Joining the previously announced Amanda Watkins (Maria), Robert Cuccioli (Captain Georg von Trapp), Ed Dixon (Uncle Max) and Donna English (Baroness Elsa Schraeder) is Meg Bussert. Bussert, a Tony Award nominee for her performance in Brigadoon, will portray Mother Abbess. The remainder of the cast comprises Alison Brustofski (Brigitta), Tiffany Giardina (Marta), Nicholas Jonas (Kurt), Caroline London (Gretl), Elizabeth Lundberg (Liesl), Daniel Plimpton (Friedrich), Krista Pioppi (Louisa), Jacquelyn Baker, Christy Boardman, Janinah Burnett, Carey Brown, Scott Duquette, Gina Ferrall (Sister Berthe), Osborn Focht, Michael Hayward-Jones, Ereni Hrousis, Sarah Jebian, Patrick Kane, Cecily Kate, Peter Kidd, Jean Marie, Jessica Mary Murphy (Sr. Margaretta), Michael O'Day, William Solo (Franz), John Stillwagon, Bob Stoeckle, Mark Willett (Rolf), Kristen Beth Williams and Rachel Olivia Wortham. Directed and choreographed by James Brennan, The Sound of Music — which was immortalized on screen by Julie Andrews — will begin performances at the New Jersey theatre Oct. 29 with an official opening scheduled for Oct. 31 at 8 PM. The production will run through Dec. 14.
The Sound of Music originally opened at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Nov. 1959. Mary Martin headed a cast that also included Theodore Bikel and Patricia Neway; the most recent Broadway revival featured Rebecca Luker as the beloved Maria von Trapp. The classic score boasts such tunes as "Do Re Mi," "My Favorite Things," "The Sound of Music" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain."
The Sound of Music will play Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM, Sundays at 7:30 PM, Thursday and Sundays at 2 PM and Saturdays at 2:30 PM. Tickets, priced $30-$67, are available by calling (973) 376-4343. The Paper Mill: The State Theatre of New Jersey is located in Millburn, N.J., on Brookside Drive. Visit www.papermill.org for more information.
