"The Sound of Music" Revisits the Lofte

The last time the Lofte Community Theatre performed Rogers' and Hammerstein's "The Sound of Music," gasoline was around $1 per gallon. The year was 1985 and the "Born-in-a-Barn Players" were still housed in a converted barn free from amenities like air conditioning and running water.

After a twenty-three year hiatus, Director Kevin Colbert was ready to revisit the world's most beloved musical. "I'm really excited about making this version an even bigger production than what we were able to provide last time," said Mr. Colbert. Indeed, the Lofte's new performance space offers the cast and crew wing space, dressing rooms, and a stage twice as large as the one at the old Lofte. Plenty of room to allow for grander sets and added depth to make the audience really feel as if they were transported to the Austrian Alps.

The story behind "The Sound of Music," is loosely based upon the book, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," written by Maria von Trapp and published in 1949. The Rogers and Hammerstein stage version tells a romanticized and shortened story where Maria (serving as a governess) and the Captain fall in love during the days just prior to Hitler's anschluss of Austria in 1938. The version as told by Maria von Trapp in her book states that the two actually married in 1927, several years before Hitler's rise to power. There were also 10 von Trapp children instead of just 7 as portrayed in the movie, and together, Maria and Georg had 3 of their own.

In the 1930s the family lost the bulk of their fortune to the Great Depression. Maria dismissed most of the servants and the family earned money by taking singing engagements. They realized they were on thin ice with a regime they abhorred. Georg not only refused to fly the Nazi flag on their house, but he also declined a naval command and a request to sing at Hitler's birthday party.

The von Trapp family emmigrated to the United States not by hiking through the Alps, but by taking a train. They packed their suitcases and heavy instruments and told people they were going to America to sing. They boarded a train and travelled to Italy where husband Georg had citizenship. From there an American booking agent made travel arrangements and paid for their fare to the States.

Pictured: Front Row from L to R, Abigail Raasch, Jenniger Gilg, Kabrianna Mumford. Back Row, Matt Bailey, Samantha Colbert, Luke Heidbrink, Anna Schoettger and Jordyn Marcoe.

Principal actors in the Lofte's production include Jennifer Gilg of Omaha as Maria, Greg Leger of Omaha as the Captain, Janet Sorensen of Elmwood as Mother Abbess and Samantha Colbert of Weeping Water as Liesl. Other members of the cast include Brenda Jones, Jordyn Marcoe, Kara Habrock and Maylea Bauers all of Louisville; Cynthia Sheldon, Jeff Johnston, Kabrianna Mumford, Tim Sorensen, Jill McLaughlin and Lizzy Pegler all of Elmwood; Eileen Moser, Kevin Colbert and Jean Colbert all of Weeping Water; Anna Schoettger, Abigail Raasch, Kris Raasch, Anne Bremer, Pat Meierhenry, Audrey Barrett and Olivia Herr all of Lincoln; Renee Jensen of Unadilla; Luke Heidbrink of Waverly; Matt Bailey of Springfield; Valerie Devoe Sullivan of Omaha; Debra McNaught of Alvo; Millard Carnes of Plattsmouth; Kindy Belew of Palmyra; Kayla Mitchell of La Vista; Lucy Myrtue of Murray; and Katie Schmitt of Murdock .

Public response to ticket sales has been phenomenonal. Several dates are already sold out. Available performance dates areJuly 18, 24, 27 (7:30pm only) and August 1-3. Curtain times are at 7:30pm except for Sundays which are 2pm matinees. All tickets are $15 and reservations can be made by calling the Lofte box office at (402)234-2553, or using the Lofte's online ticket page.