The Sauk presents 'The Sound of Music'

JONESVILLE — The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theatre, will present "The Sound of Music" for eight performances, Oct. 12-15 and 19-22. 

The final collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II was destined to become the world's most beloved musical, the theater said. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "My Favorite Things," "Do Re Mi," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" and the title number, “The Sound of Music” earned five Tony Awards and five Oscars. The inspirational story, based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp, follows an ebullient postulate who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. But as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, Maria and the entire von Trapp family must make a moral decision.

The cast consists of Gianna Green as Maria, Morgan Francis as Captain von Trapp, Meghan Barnes as Elsa, Travis Blatchley as Max, Jennifer Wagler as Mother Abbess, Samantha Lehman as Sister Berthe, Chloe Callender as Sister Margaretta, Breanne Vander Hill as Sister Sophia, Nate Nelson as Franz, Mandee Howard as Frau Schmidt, Nathan Harmon as Rolf, Lacie Keef as Ursula, Nathan Johnson as Herr Zeller, Sam Negus as Baron Elberfeld, Laura Negus as Baroness Elberfeld, Jessica Franklin as Frau Zeller and Paul Chamberlain as Admiral von Schrieber. The von Trapp children are portrayed by Berdie Bringer, Benjamin Springer, Drue Barnes, Ford Swihart, Serena Fleming, Blythe Barnes and Olive Johnson. The cast also includes Castin Cousino, Josh Lightner, Jacob Weldon, Jonah Hambleton, Paige Barnes, Abby Brownlee, Ruth Brownlee, Morgan Fausz, Meghan Mekelburg, Erika Chamberlain, Heidi Hambleton, Hannah Kies, Kaylee McCoy, Esther Yokell, Cyndi Baldermann, Kris Johnson, Patricia Jordon, Brandi Tippner and Carol Trevino.

The production’s orchestra consists of Susan Nawrot, Dawn Leno, Marsha Layman, Mark Hageman, Sarah Hashimoto, Rob Gates, Sandra Pooley, Tom Spring, Chris Dube, Tom Ryskamp and Timothy Green.

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The production is directed by Trinity Bird with musical direction by Kristi Gautsche. Stage management is by Allison Tappen with assistance from Shannon Chen. Gay Shaw is the vocal coach. The design team consists of Bird (set), Patty Spence (costumes), Angela Forant (lights), Tim Ambrose (sound) and Blatchley (properties). The crew includes Ron Boyle, Diane Langan, Joella Hendrickson, Josh Hall, Alessa Howard, Ashton Forant, Brenden Forant, Thallen Forant, Patrick Cook and Savannah Bruton.

Tickets for this weekend are sold out. Tickets for next weekend are available by calling 517-849-9100 or visiting www.thesauk.org. All performances are at the Sauk Theatre, 240 E. Chicago St. in Jonesville.

“The Sound of Music” is sponsored by County National Bank. The show’s orchestra sponsor is Moore Insurance Services Inc. The 2023 season is sponsored by Joyous Journey Photography. The media sponsor for 2023 is WCSR Radio Hillsdale 92.1 FM and 99.5-The Dale.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: The Sauk in Jonesville presents 'The Sound of Music'