The Sound of Music is Alive in KC

The hills of Kansas City will come alive when The Sound of Music opens at Starlight July 25-31. The classic show, often billed as “the loveliest musical ever written,” is the fourth production of Starlight’s 64th Broadway season.

The final collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, The Sound of Music tells the story of how the stern Captain von Trapp discovers a new love for his children when free-spirited Maria brings laughter and music back into their lives.

Directing Starlight’s production is Philip Wm. McKinley whose Broadway directing credits include Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark and The Boy From OZstarring Hugh Jackman. McKinley also directed Mozart L’Opera Rock in Tokyo and seven editions of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s The Greatest Show on Earth. The Sound of Music marks McKinley’s ninth time directing a show at Starlight; the most recent was The Wizard of Oz in 2007.

“I’m excited to return to Kansas City and especially to be welcomed back at Starlight. It’s a magical venue unlike any other theatre in the United States. I hold many fond memories of Starlight and the summers I spent with the Starlight family. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to return to Starlight and give back to the theatre that offered me support and encouragement in my early career,” McKinley told The Kansas City Starearlier this year. “I’m looking forward to the joys and challenges the outdoor theatre offers a director and to working with the cast and company that we’re assembling for one of the greatest American musical theatre classics,The Sound of Music.”

This production of The Sound of Music will showcase many Broadway and regional actors, as well talented adult, teen and child actors from the Kansas City area.

Kansas City actor Seth Jones stars as delivery boy Rolf. While this is Jones’ first show at Starlight, he’s familiar with our stage because he won the 2011 Blue Star Award for Outstanding Actor in Lead Role. He went on to compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York and was one of the top three male finalists that year. Since then, Jones has been seen in numerous local productions, including School House Rock Live! at the Coterie Theatre and Carrie: The Musical at EGADS Theatre.

Playing Liesl is Claire Charland, another actress with Kansas City roots. Newly graduated from Pace University with a BFA in musical theatre, she is excited to return home for The Sound of Music. Charland was nominated for the Blue Star Awards’ Rising Star Scholarship in 2010 when she was a senior at Lee’s Summit North. She has been seen in 42nd Street at the Weston Playhouse and Sweeney Todd with the New York Philharmonic.

The Sound of Music also stars 11 youth cast members from the area. Five local youth portray von Trapp children, while six Kansas City teens perform in Starlight’s Blue Star All-Star Chorus.

Good seats are still available, and tickets start as low as $10. Click here to get your tickets to The Sound of Music today!