Theater Review: 'The Sound of Music' at BMA

By Nancy Sasso Janis

FAIRFIED - Black Rock Theater and Broadway Method Academy Studio Theater is presenting a very well rehearsed production of the iconic “The Sound of Music.” Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation is the creative partner of BMA.

The lush music by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II weaves in and out of the book written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.

Equity actress Emily Fink is above the title and takes on the role of Maria. The Illinois native and proud graduate of University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music glows in the role. What a voice she has!

Martin Giannini gives a wonderful performance as Captain von Trapp. The proud BMA parent, who is theatrical manager and producer, makes his debut at the Black Rock Theatre in this role. He has a wonderful stage presence and a fine singing voice to boot. Michelle Jennings has the fabulous soprano to portray the loving Mother Abbess and Sam David Cohen (another CCM graduate) plays “Uncle” Max Detweiler.

Brenna Donahue, a professional actor and talent manager who teaches at BMA, returns to play the wealthy Elsa Schraeder.

What a treat it was to see the talented Ben Dressel appear on the BMA stage in the role of Rolf Gruber. Playing the roles of the named nuns are Emm Dorcely as Sister Berthe, Sophia Yanni as Sister Margaretta and Viviana Ham-Breeden, singing beautifully as Sister Sister Sophia. The von Trapp children were played by Kari Ergmann, Blake Raho, Simone Albaridi, Grayson Aspen, Leanna Mitev, Avellina Progano and Marcela Perkins at the matinee that I attended. Kudos to all of the young students in both casts.

Connor Deane directed the cast of BMA students and the talented adult actors. Deane founded BMA in 2014 fresh out of University of Cincinnati’s musical theater program and is thrilled to be back directing after a long pandemic break. Musical direction by Matt Moisey made the vocals work with the musical tracks and Julie Kavanagh was in charge of the often delightful musical staging.

The space at the BMA Studio Theater has been transformed yet again to fit the show, with one aisle wider to accommodate Maria’s bed. The set designed by Ryan M. Howell is trimmed above in a huge gold frame..literally on the ceiling. Katie Whittemore does her first lighting design for this theater and Bobbi Rene Fullertown was in charge of sound design.

Costumes designed by Dustin Cross were a bit uneven for me. Many of the adult costumes were quite impressive, but some of those worn by the young performers appeared ill-fitting. The issue for the double-cast BMA students was probably that they had to share their costume with their counterpart in the other cast. The young actors in training managed to plow through despite what they were wearing.

There were several wigs designed by Bobbie Zlotnik that looked wonderful on their wearers, and the three for Maria became more sophisticated. Zlotnik’s work has been seen in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “The Gilded Age.”

“The Sound of Music” is presented with one 15-minute intermission and continues through next weekend. Tickets at www.broadwaymethodacademy.org

In the works at BMA are “Anything Goes” in June, “Seussical” and “Seussical Kids” (in June and July,) “Bye Bye Birdie,” and the musical “A Christmas Carol.”

@evzmm for @murphymade

Scenic Design: @ryanmhowell
Costume Design: @dustincrossdesigns
Lighting Design: @katie_whittemore
Wig Design: @wigginoutbz
Sound Design: @bobbifullerton
Musical Direction: @moises.suppoises
Musical Staging: @julzkavs
Direction: @connorfdeane
Produced by: @blackrocktheater