My all time favorite movie, The Sound of Music, is now a live musical production by Musical Theatre West at Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach! We were invited to opening night performance and absolutely loved it. What a fantastic performance by the cast and the live orchestra . They were able to capture that Sound of Music magic that all of us love so much from the movie and fit it into a beautiful stage version.
We were smiling from beginning to end, excited to see how familiar parts of the story would play out. When watching this production with your little ones, It’s like sharing a piece of your childhood with them, and yes, all the songs you want to hear are there! The characters were well casted and they perfected the songs they performed. This was the best live version of this musical that we have ever seen. Tickets are still available for the limited run of MTW’s The Sound of Music on select dates, October 26 – November 5, 2023, at musical.org.
Saturday, October 21 marked the official premiere of Musical Theatre West’s The Sound of Music. We enjoyed the Austrian-inspired preshow party and red carpet event which included a string quartet who entertained guests with traditional Bavarian music ahead of the cast’s appearance on the red carpet. The sips and snacks inspired by the Von Trapp’s home country along with fun-filled photo opportunities were a great touch to prepare us to enter the world of The Sound of Music.
Earning standing ovations all three nights, Juliana Sloan, who made her MTW debut in her dream role as Maria Rainer, endeared audiences with her powerful performances of beloved songs like: “The Sound of Music” and “My Favorite Things.” Jonathan von Mering was a charming counterpart to Sloan as Captain Georg Von Trapp, best highlighted in their dance duet, “The Laendler.” The talented youth cast added additional joy to the production with their portrayal of the Von Trapp children. Audiences were treated to the classic soundtrack performed by the production’s live 17-piece orchestra and directed by Dennis Castellano, while the larger-than-life sets designed by Director Wayne Brian transported audiences to the hills of Austria.
Tickets start at $20 and are available by phone at 562-856-1999 or online at musical.org. Fees may apply. Student rush tickets are $15 and available at the door 1-hour prior to showtime, with a valid ID. More information, a full line-up of performances, and additional details can be found at https://musical.org.
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