Carnegie Presents THE SOUND OF MUSIC with the KSO Tonight

The Carnegie presents the final production in its 2013-14 Theatre Series -- a lightly staged production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

Presented in partnership with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra (KSO), THE SOUND OF MUSIC features one of the most beloved musical scores in musical theatre and tells the story of a free-spirited nanny who brings joy and love back into the home of Captain Von Trapp and his family.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC plays in The Carnegie's Otto M. Budig Theatre tonight, January 17 - 26, 2014 under the direction of Brian Robertson and the baton of KSO conductor James R Cassidy. The production will be lightly staged. Tickets are $19 - $28 and are available online at www.thecarnegie.com or by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu - Fr, noon - 5 p.m.).

In the majestic hills of Austria, under the looming shadow of Nazi Germany, free-spirited Maria leaves the abbey to serve as nanny to the motherless children of the austere Captain Von Trapp. With song and boundless love, Maria restores joy to the children's home and finds unexpected feelings for their father, whose heart has warmed with "the sound of music."

Perhaps the most beloved score in musical theatre, including "The Sound of Music," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "So Long, Farewell," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and "Edelweiss," THE SOUND OF MUSIC takes flight under the baton of James R. Cassidy and members of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra.

Friday, January 17, 7:30pm ? Saturday, January 18, 2:00pm* ? Saturday, January 18, 7:30pm ? Sunday, January 19, 3:00pm ?Friday, January 24, 7:30pm ? Saturday, January 25, 2:00pm* ? Sunday, January 26, 3:00pm

*Performances begin at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 18 and Saturday, January 25; matinee performances typically begin at 3:00pm.

What does "lightly staged" mean?

THE SOUND OF MUSIC will be presented with an emphasis on the words and music of the piece and a de-emphasis of costumes, scenic design and props. A small orchestra will be on stage with the performers, who will be acting out the fully memorized scenes and songs as they would in a full production.

Returning to The Carnegie for the second time is NKU professor and freelance stage director Brian Robertson. In addition to directing The Carnegie's production of CAMELOT IN CONCERT during the 2012-13 season, Robertson has directed at renowned companies locally (Cincinnati Opera, Ensemble Theatre Company, Know Theatre, NKU, Performance Gallery and Cincinnati Fringe Festival) and around the country, including Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera North and University of Kentucky. Robertson teams with KSO Music Director James R Cassidy. Cassidy and the KSO last collaborated with The Carnegie in a 2009 staging of the musical OLIVER!, and KSO subsidiary ensembles have made multiple appearances in the Otto M. Budig Theatre as part of the Carnegie in Concert series.

The 2013-14 Theatre Series has two subscription packages available:

Full Subscription: Patrons attend all four 2013-14 Theatre Series offerings, selecting one performance of their choice for each. Full Subscriptions are $86 ($16 savings vs. single ticket prices); $82 for Carnegie Members.

Pick Three Subscription: Patrons attend three 2013-14 Theatre Series offerings of their choice, selecting one performance of their choice for each. Pick Three Subscriptions range from $63 to $69, depending on the show selection ($3 savings per show vs. single ticket prices)

Tickets may be purchased through The Carnegie Box Office at 859.957.1940, open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5:00pm, or online at www.thecarnegie.com.

THE CARNEGIE THEATRE SERIES produces professional, innovative stagings of popular and rarely-performed works. Striving to unite the greater Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati theatre community through partnerships and collaborations, the series engages and nurtures both emerging and established talent, including working professionals, committed part-time theatre artists and university performing arts students. Carnegie Theatre Series productions bring together these forces to provide quality theatre for Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area.

The Carnegie is a multidisciplinary arts venue serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. Over the course of the past ten years The Carnegie has "morphed" from a grassroots gallery with an education component into an all-inclusive arts organization offering professional theatre, art exhibitions showcasing the best of local and regional artists, and a comprehensive arts education program.

The Carnegie is home to The Carnegie Galleries, comprised of more than 6,000 square feet of gallery space where emerging and established artists exhibit in multiple shows throughout the year; the Eva G. Farris Education Center, which provides arts education to thousands of children, many of whom are at or below the poverty level; and the newly renovated 465-seat Otto M. Budig Theatre, which offers an affordable theatre space for local, up-and-coming and established production companies and is home to The Carnegie's Theatre and Concert Series. The Carnegie is the largest arts venue in Northern Kentucky.

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from ArtsWave, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. / US Bank Foundation.

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1992 (as the Northern Kentucky Symphony) with a mission to make classical music attractive, accessible and affordable to people in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. Since its inception, the KSO has demonstrated a unique ability to make the concert experience relevant and entertaining to its audiences while maintaining high performance standards and integrity.

Each KSO program contains both familiar and unique repertoire presented in a thematic context that is compelling and entertaining. Through the years, KSO concerts have offered many surprises including silent films, dancers, comedians, zoo animals, alternative, rock and complete operas and musicals, country bands, a limbo contest, aerobic classes, poetry readings, Civil War battle re-enactments and more.

The KSO has also collaborated with local arts organizations such as the Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Playhouse in the Park, the Taft Museum and community institutions such as the Cincinnati Observatory and Kentucky National Guard.