The Sound of Music will be performed in the auditorium on Jan. 22, 23 and 24. The show will be produced by theatre and choir, with orchestra and band students providing instrumentals. Compared to other plays in the black box, the musicals are usually very large productions, and the students have been working hard to make sure this beloved classic is memorable. While audiences are looking forward to the music and performances, the technical elements are expected to be just as impressive, forming the backbone to the musical.
“This is going to be my last musical,” senior stage manager Jessica Lee said. “I was excited to take on something this big as a senior with all of my best friends. It definitely pushed us, but I think the final product will be worth it.”
Behind the scenes, the set will be one of the most ambitious the troupe has attempted. Designed to capture both the warmth of the Von Trapp villa and the ornate abbey the play starts off in, there are many unconventional set decisions that have been employed.
“The set is very unique, and I’ve had fun lighting it,” senior lights chief Amelie Tse said. “I’m not used to doing a show with different sets in front of different curtains and the audience being a part of the show, but I think it has made this a very memorable experience.”
The set’s many changes and production decisions—like incorporating the whole of the auditorium into the set—have challenged Tse and the actors to push past what they know and put their own spin on this classic. The costume crew has worked tirelessly to find the iconic outfits from the movie, coupling them with the hair and makeup team’s subtle time period makeup and old age techniques.
“Costumes in The Sound of Music are so iconic,” junior costume crew member and assistant stage manager Seriah Thomas said. “We want each outfit to reflect the characters’ personalities, and you can see that throughout as most characters have a color that remains with them.”
The technical side of the production will extend far beyond sets and costumes. The sound crew will be responsible for balancing wireless microphones during the show’s many harmonies, while the lighting team will program dozens of cues to shift between warm family scenes and the darker political tension creeping into the story. Students will also use the musical as an opportunity to train freshmen in tech, giving them hands-on experience with equipment and backstage operations.
“Working on a show like this takes everyone,” junior Saesha Chawla, who plays Elsa Schraeder in the musical, said. “We’re all learning from each other even if we already think we know a lot, and that collaboration is what has made this show so good.”
The production will rely on teamwork across every department, with students stepping into multiple roles to ensure the show is ready by opening night. This show has been challenging both technically and from a directorial standpoint, as keeping the integrity of a classic and still making it distinctive is a hard task.
“Everyone involved is already putting in so much effort,” Lee said. “I think it’s going to be an amazing show and we really couldn’t have done it without any single person in the cast or crew.”
