Top Ten Characters in the Music Man

A charming con-man who arrives in River City, Iowa, and tries to convince the townspeople to put their funds into a boy's marching band despite having no musical training and no intention of actually giving lessons. He finds himself falling in love with the local librarian, Marian Paroo. Throughout the play, he tries to win her over while attempting to avoid getting caught in his scheme.

A librarian and trained musician, Marian, like everyone else, sees Harold as a fraud at first. However, as the play progresses, she finds herself falling in love with him and sees him as genuine. She is the object of slander amongst the town's women for an affair she supposedly had and her defense of "dirty books."

The blustering, pompous mayor of River City who takes himself seriously and is highly skeptical of Harold Hill. He is very protective of his daughter, Zaneeta, and is set on exposing Harold for the con-man he truly is.

An old friend of Harold Hill, Marcellus Washburn works in River City and rekindles their friendship when Harold arrives in town. He tries to help Harold get funds for a boy's marching band. Marcellus is a comical character whose big moment in the play is his performance of the song "Shipoopi."

A sweet Irish widow who is the mother of Marian and Winthrop and wants the best for each of them. She tries to help Marian by giving her advice on how to find a man and wants Winthrop to overcome his social anxiety. Although she doesn't have a lot of singing parts, she is still a likable and charming character, as well as a great mother.

The mayor's controlling wife, Eulalie, is a comic character who takes herself very seriously. She knows everyone in town and is a snooty gossiper, participating in the song "Pickalittle (Talk-a-Little)," in which the town's ladies gossip about Marian to Harold.

Marian's 10-year-old brother, Winthrop, has a lisp that deeply embarrasses him and thus he doesn't speak much. Harold Hill helps him overcome his lisp and sparks some confidence in him. By the end of the play, he speaks a lot. In the film adaptation of the musical, he is portrayed by a young Ron Howard.

A traveling salesman who exposes Harold as a fraud to the town and sets himself up to be seen as a hero. He flirts with Marian, kisses her, and tells her that Harold has a girl in every county in Illinois. Eventually, she disregards everything he told her and chooses to believe Harold.

A handsome, rowdy teenager who falls for the mayor's daughter, Zaneeta, and is encouraged by Harold Hill to secretly date her. By the end of the musical, he becomes the assistant leader of the boy's band.