Photo by Matthew Murphy.

The Hills Are Alive at the Sacramento Community Center Theater!

California Musical Theatre opened its Broadway Sacramento 2016-2017 season with one of the world’s most beloved musicals of all time, The Sound of Music. If you’ve only seen the movie version more times than you…

California Musical Theatre opened its Broadway Sacramento 2016-2017 season with one of the world’s most beloved musicals of all time, The Sound of Music. If you’ve only seen the movie version more times than you can count, you’ll be happy to know that the stage version is just as enjoyable and satisfyingly familiar. There’s no need to worry that your favorite tunes will be missing.

If you’re new to this 50-plus year old musical or have this vague recollection of some song about the hills being alive, The Sound of Music is part love story and part social conscious raising — all done with catchy tunes and cute and ultra-talented kids.

 

Photo by Matthew Murphy.

 

The Sound of Music tells the story of Maria and the von Trapp family, set right before the Nazi invasion — the Anschluss — of Austria prior to the start of World War II. Maria leaves the abbey to become the governess of widower Captain Georg von Trapp’s seven children. She ultimately falls in love with the children and the Captain. Her affection, naiveté, and love of music draws them all together.

The musical numbers still feel as fresh and fun as the day you first heard Rodgers and Hammerstein’s score. Actress Kerstin Anderson draws you in with her infectious joy, especially the times she convinces those around her to join her in song, like when she gets The Mother Abbess to break the rules against singing inside the abbey to belt out “My Favorite Things” or when she breaks the von Trapp children down to sing “Do-Re-Mi.”

In the stage version, the nuns get a little more singing time, especially the Abbess played by Melody Betts who closes the first half with a stellar rendition of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

 

Photo by Matthew Murphy.

 

In the end, you find yourself rooting mightily for Maria, the children and their father, played by Ben Davis, particularly when he so lovely pays homage to his beloved Austria by singing “Edelweiss.”

The actors, the sets, the singing and, of course, the music, will bring a smile to your face and you’ll undoubtedly find yourself humming along to some familiar tunes.

Don’t miss out to see The Sound of Music before it leaves the Sacramento Community Center Theater November 6. Learn more about tickets and showtimes on Sacramento365. Ticket price range is $25-$82.


*This blog post was written by Visit Sacramento’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sonya Bradley.