THE SUMMER REPERTORY THEATRE AT BLACKBURN COLLEGE ANNOUNCES THE

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN CLASSIC THE SOUND OF MUSIC

CARLINVILLE, IL—The Summer Repertory Theatre at Blackburn College is excited to announce their
2011 summer musical, The Sound of Music. Directed and choreographed by Summer Rep’s Artistic
Director and Blackburn College Professor of Theatre, Dr. David S. Sollish, the theatre group will
celebrate their 17th summer with an innovative production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.
Loved by audiences around the world, The Sound of Music tells the story of Maria, a sweet
young postulant whose love of freedom makes it obvious to her superiors that she is not suited for
religious life. Thus, she is sent off to be the governess to Captain von Trapp's seven troublesome children.
Unlike previous governesses, Maria becomes friends with the children due to their mutual love of music.
Soon, even the strict Captain begins to admire Maria. Eventually, the Captain and Maria fall in love and
are married. Unfortunately, when the Nazis invade their homeland, Austria, the whole family is forced to
flee over the Alps to escape. The score features such memorable songs as “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re
Mi,” and “The Sound of Music.”
The cast of The Sound of Music features Carlinville residents Katie Palsen as Maria and
Jeffery Gosnell as Captain Von Trapp. The Von Trapp family consists of Teora Schumacher (Las Vegas,
NV) as Liesl, Aidan Groves (Atwater), as Friedrich, Rachel Levan (Carlinville) as Louisa, Zeke Gray
(Carlinville) as Kurt, Ashton Burdell (Hillsboro) as Brigitta, Emma Gosnell (Carlinville) as Marta, and
Sophia Ruffatto (Plainview) as Gretl. The remaining leading cast consists of Kelsey Wooten (Carlinville)
as Baroness Elsa Schraeder, David Hardy (Carlinville) as Maximillian Detweiller, Joey Lewis (Girard) as
Rolf Gruber), Lori Palsen (Carlinville) as Mother Abbess, Gretchen Taylor (Carlinville) as Sister Berthe,
Adrienne Stockley (Alton) as Sister Margaretta, Vanessa Kufa (Carlinville) as Sister Sophia.
Supporting players consist of Dan Fleischer (Carliville) as Franz, Kelly Taylor-Wilson
(Carlinville) as Frau Schmidt, Paul Kline (Lewistown) as Herr Zeller, Dr. Mark Armstrong (Carlinville) as
Baron Elberfeld, Becky Bernhardt (Carlinville) as Baroness Elberfeld, Jessica Clements (Modesto) as
Ursula, and Karl Palsen (Carlinville) as Admiral Von Schreiber).
The Nuns, Postulants, and Novices of Nonnberg Abbey are Keri Austin (Girard), Jessica Barkley
(Carlinvile), Celie Bloome (Litchfield), Mary Lou Delaney (Carlinville), Linda Gray (Carlinville), Sarah
Henderson (Gillespie), Amanda Kirby (Carlinville), Donna Krager (Waggoner), Lauren Nichols (Girard),
Chris Powell (Carlinville), and Emily Steward (Carlinville). The adult ensemble consists of Sarah Knipp
(Raymond), Megan Stayton (Carlinville), Luke Peterson (Litchfield), Owen Meredith (Carlinville), Erin
Murphy (Brighton), Steve Nicholson (Carlinville), Adam Hamilton (Raymond), and DeAaron Williams
(East St. Louis).
The Children’s Ensemble features Caden Barkley (Carlinville), Sarah Dewitt (Modesto), Karley
Elliott (Carlinville), Cora Gray (Carlinville), Joe Hardy (Carlinville), Tori Hartson (Plainview), Nonie
Karrick (Carlinville), Avery Kufa (Carlinville), Gabe Long (Carlinville), Colleen Nichols (Girard), and
Joshua Street (Litchfield).
The artistic team is comprised of Eldon Wold, Jr. (Musical Director), Mary Ann Harp (Co-
Choreographer), Leland Smith (Scenic Design), Marilyn Kallal (Costumes), Abe Fleischer (Lights),
Nathan Gorman (Sound), Amanda Orzechowski (Stage Manager, Associate Director, Props), Elizabeth
Williams (Assistant Stage Manager), Tiffany Waugh (Public Relations Manager), Owen Meredith
(Technical Director), Mary Alice Shaw (Business Manager), and Executive Director Barbara Clark
(Accompanist).
The Sound of Music will be presented in air-conditioned Bothwell Auditorium on the campus
of Blackburn College, where there is also free parking. Performance times are as follows: Thursday,
June 16 thru Saturday, June 18 and Thursday, June 23rd thru Saturday, June 25t at 7:30PM; as well as
Sunday, June 19th and Sunday, June 26th at 2:00PM. Admission is $10.00 for adults and $7.00 for
children (12 and under). For more information, please call (217) 854-5518, email
info@blackburnsummerrep.org, or visit our website at www.blackburnsummerrep.org.