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Saturday, October 12, 2024

Art Talk – Fate has turned the light on

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If an award-winning Broadway musical is on your list of favorite things, then here’s some news for you: Naperville’s Summer Place Theatre (SPT) is bringing The Sound of Music back to Naperville Central High School, 440 West Aurora Avenue.

Don Gingold, SPT’s president, is thrilled to be returning to SPT’s long-time pre-COVID home. “It’s so good to be on a real stage again! Last year we performed outdoors without sets or lights, and the year before that, we were in the middle of the shutdown.”

Now all systems are go, and SPT is poised to present the perennial favorite from July 15 through July 31. While audiences around the world fell in love with the story of Maria, a young novitiate called upon to care for the children of the widowed Captain Georg von Trapp, SPT offers a version that depicts a slightly different viewpoint.

“Most people think Sound of Music is simply a love story because of the movie. The play emphasizes the buildup to the occupation and the punishment the Captain and his family will suffer for noncompliance.” Gingold said, “Our production includes two songs that are not in the movie that reference social status and political change; and in these songs, Rodgers and Hammerstein hold a mirror up to society. These issues were relevant then and we’re fighting the same problems today.”

To enhance the musical numbers, SPT partnered with the women of the Naperville Chorus and cast them to portray the sisters of Nonnberg Abbey. Gingold, delighted with the addition, stated, “The Chorus provides some beautiful hymns and chants in the play. It also backs up the beautiful voice of Sadie Wynne as she sings ‘Climb Every Mountain’ for a stupendous finale. The sheer volume of these trained voices is reason enough to attend.”

SPT is determined that this time, the show will go on. With COVID cases on the rise, precautions are in place to ensure audience safety. “Our actors and crew are instructed to mask. We are asking attendees to wear masks and social distance as well,” said Gingold. “An outdoor performance option is also being as a backup. We want to cover all the bases as we return to regular programming.”

Summer Place Theatre Presents The Sound of Music

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Debbie Venezia
Debbie Veneziahttp://www.artsdupage.org
Debbie Venezia is the Director of Arts DuPage, a DuPage Foundation initiative. Contact her at debbie@dupagefoundation.org or visit www.artsdupage.org.
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