At the theater last night another rehearsal of “Sound of Music” was in progress, and funny enough, they were reviewing the same scene I saw them blocking two weeks ago. What made it so interesting and fun was to see the huge improvements in just two weeks. The set has grown considerably – there are stairs, screens and columns where two weeks ago there was just a platform. Elegant rounded steps replace the triangular ones left over from the “King and I” set. The kids are developing characters and struggling to get off book (memorize their lines so they don’t need a book or script in their hands). The scene was complete with the dance steps learned the Saturday after my last visit. Costumes are progressing; the boys’ nightwear arrived and was tried on, there are dresses to hem and others to be fitted. The nun’s costumes are segregated and accessories like rosaries were discussed. Even the review of the music was different – two weeks ago was sitting in lobby in chairs - last night the kids were on stage for a song sing-through, but couldn’t help themselves from practicing the movements.
The purpose for my being at the theater was to take publicity shots of the Captain and Maria (played by Mark Calkins and Lauren Yokabaskas). The new head of the Marketing Committee, Patricia Davis, hopes to distribute press releases and publicity photos today to the various media sources. She was also busy doing a last minute review of the bios for the program compiled by the show’s producer Newt Curtis. Program information is due to be submitted to the printers today. Three weeks from the show and there are already deadlines to meet!

-- posted by Margaret Barrasso

The first show of the season, “The King and I” closed with its final performance on Sunday the 8th, followed by strike of the set and a cast party afterwards. On to the second show of the season! “The Sound of Music” entered its fourth week of rehearsals this week, but for the first time the stage is theirs. Set construction has already started along with other activities like preparing costumes.
The theater was quieter last night than for “The King and I” rehearsals -though still bustling with activity. The relatively lower noise level was mainly due to the smaller cast of “Sound of Music”– Baron Von Trapp has ‘only’ seven children vs. the King’s 18. This show has most of the children ‘double cast’ – meaning two children will play a single role, each having different performances. For director Michael Donovan and music director Denise Calkins, it means they teach everything twice. The casts sometimes rehearse on separate nights, but last night both the “A” and “B” casts were there. While one was on stage blocking, the other was in the lobby learning music; halfway through they swapped places. Strains of “Doe, a deer” and “So long, farewell…” were heard while the director explained the blocking of the party scene to those on stage. This was also the first rehearsal in a few weeks for the adult ensemble; previous rehearsals were primarily for the children, nuns or principles.
In the midst of all the rehearsing, other folks were busy working on costumes. As usual, costume designer Louise Keezer had a few volunteers in to pick up costumes to work on at home. Jennifer Ernst’s project is Maria’s wedding dress, and Lauren Yokabaskas, who is playing Maria, had a fitting last night. Two other costume assistants, Lisa Grimshaw and Cindel Lamothe, are helping with the children’s costumes. These two have a somewhat vested interest as they both have daughters in the show.
The next rehearsal on Saturday will be for the children to learn to waltz for the party scene, plus covering all they’ve learned so far. Next week will include working of Act 1 (already!), so the show is well on it’s way to being ready for it’s November 17th opening.

-- posted by Margaret Barrasso

Music rehearsal for Cast B

Music rehearsal for Cast A

Cast A gets notes form the director Michael Donovan

Cast B gets notes from the director

Director Michael Donovan and Costume Assistant Jennifer Ernst
display Maria’s wedding dress

Costume Assistants Lisa Grimshaw and Cindel Lamothe
show some of the children’s costumes