BPHS Music Department to stage “The Sound Of Music”

Elizabeth Corrins and Gabriella Walsh • January 14, 2025

Original Broadway poster (1959) By Lunt-Fontanne Theatre – http://www.bluegobo.com/content/productions/posters/soundofmusic_obc.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51709783

In March, BPHS is set to stage “The Sound of Music” for the 2025 spring musical. The show is directed by Mr. Todd Kuczawa and Ms. Julia Davin. The Pit Director is Mr. Jay McDowell, the Dance Choreographer is Ms. Paige Landay, the Costume Director is Ms. Heather Veltri, and the Stage Crew Director is Mr. Christopher Plummer.

The musical takes place in Salzburg, Austria in 1938. The main lead is a character named Maria, who takes a governess job for a family. During her time as a governess, Maria falls in love with the seven children and the widowed father, Captain von Trapp. This is definitely a musical you don’t want to miss!

There are many talented students portraying these roles! Take a look at the cast list!

Maria – Senior Maria Catana and Junior Joanna Little
Captain von Trapp – Junior Andrew Hughes and Sophomore Liam Coll
Elsa – Junior Peyton Michaels and Senior Izzy Townsend
Max – Senior Caleb Steele and Senior Tristan Shay
Mother Abbess – Senior Maggie Babyak and Junior Nina Lane
Sister Berthe – Freshman Eliza Sterbal and Junior Ashlyn Schmidt
Sister Margaretta – Senior Kalee Moorhead and Junior Layla Jones
Sister Sophia – Senior Carly Dowell and Senior Anna Kelly
Rolf – Junior Maden Konopka and Junior Noah Rauch
Liesl – Junior Rylin Celento and Freshman Sydney Glover
Louisa – Freshman Tessa Braham and Freshman Stella Rectenwald
Brigitta – Junior Reese Fontanesi and Freshman Sydney Kellander
Friedrich – Junior Caden Smith and Freshman Aiden Rea
Herr Zeller – Senior Quin Reynolds and Junior Nathan George
Franz – Junior Parker Walton and Senior James Sipe
Frau Schmidt – Senior Sophia Brawner and Junior Kiley Flanigan
Admiral Von Schreib – Sophomore AJ Bielozer and Freshman Josh Chamberlin
Baroness Elberfeld – Senior Kristen Weiss and Junior Sharlyne Ngigi
Frau Zeller – Freshman Bella Nuovo

Those familiar with “The Sound of Music” might be wondering where the roles of Kurt, Marta and Gretl are. Well, these roles are being played by younger students in the School district! Matthew L and Brett M will be playing Kurt, Evelyn M and Aubrey W are playing Marta, and Melina C and Maria S are playing the role of Gretl.

The leads are not the only part of this musical! There’s also an ensemble, featured dancers, the pit, and stage crew!

The ensemble is a huge part of making the musical amazing! They support the leading characters, enhance the emotional impact of a scene and help convey the story’s mood and atmosphere. Without the ensemble, the musical wouldn’t be as captivating as it is!

The featured dancers are led by head dance captains Senior Alyvia Sohyda and Junior Charlotte Gaston! Featured dancers bring so much energy to the stage through the choreography, which makes them an integral part in helping bring the show together!

Stage Crew is another important part of the show. They do it all behind the scenes from working the sound booth, lighting, and all of the scene changes and props! The show couldn’t run without them.

The Pit is yet another huge part of producing this show. They play and perform all of the music for the show and help bring the show together.

Last but not least, junior Riley Smith and senior Lily Janus have the pleasure to be the Student Directors!! These ladies are the director’s right-hand man and help with the entire production. They help with just about everything and help things run smoothly.

The show is set to stage March 12-15. This show has an amazing cast and crew and is definitely a show fans will not want to miss!

About the Contributors

Elizabeth Corrins, Staff Writer

Imagine seeing a brunette girl with blonde highlights taking pictures for our school year. That girl is Elizabeth Corrins. Elizabeth is heading into her junior year and is excited to be part of Hawk Eye. Music review stories interest her the most. Elizabeth plans on taking yearbook pictures and editing the yearbook. She joined because Mr. Allemang is her favorite teacher. Currently, she is a Bethette and involved in the yearbook and student government. Her favorite Bethette memory is marching down the field during halftime, doing Bethel Victory for the first time. Elizabeth also attends Judy Murtaugh Dance Studio. Her favorite type of dance is tap. In her free time, you can find her at marching band practice, taking pictures for yearbook at a sporting event, or at home doing homework. If Elizabeth had a superpower it would be teleportation. Her dream vacation would be Punta Cana, a coastal town in the Dominican Republic. “A picnic during sunset” is what Elizabeth considers a perfect date. Her favorite Starbucks order is an iced caramel chai with two shots of espresso. If she would have dinner with a famous person she would choose Hannah Montana. Elizabeth cannot decide if her song is either “Best of Both Worlds” or “The Climb.” Written by: Gabriella Walsh, staff member

Gabriella Walsh, Staff Writer

“1..2..Kick Up!” is what junior Gabriella Walsh hears on Friday nights in the fall. You can see her performing her tricks as a majorette in the Black Hawk Marching Band! This is her first year in Scholastic Publications and as a member of Hawk Eye. When asked why she joined the class she said, "It sounded like a fun class to take." She’s planning on taking pictures for the yearbook and making social media posts. She has been a majorette for three years and was the very first freshman majorette in the Marching Band! Her favorite Marching Band memory is doing “Hot Time Bethel Victory” at the end of every halftime show. Outside of band, she also twirls for Passion Twirl and Poms. This past summer she was the Beg 15 World Open Solo Winner. When asked who her biggest inspiration is for twirling, she said, “Shaylie Fawcett.” Even though Gabriella is only a junior, she is pretty certain on what she wants to do in her future! She plans to go to college and be a feature twirler while also studying to become a history teacher! If she could have any superpower in the world, she would choose to have invisibility. When asked why, she said, "I’m not sure why, I just picked it because it sounds cool.” If she had to pick one person to have dinner with, she would pick Lana Del Rey. She said, "I’m so obsessed with her so she is obviously my first choice.” Her favorite Lana song is “Beautiful People Beautiful Problems.” She picks Starbucks over Dunkin, and her go-to order is an Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White Latte.