The Music Man” comes marching into Manchester High School as this summer’s production by the Children’s Associated Summer Theatre . The classic musical comedy is set in the quiet town of River City , Iowa , which Professor Harold Hill , a traveling con man , sees as the perfect place for his scam .

The show , which will be the 22 nd summer production of C . A . S . T ., a non-profit theater organization based in Manchester , has a cast of 103 students ages 5 to 18 yearsold . The youngperformers are from Manchester , South Windsor , Vernon and other surrounding towns .

“ This is a classic Broadway production by Meredith Wilson , ” said Donna Mercier , executive director of C . A . S . T .. “ A con artist comes to River City , Iowa , in 1912 to sell musical instruments to the gullible citizens . He falls in love with the local librarian and gets caught in his own web . ”

Katie Nunes of South Windsor plays librarian Marian Paroo , Theo Koboboski of South Windsor is Professor Harold Hill , Caleb Duval of Manchester is Winthrop Paroo , KC Beauregard of South Windsor is Mrs . Paroo , Jimmy Donohue , of Vernon is Mayor Shinn , and Rhiannon Elliott of Manchester is Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn . The production will also include Manchester High School orchestra members and students from Manchester High School’s technical crew .

The show is filled with memorable songs like “ Till There Was You , ” “ 76 Trombones” and “ Shipoopi” and a barbershop quartet of Eric Koboski , Jonathan Ockert , Joe Sica and Sam Nunes , all of South Windsor .

“ I am very proud of the hard work our students have put into this show . Their talent and enthusiasm make my job easy . Our music director , Donna Schaffer , has set a wonderful standard for all of them , and they all take it seriously . This is a great family show with lots of colors and excitement , ” Mercier said .

The performances will be given Thursday , July 30 , at 1 p . m . and Friday , July 31 , and Saturday , Aug . 1 , at 7 p . m . at Manchester High School’s air-conditioned Bailey Auditorium . The doors open one hour before each show . Tickets are $ 10 for student , children and seniors citizens , and $ 12 for adults , and will be available at the door or by calling C . A . S . T . at ( 860 ) 649-5062 .