Take a step back in time this fall to 1930s Austria with “The Sound of Music,” performed by the Orono High School Drama Department. It is a timeless, well-known musical, and the movie ranks 27th for most watched of all time according to IMDB. It is certain that Orono will put on a good show, but here to give more information on the production are some members of the cast and crew.

“It is the story of a nun, [Maria], who becomes the caretaker for the family of an incredibly strict military captain and teaches them to sing again,” Henry Shafer, the actor of Captain Von Trapp, said. “The captain and Maria fall in love but are forced to escape Austria with [the captain’s children] after the Third Reich annexes the country.”

Behind the scenes, the Orono Drama Club has been working on a massive set that is reminiscent of the 1965 movie, from the arched windows to the balcony. It has taken many volunteer hours and a lot of creative collaboration for it to be constructed.

“The set this year is incredibly ambitious. It was designed by two of our seniors, [Amelia Shafer and Gracie Stromberg], and the drama department built it themselves. We meet almost every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to build this set. Practicing is also very rigorous, with rehearsals held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every school night,” Shafer said.

Even with all the work and responsibilities, the crew works tirelessly to make sure that both the set and their acting skills are perfected for the show. They see it as a fun challenge to take on while they grow together as a group and community.

“It’s a lot of fun, and the theater department is incredibly close knit. We love what we do, and we hope that [everyone in Orono] loves the show,” Shafer said.

This sentiment is shared throughout the entire cast and the actors, from the leads to the ensemble, are working as one big team to make sure the show is the best it can be, while also having fun along the way.

“[His favorite part] of being part of the drama department is the very strong sense of community,” Grant Hemenway, the actor of Herr Zeller, said. He went on to say that the Orono Drama Club also participates in group events off the stage, including Halloween parties and trips to the local apple orchard.

Also, Orono Drama Club executives Lily Quale, who plays Liesl, and Greta Rolfzen stated that their favorite parts of being leaders of the drama community were “being the voice of others,” and “building an amazing set while making so many great memories,” respectively. They also went on to state that the drama club is open to all people and that anyone who is even a bit interested is more than welcome to join and participate in theater themselves!

Make sure to get tickets, available at: https://oronohs.booktix.com/, so you can see this wonderful piece of theater and support the local arts community. Until next time, so long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night.

“The Sound of Music” Showtimes

Friday, November 11th, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 12th, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 17th, 7 p.m.

Friday, November 18th, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 19th, 7 p.m.