Students to perform popular musical in its 50th anniversary

Alden will be alive with the sound of music this weekend with Alden-Conger Public School’s musical.

Students will perform “The Sound of Music” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Alden-Conger Public School gym. Tickets are $4 for students and seniors and $6 for adults, and will be available at the door.

Director Ada Theusch said there are 36 students in the musical from third to 12th grade. There are also 12 students in the crew.

Theusch said she picked “The Sound of Music” because it’s the musical’s 50th anniversary this year and she knew she had the talent to pull it off. She also likes to pick a variety of musicals, and last spring the school did a more modern musical in “Legally Blonde.”

The auditions for the musical were held in December so the students could take their scripts home to practice over winter break. Rehearsals began in January.

Theusch, who has been teaching music at Alden-Conger for nine years and directing theater at Alden-Conger for six years, said the practice has been going well, but it’s been difficult to get gym space due to sports. She said they’ve been hitting practice hard since basketball season is over.

As there are a wide range of student ages in the musical, Theusch said it’s satisfying to see high schoolers mentor middle schoolers and middle schoolers mentor elementary students.

“The Sound of Music” follows Maria, a young woman attempting to be a nun who is sent off to become a governess. She ends up winning the hearts of the seven children she watches over and their father as well, despite the fact that he is engaged to someone else and Maria is working toward becoming a nun.

Theusch said it is a great feel-good musical and will be good for the whole family to watch.

 

If you go

What: “The Sound of Music”

Where: Alden-Conger Public Schools gym

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $4 for students and seniors, $6 for adults