Arrive Early!

We had a packed house tonight.  By 6:45 p.m., there was no more room left in the cultural hall and people had to watch the show from a live video feed in the overflow.  Be sure to arrive early!

SHOWTIME!

Tonight is the big night!  Break a leg!

Tonight's Rehearsal (4-25-12)

Tonight is a very important rehearsal. We are going to run the whole show without stopping! Please make sure that you are ready for the opening prayer at 6 p.m. If you need to get ready at the church you'll need to arrive before 6 p.m. Judy will have the church doors open at 5 p.m. Tonight everyone needs to be in their costumes!

With the amount of costume changes we have and the amount of people changing, we are going to move the men's dressing room to the north hallway next to the men's restroom. We will then open the seperater in the women's dressing room to give them more room. Sorry gentleman, but because April has the most costume changes, we'll be keeping the clothing rack in the south hallway.

For tonight only, the adults in the show will be allowed to come into the gym to quiety watch. If you will be watching, you must keep track of when you enter the stage. No one will be allowed to enter the stage from their seats in the audience. If you are someone who crosses to stage left during a curtain closure, you must do that tonight. You cannot reach stage left from the audience. The sound of the show will be played into the Relief Society room so those in there can listen for their entrances.

Please remember to bring PAPER AND SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH tonight so you can write down notes that are given to you. We will be taking a lot of notes tonight. We will not yell direction or corrections from the audience anymore, we will give full notes at the end. After the curtain call everyone needs to go straight to the Relief Society room for notes. You can gather up your stuff and change out of your costume after notes.

Please help each other remember that the more you are focused on what is going on the easier and more fun the production will be. Tonight is not a time for playing around or running around the church.

We as a production staff are very proud of the talent and effort that has been put in by each of you. We hope that you are as excited as we are to perform this wonderful show. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.

Drew's Bio

I apologize to Drew for not adding his bio to our blog. Since it was my mistake not to have him in the last entry, he gets his own.

Andrew Engebretsen - Rolf

Andrew is 24 years old and has grown up most of his life in Highland, Utah. He attended Lone Peak High School graduating in 2006 and currently is a Music Major at the University of Utah with aspirations of becoming a lawyer in the music industry. Andrew has sung in many musical productions throughout his life. Some notable shows he has done are: Brigadoon, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Cadet in Seussical the Musical, and Bishop of Dinge in Les Miserables. Andrew would like to thank his family and friends for their support along with his vocal coach, schoolteachers, and especially his beautiful wife.

Final Week of Rehearsals

Just a reminder of the Final Rehearsal Schedule this week.  All rehearsals are MANDATORY and everyone is needed for the entire time.   Please arrive early if you need to get into your costumes.

Tuesday, 4/24 - Dress/Tech Rehearsal
Run Act 2 Tech, Run through show
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Wednesday, 4/25 - Dress Rehearsal
Run through entire show
6 p.m.

Thursday, 4/26 - Full Dress Rehearsal with hair & make-up
(if you need help with hair & make-up then you should arrive by 5:30 p.m.)
Run through entire show
6 p.m.

Hair & Make-up Crew Needed

We are looking for people to help with hair and make-up.  We need you on Thursday 4/26 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Friday 4/27 from 5 - 6:30 p.m., Saturday 4/28 from 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. and again for touch up from 5 - 6:30 p.m.  If you have anyone in your ward or neighborhood who could help, please invite them to help us!

Saturday Rehearsal 4/21

Please remember that Saturday rehearsal starts at 8 a.m. SHARP and will go until 3 p.m.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided.  Children's Chorus girls should bring their white dresses to change in and out of.  If possible (and convenient), please wear your costume but you are welcome to bring a change of clothing.

*** Remember, YOU and you alone are responsible for your clothing.  You will need to bring your clothes and take them home and  launder and iron them if necessary.   If you know your costume was loaned to you by someone, then please take extra SPECIAL care of it.  We will NOT be able to store costumes at the ward and I (Judy) will not be the Lost and Found, so it is your job to take everything home with you after rehearsals.  Parents,  if you are concerned about your younger children managing this on their own, please be sure to help them when dropping them off/picking them up from rehearsal.

As for tomorrow, you WILL be needed the entire time, so bring something to do!  Book, iPad, homework, games, etc.  The live feed will be running in the RS room and there will be movies in the Primary room for the kids.

SAVE THE DATE: Cast Party Postponed

Please mark your calendars for Friday, May 18th for our CAST PARTY at 6:30 p.m.  It has been postponed from the 5th to give us more time to prepare.

Thanks!

Meet Our Cast- Pt. 3

Robyn J. Mock - Mother Abbess

After having six children, Robyn never dreamed she would be a nun, let alone Mother Abbess! She is thrilled to have a part in The Sound of Music. She has sung professionally for about 24 years and has been involved with the Utah Symphony Chorus, Savannah Symphony Chorus, and with various recitals, musical revues, and musical and operetta productions throughout the years. She teaches and coaches voice students at her home and recently enjoyed her third run as ward choir director. It has been fun for her to perform musical theater music as a trio with Alece Ashcraft and Missy Hockemier. Robyn graduated from BYU with a degree in Humanities-English with a minor in French, with emphasis in art, music and history; but, she remains "purple" as she also has a degree from the University of Utah in English-Creative Writing. She is always involved with school, volunteering to teach art to the 4th grade and creating artwork for the musical productions at Evergreen. In her spare time, she enjoys making bobbin lace, baking bread and any dessert, writing her novels and doing family history. She would like to thank her husband, Shannon, for always supporting and promoting her talents and her children for sharing so much of what she loves in life.

Mondi Alailima Taumoefolau - Sister Berthe

Mondi has been performing onstage in both amateur and professional productions since the age of 13. She credits growing up Catholic in New Jersey and 4 years as a US Marine as the inspiration in her portrayal as the ever ascerbic (and pretentiously pious) Sister Berthe. Moving to Utah from the coast of SoCal in 2009, her favorite role by far has been, and always will be, being mom to Megan, 24, and Brandon, 14. She dedicates her performance to her children.

Alece Ashcraft - Sister Margaretta

The Sound of Music has always been one of Alece's favorites, so she has dusted off a few cobwebs and is happy to be back on the stage after many years. She and her husband, Leon, have eight children, three of which are in the show with her. She treasures the new friends and experiences she had in performing this show and in the past Grant Stake performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, From Cumorah's Hill and Traditions.

Not pictured: Karen Fairbourne - Sister Sophia

Dorene Loewer - Frau Schmidt

Dorene is delighted to return to the stage after a long absence, while she reared her children. Many years ago she was Frau Schmidt in the Promised Valley Playhouse production of The Sound of Music and also performed in Three Penny Opera at Theater 138 (unfortunately, most of you may not remember those wonderful old theaters). After 35 years, Dorene is retired from teaching French, German, English and business classes.

Not pictured: Dan Freebairn - Franz the Butler

Greg Lyman - Herr Zeller

Being in this musical is on Greg's bucket list and his role as archetypal villain Herr Zellar has been a lot of fun. You don't get to play the villain every day. Greg agrees with Brigham Young who said, "If I were placed on a cannibal island and given the task of civilizing its people, I should straightway build a theatre for that purpose." (Westward Expansion Quay p. 192) We all love and are shaped by theater and movies! Greg was in a roadshow every year of his teen years. He had the lead in his High School production of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park, and was on his H.S.'s state championship drama team. He played Sir Thomas More in Bolt's A Man for All Season's. His mother's uncle won three Oscars (Leigh Harline) which tells you absolutely nothing about him! (in the photo, Greg is the tall one in the middle, his grandson is on the left).

Costumes for Ensemble

Nuns

- Robes and wimple (we provide)
- Black knee highs or socks
- Black flats

* Hair will need to be pulled back

Nuns as Party Guests
- an Evening Gown style dress or traditional Austrian style clothes (even a white blouse and skirt would do); I sent an earlier email about what was appropriate
- change tights or nylons if you need to
- Black flats
* If you can wear your outfit under your robes, than you can make that quick change before A1S12 (the Morning Hymn).  If not, you'll have to leave the Party Scene early (not come back for "So Long Farewell") and change

Postulants

- long sleeve (or at least 3/4 sleeve) white shirt

- calf length or longer black skirt

- Black knee highs, tights or socks

- Black flats

- postulant headdress (we provide)

*Hair will need to be pulled back

Postulants as Party Guests/Waltzers
- party dress or traditional Austrian style clothes

- change tights or nylons if you need to

- Black flats

* If you can't make a super fast change into your postulant clothes on SL before you come out for A1S12 (the Morning Hymn), then you will have to skip out of the "So Long Farewell" number and go change

Nazis as Party Guests/Waltzers

- white or light blue/yellow button-down dress shirt

- tie (bow or neck)

- vest or jacket (the Stake has some vests in our supply, so you can borrow one.  Or you can just wear a plain shirt)

- black pants

- dark socks

- black shoes

*If you have long hair, please slick it back with hair gel to look more polished and/or like you live in the time period

Nazis

- khaki shirts (we provide)

- arm bands (we provide)

- holsters (we provide)

- black ties (we provide)

- black pants
- NEW: belt

- dark socks

- black shoes

*Same thing goes for the hair -- Nazis were extremely clean cut

We Still Need...

 - a twin mattress

 - twin sheets and a bedspread (if there's a pattern, it should be very simple)

Children's Chorus - White Dresses on Saturday

Please have your daughter bring her white dress this Saturday, so we can fit the blue satin sashes.  If you could not find or borrow a white dress, but have a white blouse and/or a white skirt -- please have her bring it.  If you don't have anything, that's alright; we'll figure something out.

SOM Rehearsal Photos

Drew Engebretsen (Rolf) took these great pictures from our April 5th & 7th rehearsals.  Enjoy!

Items still needed....

We are still looking for an "old fashioned" bike that Rolf can use.

Also, we need to borrow a pocket watch.  Please let us know ASAP if we can!

Thursday, 4/12

Some of you are in luck!  You are going to get a night off.  Not everyone is needed on the Thursday 4/12 rehearsal.  The changes have been made to the rehearsal schedule (see right), but here it is for your info:

Thursday, April 12:
Run All Songs with Orchestra (no blocking or choreography JUST SINGING)

6:00 p.m. – 9 p.m.

• Cast needed - Maria, Captain, von Trapps, Max, Elsa, Mother, Berthe, Margaretta, Sophia, Nuns, Postulants
• Children’s Chorus rehearses from 6 - 7 p.m., then they can leave!
• If you are NOT listed above, you do NOT need to come to rehearsal that evening.   We will be practicing the “So Long, Farewell” finale number another time.

Everyone who sings will be seated in the cultural hall and you will be waiting until it's your turn, so bring something quiet to do while you wait!

Publicity Poster

Designed by Summer Williams, Artwork by Rachael Bridge

Scene Furnishings

Please let you us know if we can borrow the following:

- floorlength black or red cloth tablecover

- bench ("stone" looking would be best, but nicer wood bench would do)

- iron patio set

- poster bed & linens

Contact Ben Tutor: ben2tor@yahoo.com

Meet our Cast - pt. 2

Meet our von Trapp children... and come back later for more bios!

ALI ENGEBRETSEN 

Liesel

Ali is excited to be back on the theater stage!   Her last stage performance was playing Glinda, in "The Wizard of Oz" in 2007.   Since then, Ali has studied Voice at the University of Utah, majoring in Music with an emphasis in Choral Education, with countless performances. She teaches private voice lessons and is grateful for her students for being patient with her rehearsal and performance schedule! Ali would like to thank her family for their unwavering support and attendance, Judy and Janzell for the opportunity of performing her dream role as Liesel, and is excited to be playing opposite her handsome, talented husband!

TAYNE MOCK
Friedrich

Tayne loves theater and is excited to be in "The Sound of Music."  He has been in "The Scarlet Pimpernel", "Hello Dolly", "Peter Pan", and "The Wizard of Oz" as well as some comedy and drama sketches on stage.  In his spare time, he loves creating visual art and sculpture, watching and filming movies, singing, dancing, and running.  He especially enjoys writing stories and poetry, history, archaeology, and travel.  Recently, he was accepted as a member of the Youth Humanities Council.  He would like to thank his mom for helping him find his voice and his dad for encouraging him to the best he can be.

BECCA MINSON
Louisa

JONAH ANDERSON

Kurt

Jonah has enjoyed being in plays since he was in first grade when he played a swamp monster in "Liza Lous." He is so excited to play Kurt in the stake play because he gets to sing and dance but still be a kid, which he thinks is the most fun prat you can act out.  He's loved getting to know his cast mates in "The Sound of Music" and can't wait to perform for a real audience.

ALEXIS BITNER

Brigitta

Alexis has taken voice lessons for the last 3 years. She started dance lessons at the age of three. She started with tap dancing then within a few years she went into clogging and ballroom. This is Alexis' first non dancing stage performance. She is excited to be a part of "The Sound of Music."

TASSE MOCK
Marta

Being Marta in "The Sound of Music" is a great thrill for Tasse.  She loves to perform on stage and had the lead role last year as Ping in "The Empty Pot", which she performed at the Rose Wagner Theater in Salt Lake City.  She has been in several other productions through school and church and always brings a lot of energy to the stage with her outgoing personality.  Her favorite pastimes are reading book after book, playing with and making friends, creating art masterpieces, singing at the top of her lungs, and cooking with her mom and dad.  She wants her family to know she loves them and that she is excited to have almost all of them in the musical with her!

ANNI KALAI

Gretl

Anni is a member of the Gregson Ward and is excited to be making her theatre debut.  She is 6 years old and has one younger brother.  Anni loves art and craft, riding her bike, and anything FUN.