AU Theatre Department & The Ashland Kroc partner to present ‘The Sound of of Music’
Tickets on sale now for shows running March 21-23
ASHLAND, Ohio – The mid-Ohio community is alive with the sound of music! The Ashland University Theatre Department and The Ashland Kroc Youth Theatre are thrilled to be partnering in their first joint production of the timeless classic, “The Sound of Music” March 21-23 at the Hugo Young Theatre, Ashland University Center for the Arts, 331 College Avenue.
Teresa Durbin-Ames, Ph.D., Artistic Director and Associate Professor of Theatre for Ashland University, is serving as the director of the production, and Majors Billy and Annalise Francis, Corps Officers and Administrators of The Salvation Army Ashland Kroc Center, are serving as music and movement directors.
This is the first time the two programs have partnered together, with the impetus being to enable the college students an opportunity to mentor the kids from The Ashland Kroc Youth Theatre program.
“This partnership provides an opportunity for the university to engage directly with the community promoting the arts, bringing new people to campus and creating future audiences,” explains Dr. Durbin-Ames. “It is exciting to see the AU students working with the young cast members on this beautiful show. Not only do the youth get to watch how someone older creates a role, but the college students also get to experience the enthusiasm and commitment that the youth bring to every rehearsal.”
Auditions were held in January. A sample of the selected cast member includes:
- Maria Rainer- Ellie Nickoli of Lexington, OH
- Captain Georg von Trapp – Keever Whitehead of Lewis Center, OH
- Mother Abbess – Emilee Fletcher of Centerburg, OH
- Liesl von Trapp – Callina Francis of Ashland, OH
- Rolf Gruber – Owen Radebaugh of Ashland, OH
- Friedrich von Trapp (dual casted) – Trevor Kellogg and Nolan Shambaugh, both of Ashland, OH
“What an amazing opportunity this is to partner with Ashland University’s Theatre Department on The Sound of Music,” says Major Billy Francis. “While many of the selected cast members have been with The Ashland Kroc Youth Theatre for multiple productions, this opportunity gives them a chance to partner and learn from seasoned, collegiate-level thespians and perform in front of a larger audience at the Hugo Young Theatre.”
Tickets are already on sale. Early birds are encouraged to purchase your tickets now to get premium seats for the unforgettable story of Maria, the von Trapp family, and their journey of love, music, and adventure.
Show dates and times include:
Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 22 at 2 & 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available now for purchase at the AU Campus Store or by going online to www.ashland.edu/performing-arts-tickets.
“The Sound of Music” is being presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization (concordtheatricals.com). Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. Suggested by “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp.
For more information, please follow Ashland Kroc Center on Facebook or @AshlandKroc on Instagram. Should you have any questions, feel free to call the Ashland Kroc Center at (419) 281-8001.
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org and AshlandKroc.org.