North Shore Music Theatre Presents THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Now thru 6/23

Let's start at the very beginning... the award-winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) is alive with THE SOUND OF MUSIC as the treasured musical takes the stage for the first time since 1989. Opening tonight, June 11 and playing through Sunday, June 23.

"When I selected The Sound of Music to open the 2013 Musical Season, I could never have predicted how popular it was going to be, and this production is going to be a knock out. With a talented cast, led by Lisa O'Hare, under the direction of James Brennan, I have confidence this production won't disappoint," said owner and producer Bill Hanney. "This show has already outsold some productions from past seasons. We haven't even had our first performance yet but I have added one performance and will determine soon if we can add more. I expect tickets to become scarce."

The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world's most beloved musical. When a novice nun proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain. Featuring a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and a score by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, THE SOUND OF MUSIC is filled with some of the most memorable and well-loved songs of all time including "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi" and "So Long, Farewell."

The cast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC will be led by Lisa O'Hare playing Maria Rainer. Lisa returns to NSMT following her critically acclaimed performance in the 2011 production of My Fair Lady. Other credits include Camelot (Guinevere), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), Gigi, Copacabana, and television appearances on "Castle," "The Closer," and "Undercovers." Following this production, Lisa will be headed to Broadway in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. Stage and screen actor David Andrew Macdonald will play Captain Georg von Trapp. David has appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia!, Coram Boy, and Two Shakespearean Actors, and in the National Tour of Stephen Daldry's An Inspector Calls for which he received a Jeff Award nomination in Chicago. His television credits include "Sex and the City," "Law and Order," "Law and Order: SVU," and ten years (1999-2009) playing Edmund Winslow on The Guiding Light.

The cast will also feature Suzanne Ishee (Mother Abbess), James Beaman (Max Detweiller), Jacquelynne Fontaine (Elsa Schrader), Deidre Haren (Liesl von Trapp), Andrew Tighe (Rolf Gruber), and Osborn Focht (Herr Zeller).

Several local young performers will play Captain von Trapp's younger children, 12 year old Newburyport resident Maggie Budzyna (Louisa von Trapp), 14 year old Gloucester resident Giacomo Favazza (Kurt von Trapp), 8 year old Lynnfield resident Paige Catherine Martino (Gretl von Trapp), 14 year old Reading resident Kyle Mungenast (Friedrich von Trapp), 6 year old Winthrop resident Haven Pereira (Marta von Trapp), and 12 year old South Hamilton resident Bryn Smith (Brigita von Trapp).

The 28 member cast also includes Leigh Barrett, Bentley Black, Maureen Brennan (Sister Margaretta), Stowe Brown, Joy Franz (Frau Schmidt), Miranda Gelch, Leah Jennings, Mark Manley (Franz), Kevin B. McGlynn (Admiral von Schreiber, Baron Elberfeld), Cheryl McMahon (Sister Berte), Edward Miskie, Ellen Peterson, Meredith Swanson, and Dawn Tucker (Sister Sophia).

THE SOUND OF MUSIC will be directed and choreographed by James Brennan, who helmed last season's record-breaking production of Annie. The creative team also includes Dale Rieling (Music Director), Jeff Modereger (Scenic Designer), Paula Peasley-Ninestein (Costume Coordinator), Michael Barnett (Lighting Designer),Charles Coes (Sound Designer), Gerard Kelly (Wig and Hair Design), John Godbout (Production Stage Manager), Binder Casting (Casting), Phill Madore (Assistant Stage Manager), Ben Krauss (Assistant Music Director), Karen Maria Pisani (Children's Local Choreographer), and Cassandra Marsh (Children's Local Music Director).THE SOUND OF MUSIC is produced at North Shore Music Theatre by Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer), Arianna Knapp (Artistic Director), and Beth Vasta (Associate Producer).

Tickets for the THE SOUND OF MUSIC are priced from $45 - $75. Performances are June 11 thru June 23, Tue - Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, matinees Wed, Sat and Sun at 2 pm. There has been a 2pm matinee added on Thurs, June 20. Kids 18 and under save 50% on 'Family Friday' June 14. For tickets and information call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or visit the box office in person at 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly, Massachusetts. Discounted Five- Show Subscriptions and Trio packages are available. THE SOUND OF MUSIC is sponsored by Abiomed.

Additional Free Audience Enrichment events: Meet the Theatre: post-show audience discussion with the artists on June 18 after the 7:30 pm performance and June 22after the 2 pm performance; OUT at the North Shore, an evening for the Gay and Lesbian Community with a post-show reception (sponsored in part by Ryan & Wood Inc. Distilleries and Sparkling Soirées) on June 20 after the 7:30 pm performance.

The 2012 musical season continues with The Wizard of Oz (July 16 - 28), Cats (August 20 - September 1), La Cage aux Folles (September 24 - October 6) starring Charles Shaughnessy, Miss Saigon (November 5 - 17), and concludes with the return of New England's brightest holiday tradition A Christmas Carol (December 6 - 22), starring David Coffee, celebrating 20 years as Ebenezer Scrooge.