Summercliff Players Prepare for 'The Sound of Music'

If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, then you may want to check out the Summercliff Players’ production of The Sound of Music.

Now in its fifth year, Summercliff Players is a teen community theater program that presents a musical production every summer featuring some of the area’s most talented students.

The program is a collaboration between the , along with the Briarcliff Friends of the Performing Arts and Briarcliff Manor Community Coalition.

With auditions in May and rehearsals starting in June, the crew had to get the show together in four weeks time.

“Once we cast the show, the kids had to learn the show very quickly,” explained Summercliff Director Kathleen Donovan-Warren, who also directed  musical at this spring.

The Sound of Music cast consists of 37 members from seven different schools in Westchester and Rockland counties, whose ages range from five to 19.

In preparation for this weekend’s performances, the cast, musicians, directors and parent volunteers all gathered at on Monday for a dress rehearsal.

“When we rehearse, we usually have three rehearsals going on at the same time,” said Donovan-Warren. “We usually have a dance rehearsal going on, we have a musical rehearsal going on and then I do the blocking and the acting. Then we put them together and create.” 

Set in 1939, the show features period themes, costumes and props, a mix of humor and drama, wonderful musicianship, choreography and set design. This all thanks to the Summercliff Production team comprised of Director Kathleen Donovan-Warren, Musical Director Nadia Rizzo, Choreographer Helen Coope, Technical Director Jim Britt and Costume Designer Gina DiSenso.

Performances of The Sound of Music will be held on Friday, July 22 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, July 23 at 2 pm in the Briarcliff High School auditorium. Tickets are $15.50 and are available at showtix4u.com.