Wellesley Theatre Project brings community production of “The Sound of Music” to the stage

 

Wellesley Theatre Project presented the first three performances of its inaugural community production of “The Sound of Music” this past weekend at Babson College’s Sorenson Center for the Arts. A departure from WTP’s typical youth-focused work, this musical tapped the talents of WTP staff, alumni, current students, and community members from across Wellesley and throughout the Greater Boston area.

“The Sound of Music,” with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is set in Austria in the late 1930s and follows Maria, a spirited novice nun who becomes governess to the seven von Trapp children. The musical’s well-known songs, including “The Sound of Music,” “Do-Re-Mi,” and “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” help tell the story of Maria’s growing connection with the von Trapp family before they face the threat of Nazi occupation.

The cast delivered strong musical performances, with the production placing a greater emphasis on singing than on dramatic acting.

Before the performance, Executive Director Hillary Drew welcomed the audience and reflected on what it took to bring the production to the stage. She shared that 91 people auditioned for the show, with 37 cast members selected, and noted that the production also features a 17-piece orchestra and more than 45 performers overall. Drew also pointed out that this summer marks WTP’s 15th anniversary, making the production a bit of a celebration of the organization’s success over the past decade and a half.

The production is directed by Chris Cavallo, with musical direction by David Wright. Katelyn Geary is associate musical director and conductor, and Erica Lundin is the choreographer.

“The Sound of Music” will be performed again on July 30, July 31, and Aug. 1 at 7:30pm, with a bonus 35-minute kids’ production set for Aug. 1 (purchase tickets online).

WTP provides year-round theater education for students from PreK through 12th grade as a nonprofit. They offer classes, productions, workshops, and summer camps. These range from one-week camps- for example, “Unicorns and Dinosaurs!” or “Bluey and Friends”- all the way to selective professional internships for high schoolers. This summer’s community production reflects the organization’s first significant work beyond youth programming.