Kids at Rise Family theatre perform "The Sound of Music"
The Rise Family Theatre production company has been going strong for a year now under the helm of the home-schooled students who put together their own stage performances.
The group offers four different shows a year, and their most recent effort has been an adaptation of a classic film – The Sound of Music.
It was a musical performance that they brought to the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, on April 29. A week later, it was played at the Kings Point Veterans Theater, in Sun City Center.
Merredith Beatty took on the role of Maria, one of the main characters who went from being a postulant nun to a teacher for seven children.
“Quite a few people wanted to do the Sound of Music because we knew we wanted to do a musical,” she said. “It’s fairly close to the original film but it is a youth version, so it’s been made smaller and some of the songs are a tiny bit different.”
Some of those well-known tunes are “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “My Favorite Things,” and “So Long, Farewell.”
The production company is made up of 33 middle school and high school-aged students who have worked cohesively to put the play together. Each group member chose a specific department to showcase their talents, whether it be costume design, set design, technical, promotions, or the stage acting itself.
“We want to give everybody the opportunity to shine in every department,” said Director Amy Beatty. “By the time we’re done, they’ve learned a lot of skills.”
Those who become cast members receive voice training to help enhance their performances on stage.
Working with the production company also helps the introverted cast and crew members break out of their shell and engage with others, Amy added.
For every play, the cast and crew can switch into a different area of the production company to see what comes along with a new role and what they maybe most interested in doing.
Before taking a leading role in a play, Merridith operated as a stage manager for Rise Family Theatre’s debut performance, Little Women.
For garments that can’t be found to buy or rent for a show, costume design finds ways to be creative and sew new clothing for the cast.
While there are subtle changes from the original story, the overall plot and characters remain the same.
Based on actual events that took place in Austria in the 1930s, widowed Navy Capt. Georg Von Trapp inquires about a governess to look after his seven children while he is away working. The convent that Von Trapp writes to sends Maria, who has struggled to become a nun. At first, she is unsuccessful at forming a bond with the children, however, over time her joyful and adventurous spirit has them warming up toward her.
Cast member Nathan Andrews plays Von Trapp – a character he said required him to have a commanding presence. Although he’s extroverted, joining Rise Family Theatre has made him more social and he has had the opportunity to make new friendships, Andrews said.
Jason Cherry took on the character of Herr Zeller, the story’s villain. Playing a bad guy for the first time has been enjoyable experience, Cherry said. He also hinted that acting might be something he would like to do long term.
“I would definitely like to move up more,” he said.
The year-round performances first begin with an early Fall show that starts off a new school year.
“We’re really excited about that,” said Rebecca Andrews, a board member for the production company. “We’re going to do a play that’s geared toward the younger students, so the older students can practice mentoring and directing the younger students.”
Then there is the regular Fall show that focuses on high school-age students. During the Winter program, group members have the opportunity to take a vignette from literature and bring it to life on stage. There’s even an event with a Valentine’s Day theme called Love and Cake, where the audience gets to enjoy cake while watching the performance.
Cherry took on the role of Tom Sawyer during the most recent Love and Cake event.
And then there’s the Spring show which The Sound of Music is a part of.
Rebecca said that there are plans to start incorporating elementary school-aged students into the performances.
Students are encouraged to give their input as to what shows they would like to perform.
“This is more like a year-long curriculum-type commitment,” Amy said. “They actually can earn a Florida State theater credit if they do all the work.”
The youth also attend a two-week theater camp to help prepare them for another school year of performances.
For their next play, they are considering doing another historical-period piece.
“It makes me feel so proud of them,” Rebecca said. “The hard work that they have done. It’s not just the acting. It’s the whole package.”
