The hills of Sonoma County will be alive with “The Sound of Music” from Nov. 22 to Dec. 8! Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts Department students will perform the classic Broadway musical “The Sound of Music” beginning this weekend at Sonoma State University.
The play is based on the true story of the Von Trapp family’s experience coming together as a loving family and escaping the Australian Alps after Germany invaded. Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse wrote the original play in 1959 based off of the Von Trapp family’s memoir in 1949. It was adapted into a critically acclaimed movie in 1965. Specifically, Oscar Hammerstein II penned the lyrics for the play and Richard Rodgers curated the soundtrack.
The production has moved to the Rohnert Park venue because the Burbank Auditorium is currently under construction for another semester.
SRJC student Ariana LaMark, who plays Maria, discussed why this performance was so important to her in a recent interview with Santa Rosa Junior College Public Relations. “It opened my eyes to the magic that is theatre,” she said. “It’s the perfect show for the holidays because it’s about family, love and standing up for what you believe in. It’s about finding out who you are and what you want.”
Actor Kira Catanzaro plays Sister Berthe in the musical. “I absolutely had to be in ‘The Sound of Music,’” she said. “When I was little, a friend and I performed the entire show again and again in our living rooms. There is such depth to the sisters and their songs.”
Laura Downing-Lee directed the show with music direction by Janis Dunson Wilson, vocal direction by Tina Lloyd Meals and Janis Dunson Wilson and choreography by Alyce Finwall.
The play will be performed at two different times at the Evert B Peterson Theatre at SSU at 1801 E Cotati Ave Rohnert Park 94928. The first set of shows will be on Nov. 22, 23, 29, 30 Dec. 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 p.m. The second set of shows will be Nov. 23 (Sold out), 24 (14 seats left) and 30, and Dec. 1, 7 and 8 at 1:30 p.m.
General admission tickets cost $25. Purchase them at the Haehl Pavillion box office or online at https://theatrearts.santarosa.edu/buy-tickets-online. An SSU parking permit costs $5.
