All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

The Sound of Music coming to Wallman Hall Theater at Fairmont State

The hills are alive at Fairmont State University! Tickets are on sale now for the Fairmont State University Town and Gown Players production of The Sound of Music (June 14-16 & 19-23) at the Wallman Hall Theater on the Fairmont State University campus. 

The Sound of Music runs June 14-15, 19-22 at 7:30 p.m., and June 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. All performances take place in the Wallman Hall Theater. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.fairmontstate.edu/boxoffice or in person at the Fairmont State Box Office in Wallman Hall.  

Directed by Troy Snyder, with choreography by Kim Bell and music direction by Elizabeth Wotring-Nelson, The Sound of Music features a trove of cherished songs, with its Tony, Grammy, and Academy Awards-winning best score, including “Climb Every Mountain,” “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things” and the iconic title song. 

The inspirational story, based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp, follows a young nun-in-training who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household.

This family-friendly musical is suitable for ages five and above. Its music by composer Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein were originally released as a stage show in 1959 and later popularized by the 1965 film starring Julie Andrews.

“Because of the movie, just about everyone is familiar in some way with “The Sound of Music” and knows at least a couple of the songs,” said Director Troy Snyder. “It’s always on the list of favorite films. My hope is that experiencing it live is different and more memorable for the audience and that after seeing it, they will have had a very different experience from watching the movie. The cast and crew have been working for months now to make sure that it will be a moving experience for everyone. We’ve also dedicated this show to the memory of Joann Lough. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals were her favorite, and we know this will be a fitting tribute to her and her years of dedication to theatre at Fairmont State.” 

Lough was a professor emeritus at Fairmont State, who taught Theatre and was heavily involved in campus and community arts productions. She directed over 70 plays and is fondly remembered for introducing many to the colorful world of performing arts. The impact she had on the Town and Gown Players is still felt and seen by many. 

Fairmont State celebrates 63 years of Town and Gown Players summer theatre for residents of North Central West Virginia. Each Town and Gown Players production features a cast, crew, and artistic team comprised of community members, students, and professionals who commit their time, talent, and steadfast dedication to each performance. 

Leading the cast are Kate Stevens as Maria Rainer and David Smithbauer as Captain Von Trapp. The Von Trapp children are played by Riley Moore (Liesl), Jack Santee (Friedrich), Mia Kopischke (Louisa), James Treu (Kurt), Braelyn Berry (Brigitta), Iris Nelson (Marta), and Emarie Smithbauer (Gretl). 

Featuring Kiersten White (Reverend Mother Abess), Jamyson Posey (Rolf Gruber), Briana Pudsell (Sister Sophia), Courtney Brabham (Sister Maragaretta), Miki DeMary-Andrew (Sister Berthe), Christian Cox (Max Detweiller), Dani DeVito (Baroness Elsa Von Schrader), Shawn Dunn (Franz), Haley Zoladz (Frau Schmidt), Scott Moore (Herr Zeller), Mike Kopischke (Admiral Von Schreiber), Colton Daft (Baron Elberfeld), Rebecca Walters (Baroness Elberfeld). 

Nuns of Nonnberg Abbey: Ashley Bainbridge, Morgan Carter, Kathy Dunn, Catherine Gray, Lydia Hatten, Shaila King, Sarah Lemley, Alexa Morgan, Devon Neptune, Terri Parlett, Salem Pollastrini, Katie Scherzinger. 

Party Guests: Ashley Bainbridge, Lydia Hatten, Devon Neptune, Terri Parlett, Johnathan Richards, and Franky Satterfield. 

 Get your tickets now to experience this exciting and powerful live show at Fairmont State University. The Sound of Music will be performed in the Wallman Hall Theatre on the campus of Fairmont State on June 14-15, 19-22 at 7:30 p.m., and on Sundays, June 16 and 23 are matinee showings. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.fairmontstate.edu/boxoffice or in person at the Fairmont State Box Office in Wallman Hall. 

For more event information, visit the Fairmont State Community Arts Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/FairmontStateCommunityArts

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