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"Truly one of the greatest musicals of all
time."
--Variety
 The
hills are alive-and
we’re glad we are too--to witness the splendid and
magnificent return to our stage of one of the world’s most
enduring musicals, last performed by TWH
in 1994.
Based on the real life saga of Maria
Von Trapp, this guitar-strumming governess rekindles a love
in the heart of her employer both for music and romance. The
story is timeless: a postulant, who occasionally retreats
from her abbey to the hills of Austria so the
hills may hear her song, is soon employed by a widower with
seven children.
Captain Von Trapp has banned the sound
of music from his home since his wife’s death.
He runs his home near Salzburg like the ship he once commanded. That
changes when Maria arrives from the convent to be the new
governess. Her romps with the children through the hills
inspire all to sing and find joy in the smallest things --
like raindrops on window panes. With a renewed zest for
life, the Captain hosts a party to introduce his new fiance.
Maria knows then she does not want to be a nun.
Eventually he and Maria find themselves falling in love,
even though he is already engaged to a Baroness and Maria is
still a postulant. The romance makes them both start
questioning the decisions they have made. Their personal
conflicts soon become overshadowed, however, by world
events. Austria is about to come under the control of
Germany, and the Captain may soon find himself drafted into
the German navy and forced to fight for a system he does not
embrace.
Tackling the universally adored role of
Maria is Karissa Barber
(CAMELOT, OKLAHOMA!),
while new-to-our-stage-but-still-with-an-amazing-background
is Mary Grace Gordon
as Mother Abbess, the emotional heart of the musical.
Veteran Mark Hartfield
(RAGTIME, GYPSY)
brings life to the stoic Captain Von Trapp.
Michelle Sanderson (ALL SHOOK UP,
CAMELOT), handles the Baroness
Elsa with Danny Vilnow
(RAGTIME, ALL SHOOK UP)
taking on Max.
The seven children are played by
Veronica Cinibulk, Jeff Peacock,
Addlyn Teague, CJ Burek, Elayna Sirrine, Ildika Fox
and Chloë Tomlinson,
all with a list of credits longer than Justin Timberlake’s.
The trio of nuns responsible for the
machinery of the abbey and care of the postulates and
novices include Kay Prusiecki
as Sister Berthe,
Heidi Thompson
playing Sister Margaretta with
Mary Ramnarine
as Sister Sophia.
Rounding out other characters are
Reagan Osbourne
as Rolfe,
Fredd Gunzel
is seen as Franz, the butler with
Susanna Carey
playing Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper.
Others in the cast include
Phil Attinger, Tara Boucher, Gus Carter, Morgan Chesnicka,
Rhona Dalusong, Robin Davis, Breanne DiCesare, Trevor
Eisinger, Ed Frisbe, Katria Harper, Ashlyn Kearns, Sara
Keilty, Lurline King, Ed Lubin, Meredith Nance Meeks, Tonya
Mesrobian, Vanessa Otey, Sara Beth Reynolds, Alayna Shumate,
Michael Tanner, Joy Smith Wallace, Kristin Wasmund and
Lyndsey Wilkerson.
Returning as director is
Katrina Ploof,
Music Direction is by
Terry Thomas,
Costumes by
Camille
McClellan and
Charlene Getz,
another veteran,
is our Stage Manager.
David Casteneda
returns from New York to provide lighting for the
production.
You’ll “climb
every mountain” as you witness
this enchanting and heart-rending
musical from the song sheets of
history’s most successful Broadway team, Rogers and
Hammerstein. It is both a touching and poignant musical that
tells a story of struggle and triumph in a way that can be
both entertaining, humorous and most of all, moving.
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