Can't wait till The Sound Of Music tour comes to Broadway with Rebecca Luker in February? Then head to Concord, CA where the Willows Theatre Company is doing its own production of the last Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein musical. The show just extended its run an extra week, to Jan. 17.
Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse wrote the libretto for 1959's Sound Of Music, based on the story of the "Trapp Family Singers" as documented by Maria Augusta Trapp. The autobiographical story told how the Trapps escaped from Austria during World War II.
The original production starred Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel. The film starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. Broadway last heard "Do Re Mi," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and "So Long, Farewell" in 1991 when Debby Boone, Laurence Guittard and Werner Klemperer starred in a revival at City Opera's New York State Theatre.
The Willows mounting, opened Dec. 5 and features Tanya Shaffer and Nick Hovick, alongside Lucia Scardigno (Mother Superior), Paul Plain (Max), Amy Ukena (Elsa) and twelve kids alternating as the seven von Trapp tykes: Evan Weiss, Melanie Smock, Lisa Kalb, Lisa Diaconis, Kerry Wininger, Becky Potter, Erik Altemus, Eric Loofbourrow, Annie Potter, Jessica Haburchak, Laura Diestler and Megan Botts. Also in the cast are Annie Scott Rogers, Katheryn [sic] Hecht, Daria Bauer, Heidi Botts, Michelle Barrow, Kristi Scott, Ron Pickett, Tania Johnson, Herb Fagen, Jay Clifton, Craig Doede and Nick Dothee. Previews began Dec. 1.
Andrew Holtz is directing The Sound Of Music, which features choreography by Sheri Stockdale. Designing the show are Andrea Bechert (set), Magritta Klassen (costumes), Chris Guptill (lighting) and John Koss (sound). For tickets and information on The Sound Of Music at Willows Theatre on Diamond Blvd., in Concord, call (510) 798-1300.
Upcoming shows at the venue include Moon Over Buffalo (Jan. 26 Feb. 28, 1998), Dreamgirls (March 16-April 11, 1998); Foxfire (June 1-July 5, 1998); Radio Gals (July 27-Sept. 12, 1998), Brimstone (Sept. 28-Oct. 31, 1998) and another Rodgers & Hammerstein musical still to be announced (Nov. 30, 1998).
-- By David Lefkowitz
