News Reporter
“I get goose bumps even though I watch the same scenes over and over again...I know you’ll get them too!” This is how Cheryce Husar ’08, playing the character of a nun, responded when asked to give a brief advertisement for the upcoming spring musical, “The Sound of Music.” Rehearsals have been going on since the beginning of spring term, and the entire cast devotes two hours each day. According to Husar, “it’s coming along great!”
The “Sound of Music” cast is a select group of people, and auditions were divided into three parts in order to grasp the talents of the participants more firmly. “There were three days of tryouts, one for acting where we each ‘cold-read’ a scene from the show, one for dancing where we were taught a dance and then had to dance it in groups, one for singing where we each chose a song from the show that designated our vocal range.” Taylor Visoski ’09 said. They were “pretty chill” as Husar says, and from the format of the auditions, it is safe to assume that everyone in the cast is well rounded in three areas: acting, dancing, and singing.
Also taking on the role of a nun, Visoski commented that “taking pictures and the comradery” is her favorite part of rehearsals. Husar said, “I love getting the songs stuck in my head and whistling them all day. People get irritated but that makes it even better.” Cheyenne Wise ’09, yet another nun and also a guest at Captain Von Trapp’s house, gave a very cheerful response. “Wow, that’s a hard one. I think I don’t really have a favorite part. I just like being there.” David Woo ’09 plays a Japanese teenager heavily influenced by the Nazi party and another guest at the Captain’s. He declared that “working with Mr. Tines is just an incredible experience. He is always full of energy, and keeps us working all the time. He also cares for every single individual in the cast.” Mr. Tines, the director, also “instructed [them] to name [their] own characters and build [their] objectives in the show.” According to many members of the cast, this makes the rehearsals not only meaningful, but also fun, and the actors get to have their own say in the play. Not only are they preparing for a highly productive performance, but they are also making the most of the experience and enjoying it at the same time.
Mr. Tines claims that working with the actors is “very rewarding.” He “[takes] pride in the actors’ growth during the rehearsal process.” His favorite part of rehearsals is “emotionally breaking down a scene, working on lyrical interpretation, and refining the acting.” He says that he wants the audience to see ‘The Sound of Music’ “as an honest portrayal of a family.” He explains, “Most of the audience will be familiar with the movie starring Julie Andrews. I am sure the audience will be humming along and even silently saying the dialogue. The movie is iconic and part of the American culture.”
Woo “[guarantees] that ‘The Sound of Music’ will open as a marvelous production,” Wise said to “go see ‘The Sound of Music’ or [she] will poke you,” while Taylor insisted that everyone “Come to see it.”
