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Columbia County hills will be alive with the Sound of Music, which begins its 13-performance run tonight, November 10 on stage at Dayton's Liberty Theater. The title role of Maria is played by Janine Wheeler, center, in this scene singing with the von Trapp children, from left to right, Rae Howard (Gretl), Casey Collins (Friedrich), Natalie Knudson (Louisa), Wheeler, Makenna Barron (Liesl), Cindi Howard (Brigitta), Carter Barron (Kurt), and Janie Howard (Marta).
DAYTON–After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the Sound of Music–in more ways than one–will again be heard on stage at the Liberty Theater as the beloved story of the Von Trapp Family Singers begins its 13-performance run with its first show tonight, November 10.
Headlining the production are Janine Wheeler as Maria and Tony Sykes as Captain Georg von Trapp, in the classic story of the young postulant who brings love and music into the lives of a widowed Austrian naval officer and his seven children. The play is directed by Sarah Shutters.
Audiences will enjoy crowd-pleasing numbers such as "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" and "My Favorite Things."
"Live theater is a very special experience in Dayton," commented Kirsten Schober, the play's producer, "with the drama and comedy enveloping the audience in the magic. Attending the fall musical has been a tradition for families across the region, and its return is creating a lot of buzz after the two-year absence due to COVID."
The supporting cast includes Mother Abbess-Sarah Thomson, Liesl-Makenna Barron, Friedrich-Casey Collins, Louisa-Natalie Knudson, Kurt-Carter Barron, Brigitta-Cindi Howard, Marta-Janie Howard, Gretl-Rae Howard, Rolf-Isaiah Velazquez, Elsa-Schraeder Jennie "Jae" Goodridge, Max Detweiler-Todd Vandenbark, Sister Berthe-Roz Edwards, Sister Margaretta-Melissa Gemmell, Sister Sophia-Mariah Carlyle, Franz, the butler-Dave Molesh, Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper-Deb Fortner, Ursula, a maid-Milena Gemmell, Baron Elberfeld-Chuck Reeves, Baroness Elberfeld-Samantha Steinhoff, Herr Zeller-Mike Luce, Frau Zeller-Miranda Barden, Admiral von Schreiber-Justin Jaech, Sr. and Postulants Genesee Smith and Skylar McCann.
Neighbors/ballroom dancers: Genesee Smith, Josh Reser, Julie Howard, Nolan Korslund, Phil Howard, Skylar McCann. Festival kid contestants: Charlotte Billow, Mia Paquette, Natalie Paquette, Reagyn Fabian, Rhonda Yutzy, Rosemary Yutzy, Ryleigh Fabian. "The Lonely Goatherd" dancers: Charlotte Billow, Mia Paquette, Natalie Paquette, Reagyn Fabian, Rhonda Yutzy, Rosemary Yutzy, Ryleigh Fabian, Skylar McCann. Nazi soldiers: Hudson Reser, Josh Reser, Nolan Korslund, Vaughn Walter.
The Liberty, Dayton's nonprofit cultural center since the theater's rebirth in 2001, previously brought the von Trapp family story to its stage in 2005 and is known for delivering acclaimed theatrical extravaganzas, including The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins.
During the pandemic, the theater installed enhanced theater ventilation and air purification, as well as enhanced sanitation procedures, and continues to utilize these tools. Masks are optional and encouraged.
Go to libertytheater.org for more information or to purchase tickets. Tickets can also be purchased the theater during theater manager Debbie Ayerst's office hours, Tuesdays and Fridays between 2 and 5 p.m.
