“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” -1 John 4:10-12
One of my all-time favorite musicals is The Music Man by Meredith Willson. This musical first appeared on Broadway in 1957. It was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won 5, including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical.
Robert Preston’s portrayal of Professor Herold Hill is one of the most iconic performances in Broadway history. Not only did he earn the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, but he would also go on to lead the cast for 1,375 performances. The Original Cast recording would win a Grammy Award and stay on the Billboard charts for 245 weeks. After years of small parts in movies and on stage, Robert Preston would find himself on the cover of Time Magazine.
Due to the Broadway success, The Music Man was made into a motion picture in 1962. Warner Bros. would produce the film with Morton DaCosta as director. It was sure to be a great success. The only problem was that they wanted Frank Sinatra to play the lead. They wanted a big name who had success in the movies. Although Robert Preston had played the role with such success on the stage, he was not their first choice; in fact, he was not even their second or third choice.
It was Meredith Wilson who stepped in and made it clear that the movie would only happen if Robert Preston was the lead. Preston would once again bring Professor Harold Hill to life, singing, dancing, conning the people of River City, and falling in love with Marion Paroo, played by Shirley Jones. The movie was a great success, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 1962. It was nominated for 6 Academy Awards and won the Oscar for Best Musical Score. The Music Man would also win the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in 1962.
One of the more difficult challenges in life is when others fail to see value in you. It can be hurtful and debilitating. Robert Preston had been acting for years but never received a leading role. He took a chance on himself, left California in 9651 to try for success in New York. That would come in 1952 when he took the leading role in the revival of The Male Animal. Just a few more years, and he would take the stage as Professor Harold Hill. He understood his talent, his hopes and dreams, and despite what others would say or do, he helped to create one of the most notable characters on Broadway or the silver screen.
God created each of us with unique skills, passions, and purpose. We are loved and cared for by our Creator. Because God loves us and God’s grace goes before us, we can find the courage to become the people we were created to be. We are loved by God. Because God first loved us, we have hope of becoming who we were created to be.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
