The Bradford Area High School stage was full of young women trying on habits, and directors making sure every article of their costumes was exact, during technical rehearsal for the upcoming production of “The Sound of Music” March 15-17.
The district-wide show, under the direction of Andrew R. Dutko, vocal music director at the high school, is entering its final stages of preparation.
“This is coming along very nicely,” Dutko said as students tried on costumes pulled from racks on stage. “We’re all having a wonderful time” and working on the fine details of the production.
He noted auditions for the production, which has 44 cast members, took place immediately after the Thanksgiving holiday and involves students from the elementary to high school level.
He said the show is a community effort as parents, staff, teachers and organizations have helped make the production a reality.
“We have parents who are coming in and helped build parts of the set,” Dutko said. “We’ve had other people come in and help us build various pieces and props … it’s been wonderful to see the support throughout the entire system in Bradford.”
Along those lines, costumes and props for the wide-scale production have been provided by the high school stock as well as Kiwanis Kapers, Bradford Little Theatre, Warren Players, Just Riding Along and Rev. Ray Gramata of St. Bernard Catholic Church.
Dutko believes the popularity of the final collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II has contributed to the outpouring of help from the community.
The story, written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, was suggested by Maria Augusta Trapp’s true story, “The Trapp Family Singers.” Set in Austria during World War II in 1938, the
the musical features a number of familiar songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” and the title song.
Co-directors of the production are Lisa Fedak and Emily Frederick and orchestra director Marissa Golden, all alumnae of the high school.
“We’re in the final steps (of the production), we’re checking to make sure we have all of our pieces, we’re adjusting all of the lighting and just did the music and artistic director sounds,” Dutko said. “We’re doing costume checks right now.”
Golden said she had been a member of the orchestra for productions in high school, “So it’s fun to be on the other side of this where I’m (helping) direct the whole thing.”
Frederick said she enjoys working with the different age groups as “they’ve gotten along really well and you see some of the older kids bonding with the younger ones.”
Two of the leads in the musical, Gretchen Henneman as Maria Rainer, and Bailey Fedak as the Mother Abbess, also commented.
“Maria actually has been a dream role of mine since the live version came out” with the televised production, Henneman said. “The Sound of Music has always been one of my favorite shows. Maria is such an icon, she’s someone I looked up to and now I have an opportunity to play her.”
Fedak said she, too, is excited about the production, as she gets to be “motherly” on stage.
“I’ve never been in a motherly role before,” she commented.
Other high school students who commented on the performance included Louissa Brandt, who was trying on a nun’s costume.
“Every year it’s fun,” Brandt said. “It has its ups and downs, but it’s worth it.”
Another high school performer, Kilynn Scott, said she had been in productions in middle school, but this was her “first high school rodeo.”
“I’m not the best actor, but I like acting” in minor roles, Scott said. “It’s good experience.”
Performances will be 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday March 15 and 16, with a matinee at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Tickets will only be available at the door, at a cost of $10 for each adult and $8 for each person ages 18 and under or senior citizens ages 55 and older.
