The Gilbert Theater invites audiences to enjoy one of the greatest musicals of all time this holiday season. From Nov. 25 to Dec. 18, Maria and the entire Von Trapp family will grace the stage for the theater’s production of “The Sound of Music.”

Since its theatrical release in 1965, the multi-award-winning musical collaboration between Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II has become a beloved fixture on the cultural landscape. Spawning hit songs like “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” and the infectious “Do-Re-Mi,” it’s a show that’s sure to delight audiences of all ages.

The musical tells the story of handsome but gruff widower Captain Georg Von Trapp and Maria, the governess who comes to teach his seven children. Through music and song, Maria brings light and love into the Von Trapp home as the realities of war threaten to destroy the idyllic life they’ve created.

It’s an enduring story of family, hope, and the power of love — perfect for the holiday season.

“This show speaks Christmas to so many people. I know it does to my family and me,” said actor and director Chris Walker, who’ll be playing Captain Von Trapp.
Co-director Brian Adam Kline also attributes the show’s feel-good themes to its enduring popularity. “It’s a musical of hope,” Kline stated. “It’s a story that gives us hope in a dark time.”

One challenge with a show as recognizable and as grand as “The Sound of Music” is the need to scale back. While there might not be rolling green hills or the Von Trapp’s palatial family home as a backdrop, Kline, and co-director Robynne Parrish have sought to create a show that is still large in feel.

“It’s a big show, written for a big stage, and the challenge comes in putting it in a black box setting,” Kline explained. “You have to get creative with space and movement.”

According to Jean Jamison, who’ll be playing the Mother Abbess, the result is an “intimate show that really works.”

Up & Coming Weekly spoke with the production’s star, Helen Steffan, about playing Maria Von Trapp, a role made famous by iconic actress Julie Andrews.

“This is a dream role for a lot of people,” she shared. “It’s so fun to do it with a great cast. I grew up in this theater; it’s really sweet to work with the same people who have helped me throughout my career.”

The show’s three-week run will provide a great opportunity for families who want to end a day of holiday shopping with a night at the theater. An 8 p.m. show is available on Friday and Saturday, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday and Sunday. The show has a run-time of two hours with an intermission — perfect for a day out with the family or a cozy holiday date night.

The Gilbert Theater is located at 116 Green Street in downtown Fayetteville.

General admission tickets are $20 for adults, with discounted tickets available for students, teachers, and the military. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.gilberttheater.com/.

Photos by Sheila D. Barker