The OCT is alive with ‘The Sound of Music’

Ohlin — A convent of nuns, a platoon of Austrian soldiers and a family of seven children all under one roof isn’t often, but that’s what patrons of the Ohlin Community Theater will see this week. is.

Roger and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music runs Wednesday through Sunday at the South Barry Street Theater.

Director Tim Holmby said the show was one of his favorites. In fact, it was the first show he attended nearly 20 years ago and launched his love of theater.

“I always wanted to direct this show, but the timing just wasn’t right,” he told the Times-Herald. I’m directing. It’s really exciting.”

Based on the real life story of the von Trapp singer, the story of Oscar Hammerstein II follows a young convent teacher in 1930s Austria who becomes a tutor in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children. It follows the nun Maria. At first they don’t meet her eye to eye, but with the threat of Nazi expansion looming in the background, Maria brings her new love of life and music into her home.

The cast and crew began rehearsals at the end of January, and after about seven weeks, Hollumby said production was moving forward with significant progress made in recent nights.

“It’s a very big show and it can be difficult because our stage isn’t that big. So we had to make some adjustments, but it came together very well.” A lot of the things we did in staging look really nice on stage.”

With nearly 30 people in the cast, it’s one of the biggest OCT shows in years. Hollamby said there are many first-time and inexperienced actors, including many young children.

“It’s proven to be a challenge, but it’s an exciting challenge,” he added.

One of those actors, Kim Power, returns to the stage after a 12-year hiatus to play the abbot’s mother with her son Ben, who plays one of Von Trapp’s children. She said her last performance was also a nun in the musical comedy “Nunsense,” pregnant with Ben.

“This is his first show, so it’s really pretty,” she said. “He was part of the show then. We’re part of this show now.”

Power sings one of the musical’s most famous songs, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” to Maria as the finale of act one. Holumby said she transforms into character and performs her songs beautifully.

“Our character roles are really starting to mesh,” Power said of Maria’s relationship with actress Jessica Chastain. “It feels like a mother-daughter bond that we’re building.”

classic Richard Rodgers’ score is performed by an 18-piece orchestra composed of local musicians, conducted by Ruth Fuller.

“I don’t know if I’d be able to work with a music director other than Ruth,” Holumby said. “She’s special and finds a way to bring it all together. She finds a way to do it.”

The highlight of this work is the many costumes that the many cast members change into. Holumby said the costume Angela Emry, playing one of the nuns, went above and beyond what he expected.

“It’s a very vintage piece and it was great to let her do it all,” he said.

The production crew is rounded out by producers Margaret Schumann and Linda Wells, rehearsal assistant Jamie Crawford, vocal director Alex Scalis, choreographer Lisa Krantz, and technical director Kelly Vaccaro.

“My team is very precise with everything,” says Hollamby. “It’s been great to work with them.”

As one of the most popular musicals on both stage and film, Holumby said ‘The Sound of Music’ was a widely loved show that left the whole family happy after the final act. I was.

“It’s cold outside, but it warms my heart.”

The Sound of Music performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM at the Olean Community Theater, 127 S. Barry St. Tickets are $15 at the door, but Hollamby recommends pre-ordering tickets. “Our theater only has 130 seats for him, so even if it sells out, we don’t have to turn people away.”