Sequim High’s operetta sings ‘The Sound of Music’ UPDATED

You know the songs by heart. You’ve seen the movie dozens of times. But there’s still an audience who hasn’t seen or heard “The Sound of Music” — some of Sequim’s students.

But that’s likely to change as the Sequim High School Operetta Club presents the stage production from May 1-17 at the high school auditorium.

“We have a bunch of kids who have never even seen it on TV,” said John Lorentzen, musical director for the show. “That’s starting to change with the new Carrie Underwood version. But we’re introducing kids to music they’ve probably never heard before.”

The semi-historical love story follows self-doubting nun Maria Rainer, played by Sabrina Marunde, who becomes governess of seven children of widowed Navy Captain Georg von Trapp, played by Zach Campbell.

Marunde, who takes the stage for only her second production, said she’s watched the movie about 500 times.

“I’m too scared to watch it now because I don’t want to compare myself to Julie Andrews,” she joked.

But director Robin Hall said she has a lot of confidence in Marunde.

“Maria has some fire under her and Sabrina brings something to this character,” Hall said. “She brings spunk, if that’s the right word for it.”

Marunde, who said she hasn’t seen a stage version of “The Sound of Music,” said she’s lucky to know the movie so well but isn’t playing it safe.

“I go over my lines every night,” she said.

Campbell, who takes the stage for his seventh production, said he’s watched the movie since taking on the role of von Trapp and followed along with the script, which was quite different.

Sequim’s version includes two film songs “Something Good” and “I Have Confidence,” but the play has had an added effect on Campbell, too.

“I never sang in the shower until this show,” he joked.

Campbell, a senior, said he also appreciates the path he’s taken to being the lead role.

“As a freshman, I started in small roles and in a way I started from the bottom and worked my way up,” he said. “It’s cool.”

About the production

This is the third time Sequim High School hosts “The Sound of Music” and Hall said it’s a play they’ve been looking to do for a long time.

“As I tell my students, you should at least get to do one of these older shows like ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ ‘The Sound of Music’ or ‘The Music Man’ when you’re in high school,” Hall said. “There’s a reason they are still so popular.”

Hall and cast members agreed that the play is timeless for its music.

“Even if you haven’t seen it, you know songs like ‘Do-Re-Mi,’” Hall said. “It’s in our cultural references.”

“This show is the epitome of a story you’ve heard of music healing people,” Marunde said.

For the production, 54 children are involved, playing nuns, von Trapp’s children or extras. “I’m pleased with the cast,” Hall said. “The nuns are great and I love the (von Trapp) children. We had a lot of children audition and I could have cast them all several times.”

Marunde said her favorite part of the show is Mother Abbess, played by Ciara Westhoven, singing “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

“I guarantee people will cry. It’s a tearjerker,” Marunde said.

Lorentzen, also the Sequim School Middle and Sequim High School choir teacher, said it’s been 20 years since he’s participated in the musical.

“With (Richard) Rodgers and (Oscar) Hammerstein, everything they write is beautiful,” he said.

For the show, Lorentzen leads an eight-piece combo and said students seem to be most excited for “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”

This operetta marks his third time leading music in Sequim, while daughter Anne leads choreography.

“It’s amazing in a community of this size, everyone rallies,” he said. “(The operetta has) been part of the Irrigation Festival for almost 50 years. That’s really impressive. It’s great for the school to be part of the community.”

Along with its regular performances, the operetta will perform at the Crazy Daze Breakfast, Arts & Crafts Fair and Irrigation Festival Grand Parade.

Following this production, Hall and Peninsula Family Theater hold auditions for a summer production of “Les Miserables.”

For more information on the operetta, visit shsoperetta.org.

“The Sound of Music”

By the Sequim High School Operetta Club

Where: SHS Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.

Shows:

Thursdays, 6 p.m. May 15

Fridays 7 p.m. May 9, 16

Saturdays 7 p.m. 10, 17

Tickets: Online at shsoperetta.org, SHS main office, at door, and call 360-460-1432

Director: Robin Hall