'Sound of Music' ready to start
by By Gay Schlitter Storms
(Posted 7/21/2009 03:22 pm)
Stephanie Sanders and Stephen Leckenby will play the couple Maria Rainer and Capt. Georg von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” that runs July 31 through Aug. 2 and Aug. 7 to 9 at the National Theatre, 1114 East Walker, in Breckenridge.
Graham Regional Theatre’s Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10. Director Christian Sanders urges theater patrons to buy tickets beforehand because tickets are nearly sold out on some nights.
“We enjoyed a lot of new cast members that are all local, including Wichita Falls in local. We are casting entirely from this community and using no professionals. It’s exciting to see that people from all the surrounding communities feel free to audition,” Christian Sanders said.
Christian Sanders’ expertise as a director enables him to transform an epic love story into a thrilling stage musical.
“‘The Sound of Music’ is a classic story, familiar for some people,” said Stephanie. “For the older ones, it is nostalgic. People are excited to have their friends and family come see the musical who haven’t experienced it yet.”
Sanders said movie patrons will find that the movie version is different from the stage version, but it won’t be any less enjoyable.
“One of my favorite things is working through the music again — the songs are so memorable,” said Christian. “You never want to take anything out of a show you know and love, and we haven’t at all — we haven’t because we don’t do reprieves.”
“We cut out some scenes and made some minor changes to make it flow,” said Stephanie. “Some of the songs in the stage version are not in the movie and vice versa. But lots of favorites are still there.”
Stephanie, who sings many solos during the musical, finds it difficult to pick out just one favorite song.
“If I have to pick just one, I like ‘Do-Re-Mi’ because I get to sing with the kids and interact with them,” Stephanie said.
”The best part of the show is watching kids fall in love with the show,” said Christian. “They became interested in the historical aspect, why all of it is so important.”
Both Stephanie and Christian Sanders were pleased by the number of hopefuls from Graham, Olney, Newcastle and Wichita Falls who auditioned for the musical. So many children auditioned that Sanders picked out two different casts of children to alternate each night.
“We want to get kids involved,” said Christian. “Even if you don’t pursue theater, a person needs to be able to stand up in front of people and express yourself. Theater is wonderful for a community to have.”
Christian said the “Sound of Music” is a landmark musical because it has drawn people into the arts who were never before interested.
“The Sound of Music has brought lots of people in that would not normally be interested in musical theater,” said Christian.
Because Breckenridge National Theatre is smaller than Graham Memorial Auditorium, the sets have been designed with that in mind.
“We pared it down a bit because the stage will be smaller,” said Christian. “We’re using quality pieces that will suggest a full box set and using smaller and more quaint props.”
Christian said Drake Stephens is helping him to build the sets, and many of his drama students at Graham High School are helping locate props. Others working behind the scenes are Carol Golbert of Olney, rehearsal pianist, and Dax Freeman, GHS band director, Instrumental Ease director.
Christian said the show had to be moved to Breckenridge due to problems with the air conditioner at Graham Memorial Auditorium. The chances of having air conditioning by opening night was about 50/50, he said.
“We didn’t feel we could take a chance on the air conditioning,” Christian said. “And we do want to be a regional theater group, not just for Graham. This was a good opportunity to bring in more people to get involved. It will be nice and exciting, and people in Breckenridge have been wonderful to us.
“We would like to return to Graham next year.”
