The hills are alive with the sound of music, and so are all the students involved with the musical production of The Sound of Music. After auditions in late September, the cast list with roles was released on October 9.

In the musical, Maria Rainer, who will be played by senior Morgan Haney, is an Austrian nun who is hired to take care of five children of the Von Trapp family. The family is led by the strict rules of its father Captain Georg Von Trapp, played by junior Max Ary.

The Von Trapp children had never heard music before because of the father’s strict rules, so Maria introduces the family to music. However, Maria also falls in love with Captain Von Trapp along the way and is shunned by the nun Mother Abbess, played by senior Frances Jimenez.

Theatre Department head Scott Taylor is enthusiastic for the production.

“The show will definitely be quite large,” Taylor said. “Musicals in general are always pretty large, and this is no exception.”

The Theatre and Choir Departments auditioned over 200 people, and the results included 57 high school and 12 elementary and middle school students. The elementary and middle school students will play the children of the Von Trapp family.

Much of the cast anticipates rehearsals before the show, including junior Elizabeth Lester

“It’s overwhelming to be part of the show,” Elizabeth said. “I wasn’t really expecting to earn a role, and now I’m part of a huge show with an amazing cast, and it’s so exciting.”

Elizabeth, along with 22 other students, will play a role as a member of the nun chorus.

“It’s a lot of hard work, but I am up for the challenge,” Elizabeth said.

The actors’ process runs through the entire course of the musical, from the beginning to the end. Even for the beginning audition, students had to learn multiple songs and a dance.

“An immense amount of preparation goes into our large musicals at FMHS,” Taylor said. “We require only the best for our school.”

The cast and crew of The Sound of Music will begin rehearsals on October 17. The live performances of The Sound of Music are from Saturday, January 25 through Tuesday, January 28.