State Theatre in Uniontown to present “The Sound of Music”
Kayla Grimm of Masontown plays Maria in the classic musical "The Sound of Music," presented this weekend at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown. Performances are at 7:00 on Friday and Saturday, and at 2:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
Kayla Grimm of Masontown plays Maria in the classic musical "The Sound of Music," presented this weekend at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown. Performances are at 7:00 on Friday and Saturday, and at 2:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
The hills will be alive at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown this weekend for the presentation of 鈥淭he Sound of Music.鈥�
John Wagner, artistic director for Summer at the State, said the musical has a cast of 35 actors, including 10 children, and they have been rehearsing since the beginning of June. Five of the characters in the singing von Trapp family are played by children, and the characters are double-cast.
Wagner said he hopes 鈥淭he Sound of Music鈥� will be a draw for people of all ages, since it has become a classic that people remember fondly.
鈥淚t has touched so many generations. Grandparents remember when the movie came out and they passed that on to their kids, and now they, as parents, get to pass that on to their kids as well,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something families can do together, and hopefully the cycle continues.鈥�
Wagner said his favorite part of 鈥淭he Sound of Music鈥� are the many unforgettable songs by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. He said 鈥淭he Sound of Music鈥� highlights the importance of music in people鈥檚 lives. With many performing arts activities canceled in the past year, Wagner pointed out that music and live theater are coming back into people鈥檚 lives just like it came back into the von Trapp family鈥檚 lives in 鈥淭he Sound of Music.鈥�
Daniel Nuttall, of Brownsville, is playing Ralph in 鈥淭he Sound of Music鈥� and is in his fifth year of participating in summer shows at State Theatre. He said the theater is a welcoming place and plays a large role in his life.
鈥淪ummer at the State has really been one of those keystone points in my life that I come to every year. It鈥檚 a family atmosphere,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t gave me a space to be myself, where I could really explore who I am as an artist and as a vocalist.鈥�
Nuttall said getting the role of Ralph was a surprise to him, but he is enjoying playing the character and working with the cast. He said the character helps show the audience the dangers of taking politics too seriously and the dangers of hating others.
鈥淚t means something now in the world that we live in,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t has a very important message behind protecting, loving and being accepting towards others.鈥�
Lilley Murtha, 8, plays Marta, the second youngest of the von Trapp children, and said she enjoys playing a character who is kind and likes pretty things. She said she believes the story shows how important music is to people鈥檚 lives.
Her older sister, Paisley Murtha, 12, is playing Brigitta von Trapp. Paisley Murtha said she enjoyed getting to know the other cast members and the history behind the story. She said it is like the characters are bringing music back to the audience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 close to everyone鈥檚 heart,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 sort of like Maria is bringing music and theater back to Uniontown, and it鈥檚 really helping us realize that everything is going back to normal.鈥�
Tickets for 鈥淭he Sound of Music鈥� are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Performances will be Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at statetheatre.info or by calling 724-439-1360. A link to buy tickets is also posted on the State Theatre Facebook page.