One definition of family is "a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation." That's truly what the St. Kilian Players are all about, and their mission statement builds on that definition. The players count among their rank approximately 1,000 people who have crossed over the threshold of the St. Kilian Auditorium since the 1988 production of West Side Story when the St. Kilian Players was founded by Fr. Chuck Romano.

This year in The Players' 15th production - The Music Man - the word family has even more significance, and on many levels. There is family represented on the stage with the families of River City, Iowa and then the family of personnel involved in the show.

This year's producer and director are husband and wife - Lynda and Joe Diurno. Joe pitched The Music Man back in January to The Players' selection committee and he was chosen as this year's creative leader. St. Kilian Player veteran and cast member of The Music Man Angela Roedig (Mrs. Squires) brings with her to the show her children Danielle, Thomas, Theresa (Gracie Shinn) and Philip (co-cast as Winthrop) and our Musical Director Gary Piacentini has his sister Cynthia Nix and nephew Zachary Silletti involved too!

On the stage St. Kilian Player newcomer David Kaplan (Professor Harold Hill) is joined by his father Barry Kaplan (Marcellus Washburn). A cute aside is that David once played the role of Winthrop, and his dad once played Harold Hill. That's really keeping The Music Man family connection all in the family.

River City's distinguished residents include Mayor Shinn played by a St. Kilian Players original Bob Domingo. Bob along with his stage family - wife Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn (Kathleen Cruickshank) and daughters Zaneeta (Tricia Russell) and Gracie (Theresa Roedig), not to mention his real family wife Joanne (Maud Dunlop), and sons Bobby and Len (sound) - brings life to the stage. The Paroo family, anchored by daughter Marian Paroo (Karen Sussman-Goldstein) is the family who brings about a change in this fast-talking salesman's scam to start a kids' band in River City, Iowa complete with instruments, uniforms and lessons.

Come join the family of the St. Kilian Players these next two weekends and witness the magic they have performed so capably over the past 14 summers. The Music Man will be performed at the St. Kilian Auditorium on Cherry Street in Farmingdale on: Saturday, July 27 at 8 p.m., Sunday, July 28 at 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. The ticket price is $10. For ticket information you may contact the St. Kilian Rectory at 249-0127 or the ticket manager at 681-8321.