When the idea of directing this show was presented to me, I immediately knew it would be special. This show was written in 1959 and has had 8 revival productions on Broadway, The West End, national tours, countless regional productions, a world famous film, and a record breaking live T.V. broadcast in the years since its debut. The Sound of Music has not only endured, but has become the gold standard of early American Musical Theatre. Against the backdrop of the 1939 Nazi invasion of Austria, it is a story about a family learning to heal and love each other in the face of tragic loss, and standing up for what is right when it is especially difficult. One common thread I kept hearing from so many people was that The Sound of Music was the first introduction they ever had to musical theatre. This was the case for me as well. My mother’s very first trip to a movie theater as a small child was with her grandmother to see the film staring Julie Andrews. When I was 4 years old, she showed the movie to me. I was in awe of this world of music, dancing, and romance. I am so happy to continue passing on this story and its music.
To the cast and crew - It has been my honor to work with this incredibly talented and hard working group of performers! On behalf of our production team (Kim Hendrix- Racine, Sarah Roberson, Casey Arnold and Alicia Campen), we want to thank you for all the heart you have poured into this production. We are very fortunate to have such a talented and willing team of parent volunteers and board members working countless hours to help make this show come to life! Thank you all for everything you do.
And finally, thank you to all of you in the audience for being here and supporting performing arts programs like Young Actors' Theatre. We certainly could not do this without you!
Marisa Musgrove
Director, The Sound of Music
