<P> With help from his associate Marcellus Washburn ( Buddy Hackett ) , Hill deliberately incites mass concern among the parents of River City that their young boys are being seduced into a world of sin and vice by the new pool table in town ( `` Ya Got Trouble '' ) . He convinces them that a boys ' marching band is the only way to keep the boys of the town out of trouble , and begins collecting their money ( `` 76 Trombones '' ) . Hill anticipates that Marian ( Shirley Jones ) , the town 's librarian and piano instructor , will attempt to discredit him , so he sets out to seduce her into silence . Also in opposition to Hill is the town 's Mayor Shinn ( Paul Ford ) , the owner of the billiard parlor where the new pool table has been installed , who orders the school board ( portrayed by the barbershop quartet , The Buffalo Bills ) to obtain Hill 's credentials . When they attempt to do so , Hill avoids their questions by teaching them to sing as a barbershop quartet via `` sustained talking . '' They are thereafter easily tricked by Hill into breaking into song whenever they ask for his credentials ( `` Sincere '' , `` Pick - a-Little , Talk - a-Little / Goodnight Ladies '' , and `` Lida Rose '' ) . </P>
<P> With help from his associate Marcellus Washburn ( Buddy Hackett ) , Hill deliberately incites mass concern among the parents of River City that their young boys are being seduced into a world of sin and vice by the new pool table in town ( `` Ya Got Trouble '' ) . He convinces them that a boys ' marching band is the only way to keep the boys of the town out of trouble , and begins collecting their money ( `` 76 Trombones '' ) . Hill anticipates that Marian ( Shirley Jones ) , the town 's librarian and piano instructor , will attempt to discredit him , so he sets out to seduce her into silence . Also in opposition to Hill is the town 's Mayor Shinn ( Paul Ford ) , the owner of the billiard parlor where the new pool table has been installed , who orders the school board ( portrayed by the barbershop quartet , The Buffalo Bills ) to obtain Hill 's credentials . When they attempt to do so , Hill avoids their questions by teaching them to sing as a barbershop quartet via `` sustained talking . '' They are thereafter easily tricked by Hill into breaking into song whenever they ask for his credentials ( `` Sincere '' , `` Pick - a-Little , Talk - a-Little / Goodnight Ladies '' , and `` Lida Rose '' ) . </P>
who played marian the librarian in the music man
who played marian the librarian in the music man
Shirley Jones
Shirley Jones