THE SOUND OF MUSIC Opens The Mountain Play Association's 100th Season Today

The Mountain Play - 'A Great Outdoor Theatre Adventure' and the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience, presents the Tony Award-winning musical The Sound of Music directed by Jay Manley for its 100th season in 2013.

Based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, The Sound of Music is an unforgettable story with the uplifting music of Richard Rodgers, the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The Sound of Music tells the story of the spirited young postulant Maria Rainer (Heather Buck) from the nearby Nonnberg Abbey who is sent to serve as governess for the seven children of the widowed naval officer Georg von Trapp (Ryan Drummond). As their story unfolds, the beauty of Captain von Trapp's beloved homeland of Austria is on the verge of colliding with the evil threat of Nazi dominance.

The Sound of Music is family musical entertainment at its best.

Performances will be on Sundays: May 19, May 26, June 2, June 8 (Saturday), June 9, and June 16. All shows begin at 2 pm. Please arrive at least one hour prior to show time. Tickets range from $20-$40 General Admission. Children 3 and under are FREE. Ticket sales and information for group discounts and reserved seating are available at the Mountain Play website: www.MountainPlay.org.

RESERVED SEATING AVAILABLE: Cushioned reserved seating is available in both the shade and the sun FAN Club sections of the amphitheatre with prices starting at $56. More information can be found at the Mountain Play website - www.MountainPlay.org.

HOW TO GET THERE: The Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre is located off scenic Highway 1 in Marin County on Mt. Tamalpais - 801 Panoramic Hwy. Mill Valley, CA. 9494. Patrons are encouraged to carpool, take the FREE shuttle buses from Mill Valley, hike or bike to the venue as parking is limited. For more information and schedules, visit the Mountain Play Experience section of the website for directions, tips and detailed explanations.

For more information, visit www.MountainPlay.org or call (415) 383-1100.

This Tony Award-winning, critically acclaimed Broadway classic first came to the Broadway stage starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel in 1959. The musical has seen numerous productions and revivals but rose to its level of popular success upon the release of the Academy Award-winning film adaptation starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in 1965. Last seen on the Mountain Play stage in 1985, The Sound of Music is musically rich with songs that have become popular standards such as "Do-Re-Mi," "Edelweiss," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "My Favorite Things," and the title song "The Sound of Music." The Sound of Music was the final musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

In addition to the headline show, preshow activities and musical acts provide entertainment for the whole family. Children of all ages will be entertained by the puppet shows of Fratello Marionettes. Puppet show times are 11:30 am and 1 pm daily. At 12:30 pm, on Stage Entertainment featuring local music and musical theatre students entertain the crowds.

Preshow entertainment schedule includes:

Sharon Boucher's Future Stars of the Mountain Play (May 19 and May 26)

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Ambassadors (June 2)

'Til Dawn (June 8)

Marin Summer Theater (June 9)

Blue Star Music Camp Alumni (June 16)

An ASL professor at the College of Marin for many years, Pat Sirianni will perform and sign for the hearing impaired at the first three shows,May 19, May 26 and June 2 in her 32nd year on the mountain.

The poster art for this year's play was created and designed by Rob Roehrick/Roehrick Designs of San Rafael. He is an accomplished graphic designer with over 30 years' experience.

Mountain Play's FAN Club:

The FAN Club offers 4 special seating sections as well as added benefits for reserved seating patrons. It's a way for you to give a little more and to get more from your Mountain Play experience. By joining the FAN Club, you'll have your seats reserved and receive additional benefits of membership such as red priority bus tickets for first wave of shuttles down the mountain, cushioned seating with backrest, and free and easy ticket exchange (waiver of $10 fee.) FAN CLUB levels are Club Circle, Orchestra Sun Circle, Director's Circle, and Patron's Circle. Patron's Circle reservations include the Dining in the Woods a gourmet catered lunch experience. Please view Mountain Play's website for price information.

Dining on the Mountain:

The Mountain Play isn't just a wonderful theatre and outdoor experience; it can also be an incredible dining experience. Patrons are encouraged to pack a picnic and their favorite spirit, enjoy the Dining in the Woods Reserved Seating experience featuring cuisine byMelon's Catering and Events and wines from Reata Wines or enjoy a variety of delectable foods at the Mountain Play Café, prepared byFrEd Martin Events, Barefoot Wine and Lagunitas Brewing Company.

Amphitheatre Shade Structure:

In 2008 with generous support of donors, the Mountain Play was able to purchase a shade structure for the amphitheatre that provides shaded seating for 500 patrons. Please arrive early for a seat in the shade as seating is on a first come, first served basis.

NEW This Year:

FREE parking in the Air Force Parking Lot for ALL Hybrid and Electric Cars. Carpooling is encouraged.

Daily costume contest at 12 noon.

STAFF:

Jay Manley is an award-winning director whose musicals and plays throughout the Bay Area have garnered repeated praise and numerous awards from the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and Dean Goodman "Choice" Awards. He founded Foothill Music Theatre in Los Altos, California, to present classic and new musicals on the campus of Foothill College. He was the recipient of a 2006 special citation from the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle "...in recognition of his distinguished career as founder and artistic director of Foothill Music Theatre." At Foothill College where he chaired the Theatre Arts Department, he also established the Foothill Theatre Conservatory, a flourishing pre-professional actor training program. For the last 30 years, Jay has led popular theatre tours to New York, Ashland, London, and other major theatre production centers, through his company, New York Theatre Tour: www.nytheatretour.com. Jay's extensive knowledge of American musical theatre history has made him a sought-after speaker and lecturer. Jay earned a B.A. and M.A. from San Francisco State University and holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. He lives in the East Bay.

Debra Chambliss is a vocalist, pianist, instructor and Music Director who has worked in the Bay Area for over 25 years. She became Music Director for the Mountain Play in 2007, but she has been playing the keyboard in the orchestra since 1991. She has worked as an accompanist and music director at dozens of theaters, including The Willows, Contra Costa Musical Theater, and Woodminster. Highlights have included playing keyboards at the Post Street Theatre for the national tour of The 20th Annual Putnam County Spelling bee and at the Orpheum Theatre for Edward Scissorhands, as well as directing music for the West Coast Premiere of Children of Eden. Debra has an affinity for children's theater, and served as Resident Music Director of KD Musical Theater for several years, as well as directing many performance workshops, musicals and summer training programs at places such as ACT, Yes, and Marin Theatre Company. She cantors and plays for churches throughout Marin County, and is the music instructor at St. Anselm's school as well as teaching at her private piano studio.

Dottie Lester-White performed on Broadway in Katherine Hepburn's Coco, Ruby Keeler's No, No, Nanette and the revival of Cabaret, Mame and No, No Nanette. Choreography credits include Foothill Summer Musicals How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Curtains, Anything Goes and The Producers. American Musical Theatre of San Jose productions of Phantom of the Opera, The Music Man, No, No Nanette, Fiddler of the Roof, Children of Eden and The 3hree Musketeers. San Jose Stage Company shows include Altar Boyz, Beehive, Urinetown the Musical, UG and The Great American Trailer Park Musical. San Jose Repertory Theatre's Enter the Guardsman, Woodminster Amphitheatre's Me and My Girl, Cabaret and A Chorus Line and The Little Theatre on the Square's production of Victor/Victoria, and Funny Girl. Shows for The Prather Entertainment Group are South Pacific, Will Rogers Follies, Funny Girl, My Fair Lady, Christmas Carol, Miss Saigon, Oliver, Singin' in the Rain, Guys and Dolls, Unsinkable Molly Brown and Meet Me in St. Louis.

This marks Ken Rowland's twenty-sixth year as the Mountain Play's Scenic Designer, during which he has received five Bay Area Theatre Critic' Circle awards, including the 1996 production of My Fair Lady. Ken's design venues include Marin Theatre Company, Theatre Artists of Marin, Berkeley Opera, Marin Shakespeare Company and the Ross Valley Players Barn Theatre, where he has been a resident designer. To date, Ken has logged 220 scenic designs for various Bay Area Theaters. In addition to his design efforts, he has directed extensively for the Ross Valley Players and Berkeley Opera. Ken's performance roots are in opera, giving way in recent years to musical theater and drama, where he has played leading roles in over a dozen musicals and as many plays including Henry Higgins in the MPA's 1996 and 2004 productions of My Fair Lady.

Costume Designer Patricia Polen is returning to the Mountain Play for her twenty-third season. She has been designing and building costumes professionally since the mid-1970's, with over one hundred shows to her credit. In addition, Patricia is a professional make-up artist, having worked in that capacity with the San Francisco Opera for thirty years and as head of Wigs and Make-up for the Portland Opera. Pat received a Dean Goodman Choice Award for her costume designs for the Mountain Play's 2004 production of My Fair Lady. Her costuming work has also been recognized with four Bay Area Critics' Circle awards, most recently for the Mountain Play's 2003 production ofAnnie.

The Mountain Play Association's mission is to produce an annual, spectacular, outdoor theatrical experience that nurtures an appreciation of Mt Tamalpais, involves and strengthens the community, and builds on decades of tradition. The Mountain Play is a non-profit (501c3) organization that has been serving the Bay Area community since 1913.

Pictured: Top row: L to R - Dillon DeVille (Friedrich von Trapp), Claire Lentz (Brigitta von Trapp), Heather Buck (Maria Rainer), Emily Libresco (Liesl von Trapp), Jenna Herz (Louisa von Trapp); Bottom row: L to R - Brigid O'Brien (Marta von Trapp), Elena Gnatek (Gretl von Trapp), August Mesarchik (Kurt von Trapp). Photo by: Ed Smith.

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