The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

The Hills Of Hoosick Falls Are Alive With The Sound of Music

By

The Hoosick Falls Central School Drama Club will be presenting Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic The Sound Of Music. Performances will be on Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9, beginning at 7 pm, and Sunday, April 10, beginning at 2 pm. Admission is free.
The story, based on true events, takes place in Austria in 1938 as the country is grappling with the growing Nazi crisis. A nun named Maria is sent to help a widowed naval captain with his seven children and ends up helping the family learn and love through her joy, her warmth and through the power of music. As the family grows closer, so does the pending Nazi occupation, forcing them to choose between the country they love and the bonds they share.
The stage version of the production opened over 50 years ago with Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel as Maria and the Captain, and, 45 years ago, the movie version featured Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. This production will feature sophomore Katherine Danforth and senior Brett Hanselman in the title roles. Rounding out the older roles are Amanda Middleton as the Mother Abbess, Anna Youngmann as the Baroness Elsa Schraeder, Evan Morier as Max Detweiler and Zachary Green as Rolf.
“I feel that the beauty and joy of this show, combined with the wonderful music, has been a big part of its appeal and popularity,” Director Rob Allen said. “The themes are centered very heavily on the family and its relationships, and how we each help one another as we grow up. And of course, there are the adorable children roles, which are so well written and easy to connect with.”
The Drama Club opened auditions to the elementary and middle school for the show.  “We were amazed at the number of students who came out for the show, and the talent that we saw.  It was very exciting,” Rob Allen said. “We decided to cast two sets of von Trapp children that will rotate each performance and also invited several elementary school students to join our cast as nuns.”
The von Trapp children roles will be performed by Elise North-Kirkman as Liesl, Theodore Brogue and Jonas Werger as Friedrick, Samantha Brewer and Allyson Burdick as Louisa, Guy Milliman as Kurt, Madison Bellemare and Emily Houghton as Brigitta, Anna Brewer and Darian Morgan as Marta and Maria Martinez and Rosabell Plusch as Gretl.
There will be a 15 minute intermission, where food and drink will be available in the high school cafeteria, with all proceeds going to the Performing Arts Booster Club.  All audiences young and old are invited to attend this classic story.