'Sound of Music' begins tonight

The Tyler Civic Theatre Center brings The Sound of Music to the Braithwaite Theatre for 12 performances in July - July 12-15, July 19-22, and July 26-29. The songs in this beloved musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are wellknown and ever-green. As one critic noted, the more people see and hear this show, the more it becomes one of their favorite things. The Sound of Music is a timeless classic that every family can share over and over.

Linda Rackliff, popular vocalist, director, and teacher, directs the show. Jane Allen assists as musical director and pianist for rehearsals and performance. Tim Nipp, synthesizer, Phil Rumbley, bass, and Dan Spivey, percussion, complete the quartet for the show. Kimberlee Martin is choreographer

Reg Connor produces the show. Mark D'Eramo is stage manager, assisted by Cheri Bowen. Connie Jackson is designing the set, and Mary Ellen Wright is designing the costumes.

Leading the large cast is Diane Vernon as Maria Rainier, Dwain Hare as Captain Georg von Trapp, and Veronica Casals as the Mother Abbess.

Playing the seven von Trapp children are Rachel Morse as Liesl; Jake Satter field as Friedrich; Lexi Hodges as Louisa; Stratton Hibbs as Kurt; Ali Connor as Brigitta; Marie Bowen as Marta; and London Hibbs as Gretl. David Brown plays Rolf Gruber, the young man who pays court to Liesl. Other cast members include Kimberlee Martin as Baroness Elsa Schraeder; Jack Peppard as Max Detweiler; William Burgdorf as Franz, the von Trapps' butler; Traci Smith as Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper; and Samantha Greene, as Ursula, a maid in the von Trapp household.

At Nonnberg Abbey, Martha Gorman will play Sister Berthe, with Becky Hopper as Sister Sophia and Deborah Crawford as Sister Margaretta. Nuns and postulants at the Abbey include Kristen Barbee, Leah Crawford, Laura D'Eramo, Sylvia D'Eramo, Saundra Johnson, Gayla Morrison, and Traci Smith. Katherine Rowe plays a new postulant.

Guests at the party given to honor the Baroness include Stephen Rainwater as Herr Zeller; Julia Runge as Frau Zeller; Bob Cloos as Baron Elberfeld; and Maria Ogburn as Frau Elberfeld. Other guests will be played by Jean Barlow, Leah Crawford, Owen Crawford, Laura D'Eramo, Sylvia D'Eramo, Tisa Hibbs, and Michael Root. Murray Parks plays Admiral von Schreiber.

Marionettes in "The Lonely Goatherd" sequence include Mary Kathryn Bauman, Michaela Bowen, LeeAnna Burgdorf, Kat Cloos, Leah Crawford, Laura D'Eramo, Sylvia D'Eramo, and Russell McCook.

The performances take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons from July 12 through July 19. The evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for The Sound of Music are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students, with a special $60 package offered for two adults and two senior or student tickets. To purchase tickets online, log in to www.tylercivictheatre.com. To purchase tickets by mail, send a check and a statement noting first and second choices for the performance to Box Office, 400 Rose Park Drive, Tyler, TX 75702. To purchase tickets in person, drop by the box office at the same address Monday-Friday from 10:30-1:30 or 2:30-5:30.

If you wish your tickets mailed to you, add a $1 handling fee. Otherwise, tickets will be held at the box office for your pickup before the performance.

The Tyler Civic Theatre Center's two stages - the Braithwaite Theatre and the Rogers Children's Theatre - are located at 400 Rose Park Drive.