News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu summer 05 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 9/15/05   SOUTHEASTERN OPERA/MUSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCES CAST FOR “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” – PERFORMANCES MOVED TO NOV. 1-5        HAMMOND  -- The Southeastern Louisiana University Opera-Music Theatre Workshop has announced its cast for “The Sound of Music,” and, due to Hurricane Katrina, has moved its performance dates to Nov. 1-5.        The award-winning musical, which is celebrating a multitude of milestones in 2005, originally was scheduled for Oct. 11-16. The loss of rehearsal time for the student and community cast prompted the approximately two-week opening-night delay, said workshop Director Charles Effler.        “I’m happy to say that, although some members of our cast have been displaced by the storm, in true ‘the show must go on’ spirit, no one has dropped out of the production,” Effler said.        Effler said 2005 marks the 40th anniversary of the Oscar-winning film’s release, the 45th anniversary of the musical’s first season on Broadway, and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maria von Trapp, on whose life the musical is based.         “It is only fitting that Southeastern’s Opera/Music Theatre Workshop is presenting this show for another milestone event, the 20th anniversary of Fanfare,” he said.        Many of the roles in the Southeastern production have been double-cast. Southeastern students Jessica Davis of Ponchatoula and Sarah Osterberger of Baton Rouge will share the lead role of Maria, while Southeastern student Jacquie Brecheen of Ponchatoula and Norma Espinosa of Covington will alternate as the Mother Abbess. Steve Espinosa of Covington has been cast as Capt. Von Trapp.         Also in the cast are: as Baroness Elsa Schraeder, Cassandra Arnold, Ponchatoula, and Emily Stokes, Covington; as Max Detweiler, Scott McDonough and Ryan Thomas, both of Slidell; and, as Rolf Gruber, Nathan Constant, Meraux, and Simon Pfeil, Hammond.        Cast as the Von Trapp children are: Leisl, Margaret Davis, Walker, and Eryn Minor, Luling; Friedrich, Christopher Ekker, Ponchatoula; Louisa, Gabby Acosta, Ponchatoula, and Noelle Downing, Hammond; Kurt, Dylan Passman, Baton Rouge, and Bret Wagner, Hammond; Brigitta, Erin Holloway, Hammond, and Haley Whitney, Mandeville; Marta, Morgan Arledge, St. Amant, and Madison Bentivegna, Hammond; and Gretl, Rachael Knaps, Hammond, and Macy Marionneaux, Baton Rouge.        The cast also includes: Sister Berthe, Blaire Abene, Hammond, and Maria Burkett, Chalmette; Sister Margaretta, Kristen Glass, Walker, and Betty Turner, Hammond; Sister Sophia, Sarah Turknett, Galliano, and Amber Whitfield, Walker; Franz the Butler, Brandon Wear, Slidell; Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper, Cary Berthelot, Reserve; Herr Zeller, William Musso, Gonzales.         Brandon Bosarge, Hammond, and Joe Riles, Covington, have multiple small speaking roles, while members of the nuns’ chorus are Jane Rownd, Tiffany Henry and Lauren Tenhunfeld, Hammond; Angella Miller, Slidell; Charlene Robinson, Saint Rose, and Cali McQueen, Gonzales.        "The Sound of Music" will be directed by Larry Gray with Effler as producer, musical director and conductor. Set design is by Steve Schepker, lighting design by Ellen Sovkoplas and costumes by Richard Walsh. Brian Martinez Jr. of Montz is stage manager.         Performance times at Southeastern’s Pottle Music Building Auditorium are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1-5 with an additional performance – a 2:30 p.m. matinee – on Saturday, Nov. 5. General admission tickets are on sale now at the Fanfare box office located in the lobby of the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, 220 E. Thomas St. in downtown Hammond, 985- 543-4371. Box office hours are weekdays, noon-5 p.m.         Tickets are $12, adults; and $8, senior citizens, Southeastern faculty and staff, and non-Southeastern students. Southeastern students are admitted free with their university I.D. Tickets will also be on sale at the door one hour before each performance.         For more information, contact Effler at 985-549-2249 or ceffler@selu.edu. For additional details about the Fanfare 2005 schedule, visit www.columbiatheatre.org or call the Columbia Theatre office, 985-543-4366.