The Sound of Music

Nearly 60 years ago, Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, won the hearts of audiences worldwide. The musical is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Set in Austria on the eve of the 1938 Anschluss, the annexation of Austria and Nazi Germany, the musical tells the story of Catholic postulant Maria becoming a governess to the seven children of Captain Georg von Trapp. She falls in love with the children, and eventually their widowed father, Captain von Trapp. He is ordered to accept a commission in the German navy, but he opposes the Nazis. He and Maria decide on a plan to flee Austria with the children. The music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse have made this musical a lasting favorite for many generations. Songs like "Edelweiss", "My Favorite Things", "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", "Do-Re-Mi", and the title song "The Sound of Music" are featured in this classic musical. Premiering weekends, July 13 through July 22, the tale of Maria and her new family unfolds at West Performing Arts Center in New Berlin.

West Community Theatre 6th Season features The Sound of Music with the Youth Workshop’s Annie Jr. As Maria von Trapp, the part Mary Martin played on Broadway and Julie Andrews played in the 1965 movie with Christopher Plummer as the Captain, Susanna Thorngate-Rein plays with WestCT veteran Bryan Madson (Wizard of Oz’s Tinman) as the Captain. The musical begins with Maria as a postulant in the Abbey. The Reverend Mother (Suzanne Stalker) and sisters (Jessica Pawlak, Jennifer Sweetland and Elizabeth Brown) recommend she govern the 7 von Trapp children (played by Sarah Melcher, Aaron Economy, Hannah Filter, Mitchell Anderson, Lilli Graesing, Natalie Krogwold and Anna Gerke), where Maria teaches the children to sing. Max Dettlaff (David Jirik) is helpful in their career and the von Trapp Family end up performing and winning an Austrian contest. Baroness Elsa Schraeder (Elisabeth Katschke) helps the Captain to realize his love for Maria, who he later marries. And its Rolf Gruber (Joseph Gallo) who sings with Leisl von Trapp “Sixteen going on Seventeen”.

Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music will perform at the West Performing Arts Center in New Berlin weekends, July 13-22, 2018. More than 80 community actors, artists and musicians will be featured in the production. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Reserved seating ticket prices are Adults $18, Seniors (60+) $15, Students $12, Children $10. Tickets can be purchased on-line, at the administrative office of New Berlin West School, and the WestPAC box office one hour prior to curtain. On-line ticket purchase includes reserving seats in advance and is strongly encouraged to reduce wait time in line or late curtain times. See West Community Theatre for more information.