Cavod to stage beloved musical

"I want (audience members) to feel the delight that we all remember and are trying to bring to it," said Jaime Hilton, director of Cavod's upcoming production of "The Sound of Music." "I want them to walk away feeling like they just had a big cup of warm cocoa."

"The Sound of Music," based on "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" by Maria von Trapp, will be presented at Cavod Theatre, 641 W. Main St., New Holland, with a dinner theater at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. The show will also be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8; at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 2 and 9; and at 4 p.m. on Sundays, Dec. 3 and 10.

"The Sound of Music" follows a young postulant named Maria, played by Haleigh Swansen, who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, played by Sean Caldwell, and brings music and joy to the household. As the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, Maria and the von Trapp family face a moral decision. The cast also features Monica DePaul as the Mother Abbess, Brooklyn Hilton as Liesl, Lincoln Everett as Rolf, Marcus Hartline as Max Detweiler, and Ahna Fulmer as Elsa Schraeder.

Jaime was thrilled to be given the opportunity to direct the childhood favorite. "I was very excited to sign on," she said, noting that she recalls first seeing it as a young child and that it was one of the first shows in which she acted around the age of 10. "It's such a sweet story. It has always been a warm memory for me," Jaime said.

The musical, however, is not without its challenges. "We have a lot of kids (in the cast)," noted Jaime, who has double cast six of the seven von Trapp children. "They are fantastic," she noted of the child actors. She also pointed out that creating a realistic set is not easy. "We want to be in the Alps and we're not," she stated. "Translating that onto a stage that feels true and honoring to the story without being cheesy is a challenge."

As rehearsals move forward, Jaime said that cast members are sharing their own memories of experience with the musical. "Even the kids are familiar with the story and have enjoyed digging in deeper and getting to know the characters better," she said, noting that the story has universal themes that make it feel familiar to both cast and audience members. "We are having so much fun finding moments of humor and warmth," she said, noting that the actors in the small ensemble are exploring the connections between characters. "(We are) finding that in the relationships ... and trying to understand the joy and the humor," she said.

Of course, "The Sound of Music" is known for its music by Richard Rodgers combined with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Jaime cannot wait to share "The Lonely Goatherd" with audiences. "It is really delightful," she said, adding, "'Climb Every Mountain' is a showstopper," and that the dancers in "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" are very gifted. "(The music) is almost subtle in its charm," she noted.

Tickets, which are discounted for students, may be purchased at http://www.cavod.org, by emailing info@cavod.org, or by calling 717-354-3355.