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The Sound of Music by San Diego Junior Theatre  The last of the popular Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals
was destined to become their most successful and one of the biggest classics of
all time. The Sound of Music is based on the true story of the Trapp
family who fled from their homeland of Austria as the Nazis took control
just before World War II.
The tension of the growing Nazi presence provides a dramatic backdrop that takes center stage in the final scenes as the family rejects the safe road of accepting Nazism, instead risking their lives to flee over the Alps to an uncertain future. But the focus before then is on the young, always-in-trouble postulant Maria, the rigid, widowed Captain Von Trapp, and his seven children who will get into all manner of mischief attempting to get attention from their aloof father – including playing tricks on their governess who cares for them. The latest governess being, of course, Maria, who is going to need a little help from above to win the children over. And the would-be nun may just win over more than she expects… San Diego Junior Theatre and Director Michael Anthony are currently staging this classic with an excellent cast of singers singing such well-known tunes as My Favorite Things, Do Re Mi, Edelweiss, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, and the title song. But it’s the chorus of nuns who kick things off with their heavenly opening hymn – in this case a prayer for the audience to turn off their cell phones and unwrap their candies! After that, the gorgeous voice of Stephanie Ward graces the role of Maria as she sings about her love for music with the title song, calms the children during a nasty, old thunderstorm as she leads the adorable gaggle of siblings in My Favorite Things, and teaches them the basics of singing beginning with Do Re Mi. She is complemented by the deep, rich voice of Alexander Vassos as the Captain who joins her in their duet Something Good and who leads the Trapp Family Singers in the tender, patriotic ballad Edelweiss. Brian Polk is irresistibly hilarious as the spineless, selfish sponge “Uncle Max” who wants the seven children to sing in the local talent festival against father’s wishes. He is joined by the amusingly nauseating Baroness Elsa Schraeder (Daryl Daley) who wants to marry the captain and send the seven little darlings off to boarding school. Cailene Kilcoyne is the wise Mother Abbess who encourages Maria to follow her dreams in the beautiful and moving Climb Ev’ry Mountain. Karli Cadel as eldest daughter Liesl and Ryan Wagner as her messenger boy boyfriend shine in their playfully romantic Sixteen Going on Seventeen. And then there are the big, opulent production numbers that take the show to an even higher level including the big Do Re Mi scene in which Maria and the kids end up leading the entire town in an exuberant extended version of the scene. And the surprising gem of the evening – the big-as-life marionette show of The Lonely Goatherd performed with the Trapp children above directing the puppets below who consist of actors moving like they’re tied to strings and dressed in fantastic costumes by designer Naomi Spinak-Katz. All in all, a strong, lively, colorful performance that easily overcame a few opening-night glitches to put on a fantastic show.Performs through May 2, 2004.
~ Cast ~
Maria Rainer: Stephanie Ward Sister Berthe: Tiffany Brown Sister Margaretta: Emily Shackelford The Mother Abbess: Cailene Kilcoyne Sister Sophia: Bethany Stavros Sister Mary Bernice: Stephanie Kreutz Sister Agatha: Alyssa Schechter Sister Catherine: Julia Giolzetti Sister Augusta: Catie Marron Captain Georg Von Trapp: Alexander Vassos Franz: Byler Knell Frau Schmidt: Ferril Gardner Liesl: Karli Cadel Friedrich: Kyle Crews Louisa: Meagan Rossin Kurt: Steven Jones Brigitta: Maddie Shea-Baldwin Marta: Nicki Elledge Gretl: Stephanie Merrill Rolf: Ryan Wagner Elsa Schraeder, the Baroness: Daryl Daley Max Detweiler: Brian Polk Ursula, a Maid: Anna Seregina Esther, a Maid: Brittany Liebman Herr Zeller: Phillip Bowen Frau Zeller: Ashley Moore Baron Elberfeld: Michael Freeby Baroness Elberfeld: Katie Palmer New Postulant: Anna Seregina Admiral Von Schreiber: Jared Stovell Lieutenant F. Knauttenbrow: Tyler Knell Nuns: Katie Palmer Ashley Moore Brittany Liebman Sarah White Leigh Schindler Lauren Mickler Mikhaela Beaudet-DeBus Novices: Lesley Pate Jill Butterfield Piper Davis Allie Foxe Melani Greenberg-Glassman Postulants: Charlotte Wen Olivia Puckett Lizzy Palmer Pia Tuchscher Male Ensemble: Ian Brininstool Jonathan Edzant Teddy Fantano Matthew Maretz John Sale Kiefer Shackelford Kyler Waitley Director: Michael Anthony Music Director: Ronald Councell Set Design: Tony Cucuzzella Lighting Design: Ginger Harris Costume Design: Naomi Spinak-Katz Sound Design: Syd Stevens |