Children's Playhouse of MD Presents THE SOUND OF MUSIC Beginning 5/8

The Children's Playhouse of Maryland, in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, presents The Sound of Music 1 p.m. weekends May 7-8, 14-15, 21-22. A special 4 p.m. May 15 show will be Sign Language Interpreted by student interpreter interns from the CCBC Interpreter Preparation Program. Performances will be given in the J Building Lecture Hall, CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard. Tickets, $10 general admission and $8 for birthday parties or scout troops, are available from the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787) weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the door, space permitting.

Anna Holmes of Bel Air appears in the lead role of Maria, with Thomas Gardner of Joppa as Captain von Trappe. The von Trappe children are played by Allison Comotto and Maia Vong of Towson, Brady Widener of Cockeysville, Victoria Caldwell of Joppa, Gino Cardoni of Essex, Rhiannon Owen of Nottingham, and Olivia Aubele of Perry Hall. Liz Boyer Hunnicutt directs and Julie Parrish is musical director. Popular favorites from this play include the title song "The Sound of Music", "Edelweiss," "My Favorite Things," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and "Do-Re-Mi."

This CPM production features more than 30 student actors from the Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Harford County area. Featured players include Nicole Smith of Timonium (Mother Abbess), James Ruth of Dundalk (Max), Katie Seibert of Rosedale (Elsa), Josh Schoff of Dundalk (Rolf), Valerie Stine of Nottingham (Frau Schmidt), Peter Pferdeort of Sparrows Point (Franz), Patricia Rezac of Glen Arm (Sr. Margaretta), Ana Pieszala of Timonium (Sr. Sophia) and Cyerah Zoeller of Parkville (Sr. Berthe).

The ensemble includes: Nichole Arrison of Bel Air; Sophia Thrappas, Annette Thrappas and Abby Cossaboon of Kingsville; Alicia Basye-Featherston of Timonium; Juliana Adetola of Owings Mills; Emily Jester of Perry Hall; Caroline Halligan, Mariellen Kemp and Marie Wetherington of Towson; Zoe Feldman and Zach Miller of Baltimore (Hamilton); Hannah Long of Middle River; Amanda Ellifritz of Essex; Katelyn Zacharko of Catonsville; Kristen Kreiner and Alexis Rae of Nottingham; Joey Bird of Phoenix, and Johnathon O'Neal of Cockeysville.

The original 1959 stage production of The Sound of Music, based on the memoirs of Maria von Trappe, featured music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with the book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The 1965 movie starring Julie Andrews as Maria won five Oscars. Set in Austria just before the onset of World War II, the plot centers on a spirited young religious postulant, Maria, who is considering taking her vows to become a nun. She is sent away from the abbey to serve as governess for the family of Captain von Trappe, a widower with seven children. The true story follows her relationship with the von Trappe children and her dawning love and marriage to the Captain. The play ends with a daring escape from the Nazi occupation of Austria across the Alps.

The J Building Lecture Hall (J-137) at CCBC Essex is wheelchair-accessible. Patrons requiring special accommodations should inform the Box Office of their accessibility needs at the time of ticket purchase. For more information, please call the CCBC Box Office, or the CPM Administrative Office at 443-840-2426. Directions to CCBC Essex are available online at www.ccbcmd.edu.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. is a not for profit community theatre dedicated to youth performers ages 18 and under.

ABOUT CCBC 

CCBC offers hundreds of programs and thousands of courses helping people of all ages, backgrounds and interests earn degrees, transfer, launch or advance careers, and prepare for in-demand jobs. Providing accessible, affordable and high quality education since 1957, CCBC educates more than 70,000 students each year, including half of all Baltimore County residents attending college in Maryland as undergraduates. Committed to student success and the development of lifelong learners who strengthen our regional workforce and enrich our community, CCBC has also been selected to participate in Achieving the Dream, a national student success initiative.

CCBC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.