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November 20, 2001
Christendom Comes Alive with the Sound of Music

Presenting four performances over the weekend of November 9-11, 2001, The Christendom Players, under the direction of Mike Powell, a Christendom junior, performed an exceptional rendition of Rogers and Hammerstein's musical, "The Sound of Music," in Christendom College's St. Lawrence Commons in Front Royal, Virginia.

Christendom junior Linda Antunes, from Eastford, CT, gave a stellar performance in her role as Maria Rainer (later to become Maria von Trapp). Joining Antunes in leading roles were Christopher Lane as Captain von Trapp, Lesly Bratt as Mother Abbess, and Mary Wise as Baroness Elsa Schrader. In addition to his superb directing of the musical, Mike Powell gave a wonderfully delightful performance as Uncle Max.

Perhaps stealing the show were the "von Trapp children," played by four Christendom students and three children of area alumni, Tom and Tina Furtado. Liesl, the eldest of the children, was played by Laura Henderson, a junior from FL; Friedrich by Joe Powell, a freshman from VA; Brigitta by Jamie Dresch, a sophomore from IN; Louisa by Lorien Randolph, a freshman from IA; Kurt by Joseph Furtado, 12 year old from VA; Marta by Malia Furtado, 10 year old from VA; and Gretl by Teresa Furtado, 7 year old from VA.

Christendom students Amy Donahue (piano), David Rudmin (violin), Jamie Berger (flute), and Matthew Dittert (conductor) provided impeccable musical accompaniment for the production.

According to Dr. Patrick Keats, Producer and Assistant Director of the play, "The Sound of Music" marks The Christendom Players' third student-directed production. "All of these students have done a wonderful job in acting out this play. They gave 110% to this production and they should all be very proud of their accomplishments. Special recognition should be given to a couple of students: Anne Kopec for her role as Stage Manager, and Pat Scanlon for designing and constructing the set."
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