The hills of west Alabama were truly alive with The Sound of Music Saturday night as the talented actors of Tuscaloosa’s community theater group, Theatre Tuscaloosa, took the stage. Directed by Tina Fitch, Executive Producer for Theatre Tuscaloosa and former University of Alabama graduate student, the heartwarming story and beloved music filled the Bean-Brown Theater as the stage lights beamed on this season’s final production.

Perhaps one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s best-known plays, The Sound of Music has touched the hearts of people everywhere for generations. Saturday night, however, marked the first time Wanda Austin, 52, had ever seen the production.

“She told me all about it,” said Austin, of her friend and fellow theater attendee, Sara Cork. “I’m really excited.”

Austin and Cork also said that, while they enjoy going to New York to see plays on Broadway, they are still astounded by the amount of local talent in Tuscaloosa and make it a point to check out Theatre Tuscaloosa’s productions as often s they can.

The Sound of Music, adapted from Maria Augusta von Trapp’s memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, follows Maria Rainer, nun-in-training, as she tries to find her way to happiness.

Maria, always singing and dancing, is failing miserably in her attempts to become a nun, and in response to a letter from a retired naval captain, the Mother Superior of Maria’s Austrian abbey decides to give her an opportunity to see if life in the convent is her true destiny.

Maria is sent to the home of Captain von Trapp where she becomes governess to his seven mischievous children. Since the captain's wife passed away, the enormous estate has been a gloomy place, but when Maria arrives, their spirits are lifted once again, and love reenters the von Trapp’s world.

As the audience sang along in hushed tones to every song, it was easy to see why this beloved musical was selected to close out the season.

Fitch, who received her MFA in Directing from the University of Alabama, spends about three to four months planning the productions that will be a part of each upcoming season, however, she said the possibilities are never very far from her mind.

“I listen to what the audience wants, and I look at the talent available,” said Fitch. “This group really is just great.”

The group usually tries to do about five shows a year, said Fitch, usually including at least one Tony award winning work, a work from a Pulitzer Prize- winner and one Southern comedy.

Actors for Theatre Tuscaloosa come strictly on a volunteer basis, furthering the grassroots foundation of the group.

Lisa Waldrop, this season’s Maria Rainer and 11-year participant with Theatre Tuscaloosa, gave such a spot on performance that, at times, it was necessary to remember Julie Andrews had not come to town to participate in the show herself.

The turn out of guests and the talent on stage pays great tribute to the love and appreciation Tuscaloosa has for the arts. And with a 2009-2010 season scheduled to include Driving Mrs. Daisy, Honky Tonk Angels and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Theatre Tuscaloosa will undoubtedly continue to showcase the areas immense talent.

For more information on Theatre Tuscaloosa please visit http://www.theatretusc.com/

by Jennifer Jeffcoat