Tamaqua Drama Club presents Sound of Music

The hills behind the Tamaqua Area High School will stand in for the Austrian Alps this weekend when the Tamaqua Drama Club presents the musical “The Sound of Music.”

Set in 1938, the well-known musical production is based on the life of the von Trapp Family Singers, a family from Salzburg, Austria, who escaped to America after Austria was invaded by the Nazis.

It is based on a memoir penned by Maria (Rainer) von Trapp, the second wife of retired naval Captain Georg von Trapp. The family also includes the seven von Trapp children.

The audience becomes quite familiar with Maria’s days as a novitiate at the Nonnberg Abbey, where she can’t quite control her love of music and imagination, to her first days as a governess for the von Trapp children, to changing the outlook of the staid captain, to the love that develops and the need for escape from the Nazis.

For the Tamaqua production, the part of Maria is being played by Emily Barrett, a senior who also portrayed another character made popular by British actress/songstress Julie Andrews in last year’s production of Mary Poppins.

Captain von Trapp is ably helmed by Detrick Borden, who is also a senior student. The von Trapp children include: Grace Kinder as Liesl; Anna McCabe as Brigitta; Denny Krell as Kurt; Suzie Johns as Gretl; Jessica Koscak as Louisa; Liam Borden as Friedrich; and Megan Oswald as Marta.

Clair Lewis opens the play as Mother Abbess, while Talia Lewis portrays Sister Margaretta; Jocelyn Rega as Sister Sophia; and Holly Wagner as Sister Berthe.

The supporting cast includes: Zach Frie as Leisl’s love interest Rolf Gruber; Nathaniel Noftz as Max Detweiler; Sarah Martinez as Baroness Elsa Schraeder; Anthony Witczak as the priest; Kipp Tonkin as Franz; and Olivia Lattanzi as Frau Schmidt.

A total of 58 students make up the cast, with another 40 serving as the backstage crew. The cast and crew are under the direction of Adrienne Drum, with Erika Cassell serving as assistant director and choreographer.

Behind the scenes, in addition to Drum and Cassell, are: Amy Gardiner, scenic design; Deb Sweeney, music director; Ruth Gardiner, stage manager; Greg Semanco, sound technician; and Amy Delpais, marketing director.

After the successful performance of Mary Poppins in March, when two of the three shows were sellouts, the club had to find a new way to sell advance tickets.

Cassell says “The shows were so popular, there were small issues as the seats weren’t reserved. This year, when you buy an advance ticket, you can choose your seat and have it guaranteed. It’s been very popular, with Friday’s show almost sold out already.”

Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a matinee performance at noon on Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students.