Director’s Introduction and Cast of Characters The Sound of Music Gooseberry Park Players will make the theater come alive this summer with its production of a family musical favorite, the final collaboration of Rodgers and Hammerstein, “The Sound of Music” from July 15-20, 2014 at Frances Frazier Comstock Theater on the campus of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. Debbie Griffith, managing director for Gooseberry, said, “Most of us are familiar with ‘The Sound of Music’ and the classic film with actress Julie Andrews as Maria Von Trapp. The stage version is slightly different yet the music rings so pure and clear that I can truly say my heart wants to sing every song I hear from this grand and glorious musical.” “The Sound of Music” tells the true and inspiring story of the seven von Trapp children, whose ex-nun governess became their mother—and whose love of music played a major role in their Alps-scaling escape from Austria, with their father, on the eve of World War II. “One of the best things that ‘The Sound of Music’ does is communicate that very passionate conviction that art is somehow sacred—that it transcends all of the pettiness, ugliness, filth, and hate that a person can devise with the ugliness of war. It’s a story of love, truth, compassion and hope to take one step at a time and realize that dreams can indeed be reality,” said Griffith. Cast and crew information sessions and audition sign-up will be April 14 and 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Moorhead Public Library. Auditions and technical crew interviews are May 6 and 7 at Frances Frazier Comstock Theater on the campus of Concordia College and are open to students aged 11 to 18 years old. Roles to be cast include: 1) Maria Rainer (von Trapp): A postulant at Abbey – young, free spirited, gentle and kind 2) Captain Georg von Trapp: A retired Austrian naval captain. Polished, yet very military in the way he runs his life to repress his sadness over the death of his wife 3) Max Detweiller: Charming and vital; a man of sophistication who enjoys the good life 4) Elsa Schrader: A baroness of taste and elegance, sophisticated, dignified and mature 5) Mother Abbess: Motherly, understanding, strong and authoritative, but kind 6) Sister Berthe: Mistress of Novices, prudish, straight laced with a quick tongue 7) Sister Margaretta: Mistress of Postulants, very kind, understanding and concerned 8) Sister Sophia: Neither demanding nor critical, sticks with the rules 9) Franz: The von Trapp butler, rather formal but not without spirit, he is very German 10) Frau Schmidt: The housekeeper, stoic, very little personality; she does her job 11) Herr Zeller: Stern and unsmiling, a typical Nazi official 12) Rolf Gruber: Suitor to Liesl, telegram delivery boy, later Nazi soldier, very pleasant 13) Liesl von Trapp: 16, eldest child, blossoming into a young lady 14) Friedrich von Trapp: 14, tough exterior, trying to be “the man” of the family 15) Louisa von Trapp: 13, rebellious attitude 16) Kurt von Trapp: 10, gentle and mischievous 17) Brigitta von Trapp: 9, smart, reads a lot 18) Marta von Trapp: 7, very sweet and gentle 19) Gretl von Trapp: 6, the cute factor Approximately 10 Male Chorus Members: Nazi soldiers, neighbors, Salzburg citizens Approximately 10-15 Female Chorus Members: Salzburg citizens, new postulant, nuns, novices, postulants and contestants in the Festival Concert