PELHAM – South City Theatre is preparing to debut its first major musical, “The Music Man,” at Pelham High School’s auditorium on Thursday, July 13.

The production, produced in conjunction with Pelham City Schools, also marks the first time the auditorium at PHS will be used for a South City Theatre production. The show will run from July 13-16.

South City Theatre Artistic Director Sue Ellen Gerrells said the production will serve as a test run to see if an annual summer series, in partnership with PHS, is a possibility.

“There’s not a lot of opportunities for theater students during the summer, so if this goes well, we will plan a summer series for next summer consisting of two productions,” Gerrells said. “It would probably be one musical and one non-musical production.”

Gerrells said proceeds from “The Music Man” production will be split with the PHS Theater Department.

Gerrells said a production of this magnitude costs $12,000 to $15,000.

“So we’re hoping for a good turnout to recoup our investments,” Gerrells said.

The Tony Award-winning musical comedy by Meredith Willson has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.

The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize – despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.

The production stars Anthony Hardin as Harold Hill and Hannah Kuykendall as Marian Paroo, with a large 45-person ensemble. Dianne Rowe directs South City Theatre’s “The Music Man” with musical direction by Emily Hoppe and choreography by Melissa Bailey.

The production is partially funded by a $1,500 grant, spearheaded by Councilman Ron Scott, from the Pelham City Council.

Ticket prices are $20 for general admission, $15 for students or senior citizens and $10 for PCS students. For reservations, go to https://goo.gl/L50FgS.