One of the most beloved musicals of all time and a holiday favorite, The Sound of Music has enchanted audiences for more than 50 years.
Nominated for 9 Tony Awards, and Winner of Best Musical
When carefree nun-in-training Maria is sent by her convent to be the governess of seven children, she finds herself unexpectedly questioning her choices in life and falling in love with the children’s stern father, all the while the events of World War II play out in the background. One of the most beloved musicals of all time and a holiday favorite, The Sound of Music has enchanted audiences for more than 50 years. Experience it for the first time or all over again at Paramount Theatre, where our lobby will be decked out in Christmas decorations, including a two-story Christmas tree.
Suggested for ages 5+, includes some discriminatory language, depiction of Nazis and images of swastikas. Click here for classroom materials.
Music by RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Book by HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSEL CROUSE
The Sound of Music is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.
Director’s notes
As I was preparing to go into rehearsal for this show, I was reminded of the story of the lyrics to “Edelweiss.” The Broadway musical came before the beloved and iconic film. The show was in its out of town tryout before the transfer to Broadway, when the team felt that there needed to be another song for the Captain to bid farewell to his Austria. Richard Rodgers wrote the music and Oscar Hammerstein II, the lyrics. The music came first and when asked for the lyrics, Hammerstein, who at the time was very ill from stomach cancer, allowed the beautiful, yet simple words to “Edelweiss” to emerge. It was the last song the duo would ever write together.
In one of his darkest times, Hammerstein wrote a song of hope, resilience, determination and love. It is a timely reminder to us all that love and beauty will forever “bloom and grow” out of the dark and cold.
It is always a daunting task to direct these iconic stories at the holidays, especially one that has been shared and experienced by multiple generations and holds certain expectations from many entering through the theatre doors. However, as I watched the movie with my five-year-old daughter, I was reminded that there is a whole generation that this story will be completely new to, and I am inspired to share this beautiful musical with them.
I ask that you allow yourself to release any preconceived notions of what you think of this musical. Please hear this show as if you have never heard it before. Although this piece was written 63 years ago about events that happened 84 years ago, the story feels as contemporary and poignant as ever in our current world.
Thank you for supporting live theatre as we continue to emerge from when our doors were closed and our stages were dark. The artists, artisans and staff of the theatre are very much like the edelweiss of the mountains, blooming out of the dark with new life, vibrancy, determination, resilience, love and radical appreciation to continue to create beauty together in the world.
-Amber Mak, Director
Meet the Team
Cast
![01 Alicia Kaori](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/01-Alicia-Kaori.jpg)
Alicia Kaori *
Maria Rainer, a Postulan at Nonnberg Abbey
Making their Paramount debut
![Christopher Kale Jones](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Christopher-Kale-Jones.jpg)
Christopher Kale Jones *
Captain Georg von Trapp
Previously in The Sound of Music.
![03 Susan Moniz](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/03-Susan-Moniz.jpg)
Susan Moniz *
The Mother Abess
Making their Paramount debut
![06 Rengin Altay](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/06-Rengin-Altay.jpg)
Rengin Altay *
Frau Schmidt, the Housekeeper
Making their Paramount debut
![07 Julia Aragon](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/07-Julia-Aragon.jpg)
Julia Aragon
Liesl
Making their Paramount debut
![22 Michael Ehlers](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/22-Michael-Ehlers.jpg)
Michael Ehlers *
Admiral von Schreiber
previously in Legally Blonde, Elf, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray, Newsies, and Rock of Ages
![23 Sophie Grimm](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/23-Sophie-Grimm.jpeg)
Sophie Grimm *
Sister Margaretta, Mistress of Postulants
previously in The Sound of Music, Groundhog Day, Legally Blonde, and Les Misèrables
![08 Michael Harp](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/08-Michael-Harp.jpeg)
Michael Harp
Rolf Gruber
Previously in A Christmas Story
![24 Josh Houghton](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/24-Josh-Houghton.jpg)
Josh Houghton *
Herr Zeller
Making their Paramount debut
![04-Emilie Lynn](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/04-Emilie-Lynn.jpg)
Emilie Lynn *
Elsa Schraeder
previously in Miss Saigon, Hair, My Fair Lady and Kinky Boots
![09 Ron E. Rains](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/09-Ron-E.-Rains.jpg)
Ron E. Rains *
Franz, the Butler
previously in The Producers, Cabaret and Beauty and the Beast
![Stephen Schellhardt](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Stephen-Schellhardt.jpg)
Stephen Schellhardt *
Max Detweiler
previously in Into the Woods, The Sound of Music, and Fun Home
![39 AVA BARABASZ](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/39-AVA-BARABASZ.jpg)
Ava Barabasz
Gretl
Making their Paramount debut
![10 Avelyn Choi](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/10-Avelyn-Choi.jpg)
Avelyn Choi
Marta
Making their Paramount debut
![Genevieve Jane](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Genevieve-Jane.jpg)
Genevieve Jane
Brigitta
previously in The Sound of Music
![4 - Milla Liss72](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/4-Milla-Liss72.jpg)
Milla Liss
Brigitta
Previously in Fun Home
![Charlie Long](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Charlie-Long-1.jpg)
Charlie Long
Kurt
previously in School of Rock and The Sound of Music
![Savannah Lumar](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Savannah-Lumar.jpg)
Savannah Lumar
Marta
previously in The Sound of Music
![15 Maddie Morgan](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/15-Maddie-Morgan.jpg)
Maddie Morgan
Louisa
Making their Paramount debut
![18 Gage Richey](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/18-Gage-Richey.jpeg)
Gage Richey
Friedrich
Making their Paramount debut
![17 Kara Reese](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/17-Kara-Reese.jpg)
Kara Rivera
Louisa
Making their Paramount Debut
![19 Ezekiel Ruiz](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/19-Ezekiel-Ruiz.jpg)
Ezekiel Ruiz
Kurt
Previously in The Secret of My Success, and Fun Home
![20 Lena Soszynski](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20-Lena-Soszynski.jpg)
Lena Soszynski
Gretl
Making their Paramount debut
![21 Brody Tyner](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/21-Brody-Tyner.jpg)
Brody Tyner
Friedrich
Making their Paramount debut
![07-Michael Kingston](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/07-Michael-Kingston.jpg)
Michael Kingston
Baron Elberfeld
previously in Cinderella, Hairspray, and Groundhog Day
![26 Liz Pazik](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/26-Liz-Pazik.jpg)
Liz Pazik *
Sister Berthe, Mistress of Novices
Previously in Music Man
![Lexie Bailey](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Lexie-Bailey.jpg)
Lexie Bailey
Ensemble
previously in Little Shop of Horrors, The Sound of Music, and Rock of Ages
![29 Rodrigo Ignacio Cruz](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/29-Rodrigo-Ignacio-Cruz.jpg)
Rodrigo Ignacio Cruz *
Ensemble
Making their Paramount debut
![Adam Fane](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Adam-Fane.jpg)
Adam Fane *
Ensemble
previously in Into the Woods, The Sound of Music, The Producers, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia, Hairspray and Mary Poppins
![31 Margot Frank](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/31-Margot-Frank.jpg)
Margot Frank
Ensemble
Making their Paramount debut
![32 Carisa Gonzalez](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/32-Carisa-Gonzalez.jpeg)
Carisa Gonzalez
Ensemble
previously in Kinky Boots, Rock of Ages, Groundhog Day and The Secret of My Success
![33 Jake DiMaggio Lopez](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/33-Jake-DiMaggio-Lopez.jpg)
Jake DiMaggio Lopez
Ensemble
previously in The Sound of Music
![19-Maggie Malaney](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/19-Maggie-Malaney.jpg)
Maggie Malaney
Ensemble
Previously in Rock of Ages
![Luke Nowakowski](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Luke-Nowakowski.jpg)
Luke Nowakowski
Ensemble
Previously in Fun Home and The Sound of Music.
![36 Maya Rowe](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/36-Maya-Rowe.jpg)
Maya Rowe
Ursula
Making their Paramount debut
![Nellie Shuford](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Nellie-Shuford.jpg)
Nellie Shuford
Baroness Elberfeld
previously in The Sound of Music
![Shelbi Voss](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Shelbi-Voss.jpg)
Shelbi Voss
Ensemble
Previously in The Sound of Music, Kinky Boots, Cinderella, Dreamgirls, and Little Shop of Horrors.
![44 EMMERSON (EMMY) CHAN](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/44-EMMERSON-EMMY-CHAN.jpg)
Emerson Mae Chan
u/s Gretl
Making their Paramount debut
![40 JULIANA FILAPEK](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/40-JULIANA-FILAPEK.jpeg)
Juliana Filapek
u/s Louisa
previously in The Wizard of Oz
![41 LAYLA JOAN](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/41-LAYLA-JOAN.jpg)
Layla Joan
u/s Brigitta, u/s Marta
Making their Paramount debut
![42 KIRIN PAULINE](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/42-KIRIN-PAULINE.jpeg)
Kirin Pauline
u/s Friedrich
Making their Paramount debut
![43 ELIAS TOTLEBEN](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/43-ELIAS-TOTLEBEN.jpg)
Elias Totleben
u/s Kurt
previously in The Sound of Music
Artistic Team
Kory Danielson
Music Director/ Conductor
Jeffrey D. Kmiec †
Scenic Designer
Theresa Ham †
Costume Designer
José Santiago †
Lighting Designer
Adam Rosenthal
Sound Designer
Katie Cordts
Wig, Hair, and Makeup Designer
Ethan Deppe
Electronic Music Designer
Susan Gosdick
Dialect Coach
Peter Ruiz
Dramaturg
Daniel J Hanson *
Stage Manager
Erin Nicole Eggers *
Assistant Stage Manager
Matthew Silar *
Assistant Stage Manager
Jamie Anderson
Associate Director
![Lexie Bailey](https://paramountaurora.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Lexie-Bailey.jpg)
Lexie Bailey
Associate Choreographer
previously in Little Shop of Horrors, The Sound of Music, and Rock of Ages
Kailey Rockwell
Associate Music Director/Associate Conductor
* indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
† indicates member of United Scenic Artists (USA)
‡ indicates member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)