Cottage Theatre’s spring musical this year is The Sound of Music, the inspirational story of Maria von Trapp. Winner of the 1959 Tony Award for Best Musical, The Sound of Music features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The book, by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is inspired by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. This iconic musical will be onstage for four weekends at Cottage Theatre beginning Friday, April 5.
The story behind The Sound of Music is well-known thanks to the 1965 movie version starring Julie Andrews. In 1930s Austria, a troublesome postulant named Maria proves too high-spirited for the discipline of religious life, so the Mother Abbess sends her away to care for the children of a widowed naval Captain.
As Maria’s world turns upside down, she rises to the challenge of befriending the seven youngsters, who have driven away countless prior governesses. Maria’s generosity of spirit and her love of music gradually win the children’s, and eventually the Captain’s, affections. When Austria is invaded by the Nazis, the family flees over the mountains to Switzerland, providing the thrilling finale to this inspirational story.
Cottage Theatre’s production of The Sound of Music is directed by Joel Ibáñez, with music direction by Chris King and choreography by Janet Rust. Costume design is by Rhonda Turnquist, set design by Tony Rust, and lighting design by Amanda Ferguson. The production stars Sabrina Gross as Maria and Nathan Blakely as Captain Georg von Trapp. The seven von Trapp children are played by Hanna Foshay (Liesl), Maia Wilhour (Friedrich), Kira Carver (Louisa), Nicole Wilhour (Brigitta), William Blakely (Kurt), Audriahna Jones (Marta), and Zoe Goings (Gretl). Other featured actors include Tracy Nygard (Mother Abbess), Brittany Dreier (Elsa Schraeder), Blake Nelson (Max Detweiler), and Oshen Parris-Austin (Rolf).
The Sound of Music runs for four weekends at Cottage Theatre from April 5-28. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. There is no performance on Easter Sunday, April 21.
Tickets are available online at www.cottagetheatre.org, by phone at 541-942-8001, or in person at the Cottage Theatre Box Office, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove.
The Sound of Music is the final production in Cottage Theatre’s current auditorium. The theatre will be closing temporarily in May for a major remodeling project that will add 50 seats. A variety of technical and safety features also will be upgraded. Cottage Theatre will resume its 2019 season in October with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [Revised].
