Wheaton Drama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Director: James A. Liesz at jaliesz@hotmail.com
Publicity: publicity@wheatondrama.org
Tickets: http://www.wheatondrama.org or call 630-260-1820

Wheaton Drama Casts The Sound of Music

Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) has cast its 2012 fall family musical, The Sound of Music. This Rodgers and Hammerstein classic will be performed from November 9 to December 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton, IL.

James A. Liesz is directing, assisted by Susan Carr. Joni Kotche is the musical director. Choreography is by Barbara Giblin. Rebecca Poole and Amy Johnson are the production managers. Stage management is by Bruce Ebner and Debbie Trueblood.

The cast includes: Dave Amato (Admiral von Schrieber); Jean Austin (understudy – The Mother Abbess); Ashley Johnson Barney (The Mother Abbess); Tyler Berger (Brigetta); Alan Bolds (Franz); Cindy Bolds (Frau Schmidt); Alexandra Burkhardt (Marta); Keith DeBolt* (Captain Georg von Trapp); Teagan Earley (Liesl); Daniel Flage (Friedrich); Christian Johnson (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer); Andy Kanturek (Baron Elberfeld); Julie Kanturek (Baroness Elberfeld); Rachelle Kates (Maria Rainer); Jamee Kenney (understudy – Sister Sophia); Mitchell Kinn (Rolf); Tim Landry (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer); Anna Chase Lanier (Louisa); Dawn Holt Lauber (Elsa Schraeder); Michael Lewis (Friedrich); Meg McGarry (Sister Sophia & understudy – Maria); Diana McGrath (Marta); Faith McGrath (Gretl); Tessa Newman (Brigetta); Lillian Perez (Sister Margaretta); Fletcher Peterson (Kurt); Brock Royle (Kurt); Gwen Royle (Gretl); Vincent Scalone (Herr Zeller); Madysen Simanonis (Louisa); Luke Stephens (Rolf); Ginger Terlep (Sister Berthe); Stuart Vance (Max Detweiler); Emily Whaley (Liesl); Jim Wheeler (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer).

The Nuns Chorus includes: Kelly Baessler (Postulant); Deanna Bero; Patty Blackman; Kitty Bruno; Dana Clouser; Lisa Crank; Diana Dignan; Edie Fitts; Sari Flage (Postulant); Georgia Hamilton; Jennifer Hawes; Maria Hegarty; Kailey Henderson (Postulant); Dee Hicks; Heidi Humiston; Charmaine G. Jones; Alissa Kanturek (Postulant); Julie Kanturek; Jamee Kenney; Caroline Lauber (Postulant); Kimberly Maslo; Laura Miller; Debbie Molinaro; Laura Murray; Kendall Peak; Helen Prebys (Postulant); Amy Royle; Kristin Sandy; Val Shay; Sarah Smith; Marilee Sobiecki; Sheila Zinke; Jessica Zolmierski.

The Sound of Music has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Suggested by “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers”. The show is licensed by R&H Theatricals. Performances are at 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays; 3pm Sundays. Tickets are $18 for Thursdays; $21 Fridays-Sundays. No show Thanksgiving Day.

Wheaton Drama’s upcoming shows are: The Good Life Cafe (November 10 only); It’s A Wonderful Life (radio show December 14-16); Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (January 25-February 17, 2013); Full Circle (March 15-April 7, 2013 – confirmation of rights pending) and Into the Woods (May 17-June 9, 2013).

Visit http://www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820 for tickets. Follow on Twitter at WDIpublicity.

*Reflects cast change.
###

Wheaton Drama has cast the children’s roles in The Sound of Music.

103 children auditioned. 51 attended callbacks, with 16 cast. The following “Teams” will each perform in 9 of the 18 shows:

TEAM SALZBURG
Luke Stephens as Rolf
Emily Whaley as Liesl
Michael Lewis as Friedrich
Madysen Simanonis as Louisa
Fletcher Peterson as Kurt
Tessa Newman as Brigetta
Diana McGrath as Marta
Faith McGrath as Gretl

TEAM VIENNA
Mitchell Kinn as Rolf
Teagan Earley as Liesl
Daniel Flage as Friedrich
Anna Chase Lanier as Louisa
Brock Royle as Kurt
Tyler Berger as Brigetta
Alexandra Burkhardt as Marta
Gwen Royle as Gretl

Director Jim Liesz says, “These are wonderfully talented kids. Now let’s bring on the adults! Auditions for adults are Sunday, September 16 at 7pm and Monday, September 17 at 7pm. Please remember our ‘Visiting’ Nun’s Chorus and that we have 3 male non singing roles and 1 female non singing role that also must be cast.” Details at the SOM show page on this website!

The Sound of Music is performed November 9 through December 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton. The Heiress is on stage through September 30.

Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) is pleased to announce auditions for the 2012 fall family musical, The Sound of Music. This Rodgers and Hammerstein classic will be performed from November 9 to December 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton, IL.

James A. Liesz is directing, assisted by Susan Carr. Joni Kotche is the musical director. Choreography is by Barbara Giblin. Rebecca Poole is the production manager.

Download the Sound of Music audition sheet

The director will be casting the following roles:

Maria Rainer  –  late 20’s-30’s
The Mother Abbess –  age open
Sisters Berthe, Margaretta, and Sophia –  ages open
Captain Georg von Trapp –  40’s-50’s
Franz, the butler –  age open
Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper – age open
The children (all ages are approximate): Liesl – 16; Friedrich – 14; Louisa – 13; Kurt – 11; Brigetta – 9; Marta –  7; Gretel – 5
Rolf Gruber, telegram messenger –  teens-20’s
Elsa Schraeder, the Baroness – 30’s-40’s
Ursula, a maid –  age open
Max Detweiler,”Uncle Max” – age 30-60
Herr Zeller – age open
Frau Zeller, his wife – age open
Baron Elberfeld –  age open
Baroness Elberfeld –  age open
New Postulant – teen-20’s
Admiral von Schreiber –  40-60
The Nuns and Postulants, any ages (would like to cast 25-30 women)
Neighbors of the von Trapps, Festival Contestants (cast from men and nuns)

There will be a “Visiting Nuns Chorus” for all women wishing to audition for this production. Due to the time of year and many holiday conflicts, women can be cast in the show and still miss occasional performances due to family/personal conflicts. Once music and blocking is memorized, we will have different configurations of our “Nuns Chorus” nightly. Mother Abbess and Sisters Margareta, Berthe, and Sophia must attend all performances.

Children’s Auditions (includes all seven von Trapp children and Rolf) will be at Playhouse 111 on Saturday, September 8, from 10am-4pm and Sunday, September 9, from 6:30-9pm.

Children’s Saturday auditions are by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Contact the director at 630-291-5757 or via jaliesz@hotmail.com to request audition appointments. Children’s audition times will be in 45-minute increments with 12 children in each timeslot.

There will be no timeslots for Children’s Sunday auditions, but SIGN-UP is still REQUIRED. Auditioners will be called in to audition in the order of sign-up. Please sign-up via email to jaliesz@hotmail.com.

All children auditioning need to prepare 32 bars of a song that showcases their voice. The song should NOT be from The Sound of Music. Please bring sheet music marked appropriately for the accompanist. Dress comfortably for movement; no flip-flops, please. Children will be asked to sing, read from the script, and do some basic movement

Children’s Callbacks are scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, at Playhouse 111 from 6:30-8:30pm.

Adults’ Auditions will be at Playhouse 111 on Sunday, September 16 from 7-10pm and Monday, September 17 from 7-10pm.

All adults interested in “named” characters are requested to prepare a vocal selection from The Sound of Music for their audition. Adults should be prepared to sing at least one verse plus a chorus. Adults will learn some movement and most will read from the script. No monologues are required.

Adult women only auditioning for the Nuns Chorus may sing 32 bars from any vocal selection; it does not need to be from The Sound of Music.

Adult auditioners singing from The Sound of Music MUST sing in the original keys of the Broadway musical; we will not be transposing orchestrations for the Julie Andrews “movie” keys.

Adults’ Callbacks will be Wednesday, September 19 at Playhouse 111 from 7-10pm.

Questions? Please contact the director, at 630-291-5757 or jaliesz@hotmail.com

The Sound of Music has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Suggested by “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers”. The show is licensed by R&H Theatricals. Performances are at 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays; 3pm Sundays. Tickets are $18 for Thursdays; $21 Fridays-Sundays.

Wheaton Drama’s upcoming shows are: Broadway Ballot (August 17-19); It’s A Wonderful Life (radio show December 14-16); Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (January 25-February 17, 2013); Full Circle (March 15-April 7, 2013 – confirmation of rights pending) and Into the Woods (May 17-June 9, 2013).

Visit the Ticket section of this website, or call 630-260-1820 for tickets. Follow on Twitter at WDIpublicity.