By Sarah Jakel

Jayde Contreras (17) will take center stage for the production of The Sound of Music as the character of Maria. Contreras said, “I’m so excited. It’s going to be a lot of work but I can’t wait to be in a musical with both of my siblings and have my mom as the director. It’s a pretty special year for me.” Contreras’ brother Jackson will play the role of Friedrich and her sister Jocelyn will be Gretl. Leading her in her journey towards the governor is Lexi Lapp (16) playing Mother Abess. Mother Abess is a nun that is leading Maria towards a governess lifestyle instead of a monastic life. The sisters include Hannah Cooper (18) as Sister Berthe, McKenzie Reiher (17) as Sister Margaretta and Melanie Fye (19) as Sister Sophia. Reiher said, “I love acting and theater people are fun.”

Putting the play together is not going to be a small task. Kendra Hixon said, “We will see the cast for 33 rehearsals at least plus enrichment time. Plus the work my tech theatre puts in to build the set. We will also have parents helping us to put together costumes. Contreras, Doddridge and I will be teaming up for this project. I think we make a really good team and each bring something awesome to the table. I am nervous about the little rehearsal time we have, but I think we have a really good cast that will do a great job with the show.”

Hixon, has a real life connection to the play that she will be bringing to life. Hixon said, “This show really means a lot to me too as my mom was actually born in Austria. She came over to the States when she was five, but she visited after she graduated high school and brought back an Edelweiss – which is a song in the musical and also a beautiful plant that is found in the Alps of Austria. If you attend a night of the show and see my Mom standing with the song it’s because it’s a bit of an Austrian patriotic song.”

The whole cast list is posted along with the story. The play will run from April 28 to April 30 in the Eaton High School auditorium.