The Sound of Music
at Herndon High School

Reviewed on April 27, 2019

Hannah Khan
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

"The hills are alive!" sang the melodic Maria Rainer on the mountains of Austria. Wishing to become a nun, but not ready to give up singing, Maria is sent into the mountains to become the governess to the von Trapp children. Expecting to find the willpower to become a nun, Maria alternatively finds herself a life and love. A tale of singing, laughter, war, and love unfolds throughout Maria's physical and emotional journey over the ups and downs of the mountain.

The Sound of Music, by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, first opened on Broadway in 1959 and was adapted to film in 1965. This story won five Tony Awards and five Academy Awards. The Sound of Music is set in Austria, just prior to World War II. Captain von Trapp is a naval captain who opposes the Nazis and valiantly refuses to surrender to Nazi Germany. He has seven children who are in desperate need of a female figure after the death of their mother.

The von Trapp family were blessed by the openly spirited Maria Rainer, played by Erin Maxwell, who did an impeccable job of maintaining her complexity of character. Her childlike way of life around the nuns quickly transitioned to a soft, but motherly tone when addressing the von Trapp children. Throughout the show, she developed an initial friendly warmth as a new governess to strong, maternal love for the children and passionate love for Captain von Trapp.

The vocals of this production were excellent as well. Each ensemble created a beautiful harmony, most notably the nuns. The "Preludium" sung by the nuns sounded sweet and carried a tone of calmness. Their performance delivered a contrast to the passionate performance of "The Sound of Music" given by Maxwell, whose vocal control was incredible. In each song that she sang, she made it her own. Maria's music carries meaning, and Maxwell's delivery of each beautiful note carried the deep emotions that Maria is conveying through song.

Beyond the cast members' excellent performances, the work of the set crew must be commended. The set, created by Gia Tigreros and John Proctor, was absolutely incredible. Not only was the set itself impressive, but the attention to detail in each room was amazing. One detail of note was with the curtains. Maria made clothes for the children out of the old curtains that Frau Schmidt said would be thrown away. When the children came out with clothes made from this material, the curtains in Maria's bedroom had changed. This small detail added to the believability of the story and showed the cast and crews dedication to creating a new world for us in the audience.

Herndon High School's production of The Sound of Music brought this beautiful story to life. Each of the delicately thought out elements really made this production sing. All the pieces of the show were magnificent alone, but together created a harmony as beautiful as the hills of Austria.

Paul Lee
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

What is that familiar tune that everyone's been singing for generations? It's simple, like ABC... or do-re-mi. It's Herndon High School's rendition of the world's favorite thing: The Sound of Music. Filled with hills, mountains, and acclaimed songs that the musical is known for, the nostalgic performance made the minds of the young and old reminisce this wonderful work in musical history.

Taking the true story of Maria and the von Trapp family, Rodgers and Hammerstein, the musical-writing gurus, wrote The Sound of Music. The production debuted on Broadway in 1959 and ran for a total of 1,443 performances. In the hands of film director Robert Wise, The Sound of Music was adapted into the Academy Award-winning motion picture in 1965 starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

The very problematic postulant, Maria Rainer, is sent to be a governess for the strictly disciplined von Trapp family. Oblivious to the notion of music, the children are taught to sing and bring back the tender family love that has been relinquished for many years.

The show wouldn't have been complete without the addition of the multi-talented ensemble who exuded infectious and lively energy, giving a unique touch to the production. The Nuns of the Abbey blessed the audience by opening the performance with angelic harmonies filled with highs and lows song in Latin.

How do you solve a problem like Maria? Though she may be a problem, there were none in Erin Maxwell's flawless portrayal as the optimistic governess Maria. Her powerful and sonorous vibratos complimented well with her dainty, poised persona as she classically waltzed the stage with grace. Maxwell perfectly executed her dynamic character development from a young postulant unaccepted by nuns into a fun-loving governess mothering the von Trapp children.

Bringing in loads of cheery joy and much adoration from the audience, the von Trapp children established each individual character traits prominent to their roles, specifically Brigitta (Hannah Clements) and Gretl (Alyssa Ruark). Clements delivered many comedic aspects as she effortlessly broadcasted the smart-aleck demeanor with her naive and observantly curious nature, leaving many side-splitting moments; second grader Ruark stole the audience's heart by adorably hitting every mark as the youngest of the family with her heart-melting perky voice and her small yet bubbly personality. Acting as comic foils, Elsa Schraeder (Taylor Nunn) and Max Detweiler (Morton Stokes) showed impressive character consistency as well as bringing out vigorous energy through their hidden dancing and vocal talents in the number "No way to Stop it."

Whether it be the pit orchestration or set design, created by Gia Tigreros, the entire production emanated an Austrian ambiance as the orchestra played authentic traditional-like folk music and with the set design radiating an historically accurate home with its attention to very minute details in structure and embellishment. The sound crew did an excellent job of making every voice stand out to be clear and concise.

The hills came alive in Herndon High School as the cast did justice to the Rodgers and Hammerstein's endearing musical phenomenon The Sound of Music.

Mary Kate Ganley
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

�"Follow every rainbow till You find your dream�" in a quaint hillside town where music rings out across towards all who seek to hear it. In Herndon High School�'s production of The Sound of Music, the celebration of life and family brought joy to the stage.

Based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Sound of Music has Rodgers and Hammerstein II writing the music and lyrics respectively. Filled with classic songs, �The Sound of Music�h is a family favorite, opening on Broadway in 1959 and winning five Tony awards. During the Anschluss in 1938, Maria, a girl with a heart for song, takes on a job as a governess of the von Trapp family and falls in love with the children in the process. Teaching the children to enjoy music and life, Maria then finds her own convictions creating unexpected issues in her life with the von Trapps.

The classical physicalities and motherly air that Erin Maxwell delivered to the role of Maria was as captivating as her commanding vocals. Maxwell�'s attentiveness to each character and their relationship with her created a delightfully familial atmosphere among the family. Her vocals were crisp and clear throughout and yet remained fluid and natural, shining in �"The Sound of Music�" and �"My Favorite Things."� The sweetness that Maxwell supplied matched neatly with the sternness of Donald Hollenbeck III as Georg von Trapp, and his transformation at the hands of Maria. The austere discomfort characterized by Hollenbeck III accentuated the changes he underwent as the show progressed.

The combination of Taylor Nunn and Morton Stokes as Elsa and Max brought a new sense of the fun of family. The small shared moments between the two, the familiar movements created the impression of longtime and very grown friends. Stokes'� conniving grey-area personality was hard to dissect but was effective, nonetheless. Nunn brought forth extremely mature movements and postures, as well as making the character her own with small, sly shifts in her tone or appearance, creating and cutting tensions with ease.

The technical aspects of the show were strong. The full-stage set was entirely utilized, and stage crew�s' transformations of the scenes were clean and clear. The pit orchestra maintained a good volume without fully obscuring the vocals onstage. The lighting crew stayed on top of their cues and used a self-made stained-glass lighting effect to create the illusion of a stained-glass window onstage.

The heartwarming atmosphere of Herndon High School�'s production of �The Sound of Music� contained many stunning voices, outstanding use of set and character, and overall extraordinarily high energy and joyous performance of the well-loved classic that will leave the music hanging in the air for ages to come.

Marisa Silverman
Thomas S. Wootton High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Picturesque mountains frame the stage as the angelic sound of nuns singing fills the air. The year: 1938. The location: Austria.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's hit musical from 1959, The Sound of Music, stars rebellious postulant Maria (Erin Maxwell) as she is sent to the von Trapp family as a governess. There she finds seven children stifled by strict rules of their father, Captain Georg von Trapp (Donald Hollenbeck III), and with a penchant for scaring off governesses. As Germany and the World War II draw closer, alliances become clear and the von Trapps begin to fear for their lives. In the closing scene, the von Trapps make a daring escape for Switzerland.

With an exquisite and physically daunting set, the cast took advantage of both the upper terrace and bedroom, as well as the lower rooms that functioned as a living room, a patio and a ballroom. The attention to simple details, like the curtains in Maria's room changing after she uses them to make play clothes and the books in the bookcase, show a dedication to craftsmanship from the build crew. Sound was consistent throughout the show, and even without a physical pit, the orchestra didn't overpower the actors, a challenge many shows face.

The von Trapp family was believable throughout the show. Siblings that were supposed to be older, like Liesl (Cara Ainge), Friedrich (Ankit Poudel) and Louisa (Emma Harris) felt older than the younger siblings Kurt (Genaro Mejia), Brigitta (Hannah Clements) and Marta (Claire Callaway). Also worth mention is Gretl, played by Alyssa Ruark, who while not in high school, was adorable. She was well incorporated into the show and was not portrayed as a lesser sibling, a credit to the director and the other siblings. While remaining individuals, the von Trapp children all had great chemistry and worked as a group. That dynamic spread to Maria, who while feeling like the youngest in the abbey scenes, felt motherly (or at least big sisterly) in the scenes with the children.

Smaller roles also had their chance to shine. Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper, played by Kate Grover, had expert timing and made the most of her stage presence. Likewise, Rolf, played by Henry Metcalf, shone in "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" with both his voice and dancing. The Mother Abbess, played by Kaitlyn Cleverly, had wonderful chemistry with Maria, feeling significantly older than her, enhanced by the make-up and lighting. Elsa Schraeder, played by Taylor Nunn, was graceful and true to her character with exquisite little mannerisms that show dedication and attention to detail.

Muntaha Haq
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Maria, the temporary governess of seven mischievous children, not only heals the heartbroken von Trapp family, but enchants the audience with her singing in a story of music, hilarity, and woe. The audience seemed enticed to sing along to Herndon High School's performance of Sound of Music in a journey to the hills of Austria.

A smashing Broadway success with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, The Sound of Music's impact is beyond its numerous awards. In the wake of the Anschluss, Nazi-Germany's annexation of Austria, the von Trapp family represents the true meaning of love during a time of fear. Although The Sound of Music is famous for its whimsical songs of raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, the messages of racism and conformity have haunted generations.

The cast of Herndon High School's The Sound of Music mesmerized the audience with their angelic vocals. As the von Trapp family sang and danced on the stage, it was hard to ignore the marvelous set. The production was anchored by the dedication of its cast and crew, delivering a seamless performance.

Maria (Erin Maxwell) sang her heart out, belting songs flawlessly. Her kindness and strength made her shine brilliantly underneath the spotlight. She certainly created an unforgettable performance. Her relationship with Mother Abbess (Kaitlyn Cleverly) was beautiful, and the two sang the most incredible harmonies while deliberating Maria's future.

The von Trapp children were hilarious as they were sweet. No one could put the brutally honest Brigitta (Hannah Clements) in the corner. And the duet between Liesl (Cara Ainge) and Rolf (Henry Metcalf), "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," was simply darling. Rolf's charming tap dance blew the audience away.

The show would not have been complete without the dedication of the orchestra (Joshua Tackett, Jason Alberto, Tim Koskulitz and Ricky Dodson). Although the numbers were certainly challenging, they handled the music professionally. Just as integral to the production, the set (Gia Tigreros and John Proctor) was magnificent. A grand staircase cascading down center stage, the set was unbelievable in its enormity.

Herndon High School's production of Sound of Music was outstanding. Filled with entertaining numbers, heartfelt moments, and comedic antics, Herndon High School did justice to this classic musical.

Josh Lee
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Through the hills and the abbey, comforting songs could be heard throughout the theater and, like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Herndon High School's production of "The Sound of Music" was, as they say in Austria, unglaublich (incredible)!

"The Sound of Music", music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, first premiered at New Haven's Schubert Theatre in 1959. That same year, it opened on Broadway in the Lunts-Fontanne Theater before moving to the Mark Hellinger Theater in 1962 and went on to win five Tony awards. In 1965, a movie version was made starring Julie Andrews and won 5 Academy awards. "The Sound of Music" was also Rodgers and Hammerstein's last musical they wrote together before the death of Oscar Hammerstein.

This musical follows a carefree yet troublesome soon to be nun named Maria Rainer who gets sent to be a governess for the von Trapp children. Their father is the hardened Captain Georg von Trapp who eventually falls in love with and marries Maria. But when he is commissioned to be in the German navy under Nazi control,he, Maria, and his children flee from Austria. This story is actually based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp called "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers".

Leading the show was Erin Maxwell who played Maria Rainer with not only an immaculate innocence, but also maturity. Her voice was beautiful in every song she sang and was easily one of the audience's favorite things. Her movements and hand gestures were very graceful and were almost like that of a dancer. A very impressive aspect of her performance was her ability to switch maturity based on her situation, feeling like she was the youngest among the nuns, but becoming more of a mother figure with the von Trapp children.

A standout group in this performance were the von Trapp children who consisted of Liesl played by Cara Ainge, Friedrich played by Ankit Poudel, Louisa played by Emma Harris, Kurt played by Genaro Mejia, Brigitta played by Hannah Clements, Marta played by Claire Callaway, and last, but definitely not least, Gretl played by Alyssa Ruark. Each child had a very specific dynamic with every other child and their singing was good enough to win a festival. Their energy was consistent and was especially good in Hannah Clements' Brigitta who had perfect comedic timing and played a well balanced innocent, yet frank child.

One of the most impressive parts of this show were some of the technical aspects. Their set was very large and detailed and was used to its fullest potential. The grand staircase was versatile and could change from the von Trapp house to the abbey just by pulling the curtains closed a bit. Their lighting was thoughtful and effective, creating the inside of an abbey just with a light on the grand drape.The cues were impressively well timed. Another noteworthy aspect were costumes, specifically the sheer amount of costume changes with almost all of the costume changes being insanely quick.

This was all to create the world of Austria and the von Trapp house, which they succeeded tenfold.

And so, with a so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, and goodbye, Herndon High School's committed and energetic actors and very intelligent use of technical aspects all amounted to "The Sound of Music" being do-re-mi-fa-so great!