The Hills Are Alive; Do Re Mi; So Long, Farewell; The Lonely Goatherd, My Favorite Things - many of us can sing along with every word of these classic showtunes.
Now, you can sing along while watching talented local actors, including those from Hillsborough, performing on breathtaking sets as Woodside Community Theater (WCT) debuts its production of 'The Sound of Music' this weekend.
More than 50 actors and crew members have been pouring blood, sweat and tears into this production for months, to bring the Peninsula the best show they can offer - and it's paying off, say director Doug Brook and producer/actress Claudia McCarley. The sets are polished, the songs perfected, and everyone is ready to give it their all as the show opens tonight, Friday, Oct. 19.
"I really think people are going to love it," said Brook, who is making his debut with WCT with this show. "For people who love the movie, or even people that don't, I think everyone is going to like it."
Especially with a gorgeous theater like the Woodside High School Performing Arts Center, everyone said the show is looking phenomenal.
"The sets continue to amaze me; they're a show in and of themselves," said McCarley, describing how - even with a set design and build crew comprised of unpaid volunteers who are donating their time - the collection of 14 different sets for the show's 14 distinct locations all look incredible.
"We have 42 set changes," she said. "This is no small show."
The music will be something impressive as well, McCarley added.
"We have 30-plus musicians, and they're all phenomenal," she described. "Our orchestra really excels in this kind of lush, Rodgers and Hammerstein music."
Kristin Pfeifer of Foster City, a choral teacher from Notre Dame High School in Belmont, lends her vocal teaching talents to the production as well, and says the cast has been amazing to work with.
"They have a true love of performing, and of theater, and of this art form, and they have a great time of it," said Pfeifer.
Damian Marhefka, who plays the lead role of Captain Von Trapp, has acted in at least four other shows with WCT, and says he is always amazed at how many people turn out to audition for the group.
With 'The Sound of Music,' roughly 135 auditioned for the cast, and 38 were given roles.
"What's amazing about community theater, at least with Woodside, is how much talent this community has in it," he said.
Marhefka said it's even more amazing that each one of the actors is an unpaid volunteer who also has a day job.
"They put in eight-plus hours at a desk, and then they come here and put in all this time and energy into the show," he said.
Marhefka's daughter, Marianna, plays the youngest Von Trapp child, Gretel, in the show as well, and he says it's been a lot of fun doing the show together.
THE DETAILS:
When: This Friday through Sunday, Oct. 19-21, and next Friday through Sunday, Oct. 26-28. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. The show is approximately 2.5 hours long.
Where: The Performing Arts Center at Woodside High School, 199 Churchill Ave. in Woodside.
Tickets: Adult general admission: $25 / Seniors: $22 / Students under 18: $15
Buy tickets online here or over the phone, 24 hours a day, by calling 1-800-838-3006.
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