Bedfordtimesregister.com - 'The Sound of Music' comes alive at Porthouse Theatre

Porthouse Theatre closes its 2012 season with the Rodgers and Hammerstein favorite "The Sound of Music."

Evening performances are July 27 through 28, July 31, Aug. 1 through 4 and Aug. 7 through 11 at 8 p.m., as well as 2 p.m. matinee performances on July 29, Aug. 5 and Aug. 11 and 12.

For tickets, call 330-672-3884 or visit www.porthousetheatre.com.

The musical originated with the book "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" by Maria von Trapp. It contains many popular songs, including "Edelweiss," "My Favorite Things," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "Do-Re-Mi," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "The Lonely Goatherd" and the title song.

The production is directed by Terri Kent.

The cast is made up of 26 actors, four of them members of Actors' Equity Association, not to mention an ensemble of sisters made up in part by the Porthouse Theatre College Academy members.

Kayce Cummings of Nashville, Tenn., stars as Maria. Audiences will remember Cummings as Annie from "Annie Get Your Gun," Marian in "The Music Man," Maria in "West Side Story" and Laurie in "Oklahoma!"

Larry Nehring of Cleveland, stars as Captain Georg von Trapp. He is an area actor, director, choreographer and sign interpreter.

Lisa Kuhnen of New York, N.Y., plays Elsa. Lisa has been seen in numerous productions at Porthouse Theatre.

Eric van Baars of Cuyahoga Falls plays Max. Van Baars is well-known to Porthouse Theatre audiences having starred as Applegate in "Damn Yankees," as "The Music Man," Felix in "The Odd Couple," Herod in "Jesus Christ Superstar," Will Parker in "Oklahoma!" and more.

Porthouse Theatre features free parking and allows patrons to bring in picnics (including alcohol) to its grounds to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is next to the theatre grounds. A covered picnic pavilion is available for reservation at $2 per person or free for subscribers and is based on availability. There also is a concession stand of light snacks and beverages. Many picnic tables are available for everyone's enjoyment at no cost.

Porthouse Theatre is at 1145 W. Steels Corners Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Single tickets range from $25 to $33 for adults and seniors and $17 to $20 for students. The box office is in Kent State's Music and Speech Center on the corner of Main Street and Horning Drive in Kent.

Tickets also are available by calling 330-672-3884 or 330-672-2497, Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by visiting www.porthousetheatre.com to purchase online. Special rates for groups of 20 or more are available, as are student rates.

For more information, visit www.porthousetheatre.com.