Beginning this week, Midland Community Theatre brings a classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical to the stage for its final production of the 2023 season.
“The Sound of Music,” one of the world’s most beloved musicals, will take the stage at the Davis Theatre at the MCT starting with its performance this Friday and continuing through Dec. 16.
Directing the musical, for the third time, is MCT Executive Director Tim Jebsen.
“It’s one of my favorites,” Jebsen said. “I think most people are introduced to it through the Julie Andrews movie so it has a family tradition to it. When we’re looking for holiday shows, that aren’t necessarily a Christmas classic, so we’re looking for something that the family enjoys. I don’t know about you, but I tend to watch this at the holiday season. Even if the story doesn’t have anything to do with Christmas, it still has that holiday feel to it.”
Tickets can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/mrxvuu24.
The performance features a trove of cherished songs including “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things” and “Do Re Mi,” just to name a few.
The musical, which is 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.
Playing the role of Maria is Rachel Harper.
“There are so many things I love about this musical,” Harper said. “I love being around the kids. The kids really make the show what it is. They add something special to it.”
When it comes to playing Maria, Harper said she has some comparisons between herself and her character.
“I think I’m a lot like Maria in some ways,” Harper said. “She’s energetic and day-dreamy. She’s also confrontational, but also ADD. I’ve never gotten to play a character that was like myself, so it feels pretty normal. Also, it’s a beloved musical so it’s an honor to be in it.”
Playing the role of the captain is Todd Lagus, who is making his musical theater debut.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Lagus said. “It’s been fun putting on a production. There are a lot of great people and volunteers.”
There are a total of 39 cast members in the show who have been working hard for the last two months.
“We auditioned in late September,” Jebsen said. “We’ve been at work with it for six weeks.”
This musical will also feature the recently installed LED walls on the stage at MCT which were built last year.
“One of the big changes was adding the LED walls,” Jebsen said. “One of the challenges was that we want the audience to feel like they’re going up the mountains. So our stage manager has created a nice way to make that happen with the LED walls. There are a lot of changes. Just because I’ve directed it three times, doesn’t mean that this is going to be the same time as the other two. None of the actors are the same and the way we’re staging it is different. There’s familiarity and there’s newness to it.”
Jebsen talked about some of the other challenges they’ve had with the show.
“This show has been fun because the nuns have some very challenging singing in Latin,” Jebsen said. “Not only is it hard to sing those harmonies, but you’re also not singing in English so you’re singing it in a language you’re not familiar with. It’s beautiful to hear, but they’ll tell you it’s been a challenge.”
For more information about MCT, go to tinyurl.com/33wvc6f3.
If you go
- What: “The Sound of Music.”
- Where: Midland Community Theatre (Davis Theatre).
- When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18; 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16.
- Where to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/mrxvuu24
