Mackenzie Moore (left) plays Maria in Jonathan Alder High School’s upcoming production of “The Sound of Music.” Playing the von Trapp family are: Adam Wheelbarger (right) as Captain von Trapp and (starting from the first step and going up) Maryn Tanferi as Gretl, Emily Wheelbarger as Marta, Honour Lackey as Brigitta, Evan Stage as Kurt, Maddy Frambes as Louisa, Sam Stage as Freidrich, and Katie Davis as Liesl.
(Posted April 15, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
To fill the roles of six of the von Trapp children in “The Sound of Music,” Jonathan Alder High School musical director Anne Gorman opened auditions to elementary and junior high students. Sixty-six second- through eighth-graders showed up.
“That was a huge audition, and the kids we cast are just amazing,” Gorman said.
The youngsters are gelling well with their high school counterparts in a cast that overall numbers 50. Shows are set for April 16-19.
“They’ve become almost like a family, especially the kids playing the von Trapp children and adults. They spend so much time together (in rehearsal). They’re here more than they are with their own families,” Gorman said with a chuckle.
Helping to forge that chemistry are the seniors holding down the lead roles: Mackenzie Moore as Maria, Adam Wheelbarger as Captain von Trapp, Madi Short as Elsa, and Noah Haines as Max.
“All of them are really good role models for the younger kids. They’re great at giving them advice,” Gorman said.
About the cast as a whole, she added, “There aren’t enough superlatives to describe how great they are. They’re working hard and doing a fabulous job.”
Gorman is excited to present “The Sound of Music” for a variety of reasons. Among them is the fact that the show has a large number of roles for females. The last few shows at Jonathan Alder featured more male leads. Gorman said she was happy to make the shift.
She also loves the show for its music, including the iconic songs, “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Edelweiss” and the show’s namesake song, “The Sound of Music.”
Bringing the story to life is an elaborate set that includes a grand, winding staircase and a 16-foot tall mountain.
“With the set, it’s a mathematical work of art for it to fit on our stage, for the pieces to be moved in and out, and to make it work for our stage crew,” Gorman said.
Ticket sales for the production are brisk. A handful of tickets remain for the April 16 dinner theatre, for which all seats are $25. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. followed by the show at 7:30.
The April 17-18 shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for seniors over 65 years old and children 10 and younger
The April 19 show starts at 3 p.m. and all seats are $8.
To purchase tickets, email gormanan@japioneers.org.
