The ‘Sound’ makes its return to a Marshall stage this weekend
By Cindy VotrubaFact Box
IF YOU GO
The "Sound of Music" will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Thursday-Saturday, July 16-18, and Sunday, July 19, at the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts. Advanced tickets are $8 for adults, and $6 for students and seniors and are available at Hy-Vee, County Fair, Music St., Marshall Radio, Carrow's and MAFAC, or by calling 507-828-0742.
MARSHALL - Jill Kontz of Marshall can't believe 10 years have gone by since she played Maria in Marshall's 1999 production of "The Sound of Music."
And now, a decade later, The Marshall Area Stage Company is bringing "The Sound of Music" back to the stage.
For many of the past and present actors from both productions, "The Sound of Music" was a chance to be a part of a well-loved musical.
The 1999 production of the "Sound of Music" in Marshall was the first time Kontz experienced community theater, which included auditioning. She landed the role of Maria.
"That would be the part I wanted to do," Kontz said. "I grew up singing all the songs as a kid."
This year was the first time Mark Bosveld became part of a MASC production. He was open to any role, but he was cast as Captain von Trapp.
"I've done a lot of community theater in the past in other locations," Bosveld said.
"It was a chance to play a character my own age."
Jean Schueller, who portrayed Sister Margaretta in the 1999 production, returned to the stage 10 years later, this time as Sister Sophia.
"It's one of my all-time favorite musicals," Schueller said. "I really enjoyed it the last time I did it."
Angela Tate portrayed Brigitta in the 1999 production. She said "The Sound of Music" was her mother's favorite movie and when it was announced that the show was being done in Marshall, she took a chance.
"It was like the perfect opportunity to try out," Tate said.
Ten years later, Ashley Schotzko of Marshall is filling the role of Brigitta.
She said her friend Sara Schroeder, who was one of the leads in Southwest Minnesota State University's "The Secret Garden," was responsible for getting her into the show.
"She dared me to do it and said I wouldn't get the part," Schotzko said.
Rhonda Maker, who played the Mother Abbess in the 1999 show, said she wished she could have been in this year's show.
"If I was going to be in town, I would've tried out," Maker said. "I just love 'The Sound of Music.' The music was absolutely wonderful."
Kontz said Jess Nelson even encouraged her to try out for this year's production, perhaps reprise her role as Maria.
"I think I'm a little too old to play Maria," Kontz said.
Tate and Maker remembered there were a "ton of kids" in the show.
"I made a lot of really good friends in that show," Tate said.
"There were a lot more kids in the cast than I was used to, from other things I've been in," Maker said.
This time around, about 70 kids tried out for the roles of the seven von Trapp children, said director Sheila Tabaka. That includes Skylar Breczinski of Cottonwood, who plays Friedrich in this year's show.
"My parents signed me up and I was unaware, but I didn't mind, I'm really outgoing," Breczinski said.
Emma Woods, who plays Louisa, comes all the way from Granite Falls to be in this summer's show.
"I like acting and I've always wanted to be in the 'Sound of Music,'" Woods said.
That love of acting and being with other cast members overcame the long hours of rehearsal and learning lines, past and present cast members said.
"Half the time it didn't phase me because I was hanging out with friends and singing the songs," Tate said. "It was a lot of fun, I miss it."
"I'm happy because I really like acting and really like singing," Schotzko said.
"It ended up to being the best experience I had," Kontz said.
"I think it's a lot of fun and a good experience," Breczinski said.
Schueller's noticed that a lot was cut out of the 2009 production.
"It was the full three-hour show this first time around," Schueller said. "That makes a difference."
Bosveld sees the value of being in a community theater production.
"Especially with this show, it's a way to help the kids too," Bosveld said. "Be a role model and make theater a lifelong thing."
