play the librarian Marian Paroo in the production, says she loves her character and her growth as the story continues.

“She is a confident and independent woman who grows so much throughout the show,” she said. “Marion starts off sheltered but becomes a more outgoing person when introduced to Harold.”

The show was chosen as it met several criteria, Juergens said, including having a cast large enough to support the school’s talent and being an essential part of a musical theater education.

“One of the big criteria for choosing musicals for a high school is the number of parts it has that allows for our ever-expanding talent to express itself,” Juergens said, explaining that the cast is 35 students. “So, the show has a good number of principals across the board, not only singing parts but dancing and acting, so that’s one of the first criteria. The second is it’s a classic. It’s a good learning experience for them to experience the golden oldies. They’re going to have to know these if they want to go on and do work in this field in any instance. It’s always good to be exposed to these classics.”

The students are excited about getting to perform such a famous show. It was written by Meredith Wilson and won five Tony Awards during its run on Broadway, beginning in 1957.

“Almost everyone has heard of it, and it uses a different type of arrangement than many other shows,” said WHS senior Ashlynn Cuthbert, who will play the role of Mrs. Paroo in the show. “It’s a classic.”

Rehearsals for the show began as soon as students returned to school in September, thanks to an audition process held before students left for summer vacation in June.

“We audition before school gets out so that during the summer the principals can get their scripts and start learning their lines,” Juergens explained. “When we hit the ground in September, we’re ready to go.”

The practice sessions hit a peak last weekend when the first run-through with costumes and sets showed that the students are nearly ready to perform for audiences.

“Saturday was the first time they were all in costumes and we used all the set pieces, and that’s always an adventure of ‘where are my tights’ and ‘who’s got my hat’ and ‘why is this giant set piece in my way,’” Juergens said. “That is always a big rehearsal with the costumes and the sets. I think we’re in a good place.”

The students share the excitement of the impending performances and are looking forward to showing off their efforts to audiences.

“We’ve seen small parts of the show, but we want to see the full story come alive,” Cuthbert said. “I think we are excited to see the show come together.”

The work and effort make the debut of the show more meaningful for the students.

“The cast is amazing,” Sabine said. “The hard work and time we have to put into it has really paid off. The cast and crew have put so much hard work into making it so great, which is why I am so excited to do this show.” 

Other cast members agree.

“I really enjoy The Music Man. It has so many fun parts and dances, funny lines that are said.,” said WHS senior Leanna Rogers, who is playing Zanneta Shinn, the town mayor’s eldest daughter. “I think what excites me the most is for people to come see all the hard work we put in.”

WHS senior Brenna Small, playing Alma Hix in the show, says that the cast’s energy brings a special element to the stage.

“The relationships in the cast keep energy high on stage and it helps create a community that feels like a family outside of the rehearsal space,” she said. “I love the energy and connections between each and every character, and all of the opportunities to dance, sing, and act.”

Behind the scenes, Aiden Hall will be running the light board to control the lighting effects in the show, while Elyse Sylvia operates the sound. Sawyre Grendell and Ari Green will head the backstage crews responsible for the sets, props, and all the details that help a show run smoothly.

Tickets for the show will only be available at the door, with adult tickets costing $15 and children, seniors and student tickets reduced to $13. Payment may only be made by cash or check. <

New coordinator leads Age Friendly Windham

By Ed Pierce

Age Friendly Windham may have a new coordinator, but its mission of working to help members in the community to live and age in place while maintaining the independence of the town’s residents and helping them thrive remains strong.

Chantel Huckins has been appointed as Age
Friendly Windham's program coordinator
and helps connect older adults and caregivers
with resources and services that support
healthy, independent living. Huckins has
managed Age Friendly Windham's 
transportation program for the past
two years. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Chantel Huckins was appointed Age Friendly Windham’s program coordinator in July, succeeding Erica Bell-Watkins in that role. Working with Age Friendly participants is not new for Huckins as she managed the program’s transportation program for the past two years.

“As the Age Friendly Windham Program Coordinator, I help connect older adults and caregivers with resources and services that support healthy, independent living,” Huckins said. “My responsibilities include coordinating community programs, overseeing transportation services, fostering partnerships with local organizations, supporting outreach efforts, assisting volunteers, and developing initiatives that allow residents to age in place, maintain their independence, and remain active members of the community.”

She said one of Age Friendly Windham’s most impactful programs is its transportation service, which provides older adults with rides to medical appointments, social programs, and shopping destinations in North Windham. According to Huckins, during the past year, the program provided 1,927 rides, helping residents access essential services, maintain social connections, and continue living independently.

“Last month, the program was awarded a grant from Lifelong Maine to help reimburse volunteer drivers for fuel expenses,” Huckins said. “This funding will support the continued growth and sustainability of the transportation program, ensuring that older adults in our community can remain connected to the services and activities they depend on.”

Originally from Waterford, Maine, Huckins earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bates College and then obtained a master’s degree from Boston University where she studied Anatomy and Physiology. She also holds certifications in Athletic Training, Orthopaedic Technology, and as a Personal Support Specialist.

“I spent several years working in healthcare before transitioning four years ago to supporting programs with Windham Parks and Recreation and, later, Age Friendly Windham,” she said. “Through the experience of managing Age Friendly Windham’s transportation program, I developed a deep appreciation for the connections I was able to build with community members and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's daily lives. Those relationships and the organization's mission inspired me to become more involved.”

As the Age Friendly Windham program coordinator, Huckins said that she wants to continue building strong partnerships throughout the community and work collaboratively on new initiatives.

“There are so many resources that can be shared and utilized in creative ways to benefit more people,” she said. “A great example is the book and food mobile that was developed through a partnership between the Windham Public Library, Windham Parks and Recreation, the Windham Food Pantry, RSU 14, and Age Friendly Windham. By working together, these organizations were able to provide fresh fruits, vegetables, and books to residents throughout Windham. It was a tremendously successful initiative, and a perfect example of what can be accomplished when community partners combine their efforts to meet local needs.”

Huckins said she thinks the biggest misconception that many people have about Age Friendly Windham is they simply don't know everything Age Friendly Windham does.

“Our mission is to help people age in place, maintain their independence, and thrive in the community,” she said. “We focus on enhancing the quality of life for older adults through community activities and programs, disaster preparedness initiatives, connections to resources and services, and partnerships with local organizations that strengthen support systems throughout Windham.”

The original Windham Age-Friendly Committee was spearheaded by the late Human Services Advisory Committee member, Deb McAfee, when the town enrolled in AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities in January 2019. McAfee, who passed away in May of 2022 following a lengthy battle with cancer, was the driving force behind establishing this committee. The committee formed and completed a public survey in October 2019. It was voted upon and granted by the Windham Town Council in 2020 that Windham would be a part of AARP’s Age-Friendly Community, and Age-Friendly Windham was officially launched by the town. It offers programs for residents and advises the Windham Town Council about infrastructure and policy that will make it easier and safer for Windham residents to live in our community. 

“I love that Maine is full of resilient, self-reliant older adults who take pride in their independence,” Huckins said. “However, those admirable qualities can sometimes make it difficult for people to take the first step and ask for help when they need it. One of the challenges is helping individuals understand that accepting assistance can be an important part of maintaining their independence and quality of life.”

She said the best part of her job is seeing the gratitude and relief on the faces of community members when we are able to connect them with the resources they need.

“Whether it's providing a ride to a medical appointment, distributing food from the food mobile, or supplying window inserts to help conserve heat during the winter, every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive difference,” Huckins said. “It is truly a privilege to serve and support the Windham community.”

To find out more about Age Friendly Windham programs or to volunteer to help, call 207-892-4649 or send an email to [email protected] <