Matthew Broderick and Eric McCormack Named Top Stars of The Music Man

Matthew Broderick and Eric McCormack lead the rankings of top drawing headliners for the musical "The Music Man" compiled by GuestStarCasting.com

Rounding out the Top Five ranked performers are television veterans Barry Williams and Gary Sandy, and Broadway leading man Craig Bierko.

Broderick, currently in preparations for a new Broadway revival of "The Odd Couple" opposite Nathan Lane, starred in a 2003 Disney television movie of "The Music Man."

McCormack, best known for his title role in the hit series "Will & Grace" played the principal role of Professor Harold Hill on Broadway in 2001 and reprised the role at the famed Hollywood Bowl.

Other leading men charting in the rankings for their drawing power as Harold Hill include Larry Gatlin, Jeff Goldblum, and Jack Stauffer.

GuestStarCasting.com is a theater industry resource providing rankings and statistical projections on the top name talent potentially able to positively improve Return on Investment.

Actor rankings are compiled based upon cumulative and recent box office receipts, overall marquee name power, critical review, and consumer demand.

From Meredith Wilson, "The Music Man"is a family-friendly crowd pleaser in which traveling salesman Professor Harold Hill embarks on a mission to con the innocents of River City, Iowa into buying band equipment on the promise he'll personally teach the student band while failing to disclose that he himself can't read music or play an instrument.

A slight comedic actor known for his boyish charm, Broderick is the winner of two Tony Awards. In 1983 he won the Best Actor in a Play award for his role in "Brighten Beach Memoirs" and in 1995 he won the Best Actor in a Musical award for his turn in "How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying."

He was nominated for the Best Actor in a Musical award again in 2001 for "The Producers," losing out to his co-star Lane. Both Lane and Broderick reprise their roles in an upcoming film adaptation.

McCormack is a veteran of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival and has won an Best Actor Emmy and six Golden Globe awards for his role on "Will & Grace"

Williams gained fame as a child actor on the television series "The Brady Bunch" before turning his talents to musical theater on Broadway, on tour, and in regional revivals with such productions as "Pippin," "Guys and Dolls," "The Sound of Music," "City of Angels," and "The Music Man."

Sandy achieved notoriety for his starring role on the hit television series "WKRP in Cincinnati" opposite Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, and Howard Hesseman. In addition to "The Music Man", Sandy's well known stage roles include a Broadway run in "The Pirates of Penzance" and the national tour of "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" opposite Ann-Margaret.

Bierko headlined the 2000 Broadway revival of "The Music Man" and was named Sexiest Broadway Star that year by People Magazine.

Preston Scott Reed is an entertainment news correspondent.