The Sound of Music at ShowKids Invitational Theatre
Dates: (5/8/2021 - 5/16/2021 )
ShowKids Invitational Theatre |
Voorhees High School, 256 County Road 513
Lebanon,NJ
Phone: (908)638-5959
Tickets: $12.00 - $21.00
SUBMIT UPDATES
For more than three decades, Carolyn Newman has become accustomed to juggling myriad responsibilities and challenges as the director/producer of ShowKids Invitational Theatre.Shes often summed up her experiences as the SKIT leader as A labor of love. However, that rosy philosophy has been tested repeatedly during the past year.Like every theatrical organization across the country both amateur and professional SKIT has been dealt a wicked punch by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Hunterdon County-based non-profit youth theatre troupe is back on its feet now, albeit in a highly-altered state, as it makes final preparations for its version of The Sound of Music.The show will be held the weekends of May 8-9 and 15-16 on an outdoor stage in the Church of Holy Spirit parking lot on Haytown Road in Lebanon Township. The first two shows are 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, May 8, followed by another at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The same schedule and times are set for the following weekend, with the rain dates May 14 and 16. Tickets are on sale via the SKIT website at showkids.org and purchasers are strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Because of COVID concerns, absolutely no tickets can be sold at the door. Additionally, audience members will be required to wear masks.Newman founded SKIT in 1987 and has guided the groups shows to 177 Perry Award nominations, including numerous triumphs, for New Jersey community theatre excellence. The High Bridge resident is thrilled to be on the precipice of seeing her young actors back on stage in front of spectators again.Ive worked harder on this show than any other weve done in 35 years, she said. Were working 24-7 to get this done. This show will be an experience like none other. Well have the sounds of birds, gentle breezes along with music in the air and a talented cast of young performers.Her husband, Tom Newman, can attest to that. A frequent SKIT cast member as well as a jack-of-all-trades in helping show productions, hes been busy pulling this demanding show together in a number of ways, including helping secure a venue location, renting a stage, working the sound system, and organizing ticket sales, as well as memorizing lines for his appearance in this production.On one hand, itll be exciting, he said, and on the other hand, its challenging. But the experience of doing a live show again is great for the kids. Theres nothing like a live audience.That live audience will see a cast thats been diligently working on this show since September, in the CHS parking lot weekends in the fall and this spring and also with Zoom meetings during the winter and on other occasions when weather has been problematic.Focusing can be really hard when were practicing outside, said Carolyn Newman. The noise factor is the biggest problem. You hear everything cars going by, motorcycles, dogs barking, just about anything. But the kids are loving it. Were doing this for them. And Church of the Holy Spirit has been lovely. Theyve been wonderful to us.The 28-by-28-foot stage, rented at a considerable cost, features a roll-out sheet vinyl dance floor plus a black curtain backdrop. There are also two costume tents behind the stage.Seating will be comprised of 200 socially-distant folding chairs, while two deluxe portable toilets will be available. Parking for approximately 50 vehicles will be behind the seating area. Nearby Round Valley School may also be used for provisional overflow parking with a shuttle service to CHS.Initially introduced as a Rodgers and Hammerstein blockbuster Broadway production in 1959, The Sound of Music was adapted into an Oscar-winning film six years later and has been a popular stage show world-wide ever since. The classic, tuneful story is based on the real-life story of the von Trapp Family singers, among the worlds best-known concert groups immediately preceding World War II.It focuses on Maria, who leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess in the home of a widowed Naval captain with seven children.The captain in all six SKIT shows will be Aidan Lavigne while several other roles are triple-cast, with Abbie Griffin, Imani Smith and Josie Whitmore splitting the Maria roles.Also triple cast as the von Trapp children are Olivia Terpin, Julianne Magistrado, Sabrina Bunca, Max Sklar, Lauren Stowers, Sarah Schwierk, Emma Nasto, Julia Morrissette, Riley Conaty, Andrew Pedri, Julian Mortensen, Dinah Betsker, Amy McCool, Maddie Nasto, Sophia DiLanno, Shivani Patel, Devon Reed, Isabella DeLa Torre, Allie Moore, Anika Tekchandani, Kaitlyn Schroeder, Liberty Sprague and Anaiya Patel.In all three casts are Destiny Daniels (as Mother Abbess), Ava Spinetti (Sister Berthe), Maggie Hann (Sister Margaretta), Hannah Schwallie (Sister Sophia), Dakota Krause (Franz), Harrison Fox (Rolf), Abby Okupski (Elsa von Schraeder) and Owen Butler (Max Detweiler) along with Tom Newman (Zeller) and Joe Krause (as Von Schreiber).Other cast members include Allisa Conover, Cailey Gilligan, Zarina Tekchandani, Maddie Moore, Ava Tarnosky and Alex Apgar.SKIT shows traditionally rely heavily on parental assistance, and this one certainly is no exception. Krisy Nasto, the Newmans daughter and a Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia pediatrician, is the director/choreographer and Heather Fox has devoted numerous hours as costume coordinator and seamstress. Alex Garrido is the music director.All the parents working to help us are a huge morale-booster, said Carolyn Newman. This is absolutely not possible without their help.
Ages: All ages, three to one hundred three.
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