The Sound of Music was a great experience for me. On January 9, 2004, I spent the night with Katherine Roux, who was going out for the lead part, Maria. We spent that night eating chocolate ice cream, diet sodas, and watching the video of the Sound of Music. On January 10, 2004, Katherine and I got up at 8:15am, fixed breakfast, got ready, and headed to auditions at school. When we arrived at the school, we realized we were late, even though Kat had been speeding down Erwin Road. So, we grabbed our scripts, music, and audition sheets, walked in, sat down, and waited on further instructions. Mr. Zedick, aka Mr. Z, the director, went up to the front and told us we'd be called in in groups. So Katherine and I got up with the other people trying out for the same parts as directed by the producer, Mr. Waggener. Katherine had 1 person going up against her for the part of Maria. I had 4 people going up against me for the part of Liesl, however, I also went out for the part of Louisa. We read from scripts first, then sang songs, then individual character songs, and then did more script reading. I went home after it was over, happy with what I did.

On Monday, January 12, 2004, Katherine and I went to the music room to find out when the parts would be up. They said around lunch time. Katherine checked after every class to see if the list was up. After my second period Biology class, I was at my locker when I saw Kat walking past me crying. She went into the girl's bathroom. Naturally, I followed. Turns out she didn't get the part, but had gotten another lead role of Elsa Schrader. I received the role of Louisa, which I was happy with. After going through the script, I was even happier with that part, because Louisa and I were basically alike. Tough to hide our pain, tom-boy, and prankster are just a few things the character and I had in common. It was very easy for me to "be one with Louisa" after a little bit of directing. That day I received my script and rehearsal schedule. During choir class, we began learning songs from the musical. This only excited me even more.

 

The following Saturday was our first rehearsal when I would meet the four middle school and one elementary students playing my siblings. I couldn't wait! When that morning came, I got up, grabbed my script, and headed to my first rehearsal as Louisa Von Trapp. However, when I arrived, there seemed to be a rift between the high school and middle school students. Being the person I am, I intended to take care of this. Tyler Quick, an 8th grade student, had brown hair, pale skin, and was about my height, maybe a little taller. He was playing my older brother, Frederich. Laura Droege, a seventh grader, had this long reddish-blond hair, pale skin with what seemed like a little too much make-up on, at the time. However, I kind of already knew her, because her brother, Brent, was in my class before he left. She would be playing my little sister, Brigitta. Steven Winters, a 6th grader, was shorter than me, with brown hair, and a little darker skin. He would be playing my little brother, Kurt. Casey Malone, another 6th grader, had pale blond hair with pale skin. I knew who she was from cheerleading. She would be playing my little sister, Marta. Emily Nabut, a fifth grader, was obviously shorter than me, tan skin, and long, light brown hair. She would be playing my other little sister, Gretl. Bethany Ousborne, a freshmen, had pale skin with light red hair, and was just a little shorter than me. She would be playing Liesl. We started rehearsal after we were all introduced to each other. The Captain and Maria, most of us already knew.

 

The first scene we worked on was Act I, Scene 5, also known as the scene when we first meet Maria. Eventually we worked on other scenes with "Elsa" and "Max". Max was played by my Bible teacher, Mr. Tenaglia. Rehearsals were from 9am-12:45pm with choreography and music rehearsals following on certain Saturdays. These rehearsals were every Saturday from Jan. 17th-March 6th. Tech and dress rehearsals were from March 12-March 16th. Of course, with each rehearsal we became closer. Most of us really felt like a family before opening night. We had inside jokes such as, "FABULOUS!", the rythmic chicken, and the funky honkey donkey horse. Mike and I always beat up each other up at almost every rehearsal.

 

Some stuff happened in Katherine's life about 5 weeks before opening night which prevented her from playing Elsa. So we began looking for another Elsa. Luckily, Daun Trolup was interested in the part. She auditioned and received the part.

 

By the beginning of March, everything was coming along great, except painting of the set. So I spent 3 days of the week before our last rehearsals painting during my classes, that my teachers would let me out of, and during my lunch period. I spent a good 40+ hours doing set work, obviously putting me way behind in almost all of my classes. I also ruined a pair of jeans, sweatpants, and a t-shirt. However, after about a week back in class, I was caught up.

 

The Von Trapp kids had about 6-7 costumes. Our rented costumes, aka curtain clothes and traveling clothes, weren't too bad, well...depending what color you got. Our curtain clothes were pale yellow with floral designes on it. My traveling costume was a white "blouse" with a bright green dress, with yellow, white, and red flowers on it. It wasn't that bad, but the colors clashed a little bit. At the back of stage left, there was a green spotlight that came on at on point when I was standing under it. Unfortunately I was wearing my green dress when it came on. I looked like a big green person. All of me was green. It was hilarious.

 

I really can't remember a lot more. I mean, gosh, it was over 2 months ago. Give me a break. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed what I wrote and for those of you who ever get a chance to be in this play, take advantage of the oppurtunity. You'll never regret it.