Experience the beloved story of the von Trapp family. Rediscover a true family classic, featuring some of the most memorable songs ever written for the stage, including My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev'ry Mountain, The Lonely Goatherd, and of course, The Sound of Music.



Thank you to the sponsors and producers of The Sound of Music!

Season Sponsor: First Financial Bank
Producers: Harv & Connie Hegarty
Show Sponsors: Sophia, Graham and Alec Freund
Matinee Sponsor: Southern Indiana Pediatrics
Additional Support: BKD, Indiana University Credit Union, Bill C. Brown Associates, Bloomington Hospital, 92.3 WTTS, AM 1370 WGCL, Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau, BEAD: Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District.
Media Sponsor: WFIU
Printing Sponsor: Rainbow Printing
Community Partners: Bloom Magazine, Bloomingfoods, Busick Design, Runskip, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Indiana Arts Commission.

Herald-Times Review

by Glenn Kaufmann
12/24

Though it’s not strictly a holiday show, Cardinal Stage Company’s “The Sound of Music” is a feel-good family- friendly experience that fits nicely into the season.

Most people above the age of 20 have seen either the movie or musical theater version of “The Sound of Music.” And those younger than 20 know at least some of the music. Originally produced as a piece of musical theater, and later adapted into a film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, “The Sound of Music” tells the story of the Von Trapp Family Singers and how they came to embrace a nun turned governess, who in turn brings music back into their lives and love into their father’s broken heart.

Set in Austria before the Nazi occupation, “The Sound of Music” weaves a delicate tapestry of conflicted loyalties unrequited passion and satiated longing. As a result the plot remains dramatic despite the fact that early on we know how it will end.

Maria, a nun who constantly struggles to find a balance between the lightness of her heart and the seriousness of her calling to God, is sent away from her convent to serve as a governess to a retired naval officer’s family of seven children. Initially the captain’s rigid military bearing and Maria’s free spirit are at odds, and the children, who have seen a number of other governesses come and go, are wary of Maria.

But Maria uses her love of music to win the hearts of the children, and later uses their voices to dissolve Capt. von Trapp’s injunction against music in the house. By this time, the captain has introduced a new mother to be into the family, and the children’s loyalty to their father, and to Maria, is tested.

At the same time that Maria’s growing love for Capt. von Trapp and his love for her, test her commitment to the church, and the children are stretched between their father, their new mother-to-be, and their love for Maria, the impending Nazi occupation hangs like a cloud over everything. Capt. von Trapp’s loyalty to Austria threatens the safety of his family. And when his oldest daughter’s boyfriend turns Nazi sympathizer, everything comes to a head.

The solution to their troubles lies, to all of our benefit, in the miraculous voices of the children, Maria and their father. It’s a story that can’t help but touch your heart. And, it’s based on a true story.

The show, onstage at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, boasts Cardinal’s signature high-polish production values. The sets, costumes, lighting, sound and overall stagecraft are excellent. With a large cast (including double casting of the children’s roles), numerous scene shifts and costume changes, this must be a bit like herding cats for director Randy White and Cardinal’s small production staff.

Musically, the show is very strong. Conductor John Berst and his orchestra do an excellent job from curtain warmer to finale. Despite the fact that everyone uses a wireless microphone, none of the vocals feel soft or restrained, and every song is rich and strongly projected, a feat that is difficult under the best of circumstances, much less with a cast that is heavy with young performers.

The cast works well together as an ensemble. But particular praise must be given to Melissa Bohon and Daniel Narducci, for lending Maria and Capt. von Trapp a real palpable chemistry. Likewise, the children do an excellent job of playing their individual characters and still being credible as a family.

Overall, Cardinal Stage Company’s “The Sound of Music” is a well-done musical experience that works well as either a family or an adult experience. It nicely straddles the line between being too sweet, and genuine drama based on real-life events.

CAST

Melissa Bohon (Maria) was fortunate enough to travel the country in the first national tour of Wicked understudying and performing the role of Glinda. She was also in the original cast of the Broadway Revival of Fiddler On the Roof where she u/s and performed the role of Chava with Alfred Molina and Harvey Fierstein. She also toured as a soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic in Japan. Other NY roles include, Cecily in Earnest In Love, Muriel in Take Me Along, Little Sally in Urinetown and Ado Annie in Oklahoma! Melissa has also performed regionally as Ado Annie in Oklahoma! Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly!, Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, Anne Shirley in Green Gables, Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress and more.


Baritone Daniel Narducci (Captain) is a multi-faceted artist whose talents have been captured through live stage presentations, recordings, documentaries, and television. From Lincoln Center in New York City to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing he has appeared in concert with orchestras including the Boston Pops, Toronto Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony. In productions of Broadway musicals, he has appeared worldwide as Lancelot in Camelot, opposite Robert Goulet, and Old Deuteronomy in Cats. Mr. Narducci appears regularly with opera companies throughout North America and has been featured in television productions with the BBC and PBS. www.danielnarducci.com


Mike Price (Max) is Cardinal's associate artistic director. Cardinal roles include boom, Inherit the Wind, Unveiling, Oliver!, Amadeus, Doubt, The Diary of Anne Frank, A Year with Frog and Toad, and Treasure Island. He recently performed at Brown County Playhouse in There Goes the Bride. Mr. Price has an MS in Instructional Systems Technology and has worked as a video director and instructional consultant. Mike assists Cardinal with various media work and production sound design.



Caroline Dowd-Higgins (Elsa) sang throughout Italy with the Goodwill Concert Tours and continues to perform solo concerts across the US. She made her British operatic debut with the Dorset Opera Company in Sherborne, England where she performed for three seasons. With two classical solo recordings under her belt, she has a third in progress. Caroline sang the role of Sieglinde with the late James King, in his historic final performance featuring Act I of Die Walküre by Richard Wagner. No stranger to theatre, her favorite roles include Anna in Boston Marriage and Amalia in She Loves Me. A founding member of The Grateful Divas, Caroline performs with this singing group to raise funds for non-profit organizations. With a myriad of television, radio, and film projects to her credit, Caroline is also enjoying new opportunities on the national circuit as a public speaker.


Johanna Moffitt (Mother Abbess) is a native of Buffalo, New York. She is working towards her doctorate in vocal performance here at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. While here in Bloomington, Miss Moffitt has played Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto with the IU Opera Theatre, Duchess Maryborough in the IU Lee Norvel Theatre and Drama Center’s production of An Ideal Husband, and the Dynamic Presence Project’s production of Terminus, written and directed by Adam Noble. With the IU Opera Workshop she has performed Nella in Gianni Schicchi, and looks forward to playing Mimí in scenes from La Bohème and Adriana Lecouvreur in scenes from Adriana Lecouvreur in their upcoming December performances.


Phil Christiansen (Zeller) is enjoying another holiday season with Cardinal Stage (previously as Sowerberry in Oliver!). A veteran of over 50 productions, many coming while pursuing a M. M. at Indiana University. Christiansen’s favorite productions include being music director for Into the Woods and performing Cervantes, Emile de Becque, Mr. Maurrant. He again lives in Bloomington where he maintains a private voice studio and has served as adjunct voice professor for the Jacobs School. Previously he spent three years as Artistic Director of Doña Ana Lyric Opera at New Mexico State University.


The von Trapp Children

	7:00 Dec 21 (Preview), 27, Jan 1 2:00 Dec 23, 26, Jan 2, 3	7:00 Dec 22, 23, 26, Jan 2 2:00 Dec 27, Jan 1
Liesl Friedrich Luisa Kurt Brigitta Marta Gretl	Rachel Faulkner Nick Heinzen Ce Ce Underwood Henry Kathman Zoe Reed Maya Grekin Marlena Wagschal	Rachel Faulkner Tony Ponella Laura Schneider Josiah Goodmon Maria Sarah Lysandrou Lauren Bauman Abigail Strawn

Rolf: CJ Pawlikowski
Baron Elberfeld/ Schreiber: Richard Burke
Franz: David Cole

Nun Ensemble

Cairril Adaire Lynn Bauman Mary Frasier Jocelyn Goodmon Jordan Goodmon Phillipa Guthrie

Lisa Kurz Jessica Marcrum Erin Mills Julia Mosby Janis Parker Lynn Schwartzberg

Model of Cardinal's Sound of Music set by NYC set designer Caleb Levengood>