Buddy Hackett, the actor/comedian who portrayed "Marcellus Washburn" in the 1962 movie, "The Music Man," was the special guest at the world premiere of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man Junior," the first performance of Broadway Junior's adaptation of the famous American musical, at Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, California, last year. "You have contributed to one of the happiest mornings of my life," he told the 125 students after watching their performance. He then answered questions from the students, and posed for pictures with the young music stars. Music Theatre International's Broadway Junior program works with authors of classic Broadway musicals to adapt them into special 70-minute editions for children ages 8-14 to perform.

High-fiving and shouting, "Shipoopi" to each other, actor/comedian Buddy Hackett, who portrayed "Marcellus Washburn" in the 1962 movie, "The Music Man," gave a special congratulations to his teenage counterpart, who portrayed his character in the world premiere of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man Junior" in North Hollywood, California. Hackett attended the first performance of Broadway Junior's adaptation of the famous American musical, at Walter Reed Middle School, just outside of Los Angeles. He met the 125 students involved in the production, and then answered questions from the students. Hackett said that the witnessing the students' participation in Meredith Willson's "The Music Man Junior" gave him one of "the happiest mornings of my life." Music Theatre International's Broadway Junior program works with authors of classic Broadway musicals to adapt them into special 70-minute editions for children ages 8-14 to perform.
Photo Credit: Dave Luchansky