OA Music Dept to Present "The Sound of Music"

The hills will be alive with the sound of music when the Owego- Apalachin Music Department presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical The Sound of Music on March 30, 31, and April 1.

Under the direction of Mrs. Patricia Bliznik, this production involves more than 100 people including students and staff from the Owego-Apalachin CSD as well as parents and members of the community. The cast will be accompanied by a full orchestra directed by Mr. Dan Fabricius. The sets and scenery designed by Mr. Jim Shear will reflect Austrian magnificence. Mrs. Janet Parker is vocal director and Mr. Andrew Kearney is technical director.

Set in Austria on the eve of World War II, The Sound of Music is based on the true story of the Trapp Family Singers. Young Maria Rainer, a postulant at an abbey, is sent to be a governess to the seven children of the Captain von Trapp, a widower. Maria wins the hearts of the children - and their father, but the impending war threatens their happiness.

The musical, which was the last collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, opened on Broadway in 1959 with Mary Martin as Maria. It ran for 1,443 performances and won seven Tony awards. In 1965 it was made into a movie starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The movie won five Academy Awards including Best Picture.

The Sound ofMusic is one of the all time popular musicals and includes the songs MyFavoriteThings, Edelweiss, Do-Re-Mi, The LonelyGoatherd, ClimbEveryMountain, and, of course, the title song.

The Sound ofMusic will be performed at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31, and at 2:30 pm on Sunday, April 1. All performances will be held at the auditorium at the Owego-Apalachin Middle School. Tickets are $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for students and seniors. For tickets, call 625-2193 or 687-6289.