Auditions for Sound of Music in PE

[Graeme Wilkinson]

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Auditions for Sound of Music in PE this weekend

Bob Eveleigh

05/22/2019 16:48:05

Bob Eveleigh: PE Theatrical Initiative (PETI), in association with the PE Gilbert and Sullivan Society, will be staging The Sound of Music in September.

The world really fell in love, after her earlier Best Actress Oscar win as Mary Poppins, with Julie Andrews in 1965 when the film of the all-time favourite Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical, The Sound of Music, reached big screen audiences. Many folk have taken this beloved show to their hearts in countless productions in Port Elizabeth over the years.

It has been 17 years since The Sound of Music was last seen in Port Elizabeth and now the PE Theatrical Initiative (PETI), in association with the PE Gilbert and Sullivan Society, is thrilled to announce the return of this classic stage musical, which will light up the Savoy Theatre stage in September.

The search for Maria and the Von Trapp family, as well as a large ensemble, will start over the coming weekend, when auditions are held at Alexander Road High School from May 24 to 26.

PETI is a collective of local theatre organisations and individuals originally formed in 2010 with the goal of bringing top quality musical productions to local musical theatre audiences. Their first production was the critically acclaimed South African premiere of The Producers in that year, followed by a collaboration with The Performer's Studio and Alexander High School, on Disney's Beauty and the Beast in 2012.

The production team for this latest Sound of Music revival is a "who's who" of local musical theatre, with Greg Everard, fresh from directing Alexander Road High School’s excellent production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, in the Director's chair. Grey High School's Head of Music, Shawn Lyon, is Musical Director and popular local professional teacher and entertainer, Chireen Ferreira, who has often worked with Everard on Woodlands Dairy Showtime award-winning productions at both school and adult levels in recent years, will choreograph the show.

This ultimate family stage musical calls for people of all ages, experience levels and backgrounds to tell the story of young Maria Rainer who is sent to be the governess to the seven von Trapp children and steals their hearts as well as that of their distant and disciplinarian father.

All adults will be asked to do a singing audition on Friday evening, May 24, and children auditioning for the roles of the Von Trapp children will sing during the day on Saturday, May 25, going into a dance audition at 14:00. All callbacks will be held on Sunday, May 26.

Anyone wanting to audition should call Rose Cowpar on 072 906 1977 to book their audition time slot. There are specific songs that must be performed for all roles in the show and an audition package with information on audition requirements will be sent when booking times have been individually arranged.

For further information, audition bookings or to request an audition package, please also contact Rose Cowpar.

Bob Eveleigh
beve...@centrestage.co.za