Dowagiac alive with ‘Sound of Music’

Mother Abbess, played by Whitney Donaldson, and Maria, played by Abby Schuur, enumerate a few of their favorite things in song in "The Sound of Music."
Abby Schuur as Maria and KeyAndre Williams as Capt. Greg von Trapp lead a 51-member cast for next weekend’s “Sound of Music.”
Cast members directed by middle- school teacher Meredith Marrs also include the Von Trapp children, Samantha Hess as Liesl, Destin Vongphakdy as Friedrich, Lauren Smith as Louisa, Zach Davis as Kurt, Jessica Burns as Brigitta, Amanda Delong as Marta and Jolie Camp as Gretl.
Whitney Donaldson portrays Mother Abbess, with Anna Luthringer as Sister Berthe, Isabel Vazquez as Sister Margaretta and Caitlyn Reed as Sister Sophia.
Mkena Bolin is Frau Schmidt the housekeeper, Swiss exchange student Severin Spolti is Franz the butler, with Dean Klann as Rolf Gruber, Ben Thompson as Max Detweiler, Jenna Laymon as Elsa Schraeder, Matt McCall as Herr Zeller, Nathan True as Admiral Von Schrieber, Jeremy Zeilke as Baron Elberfield and Rachel Lindemulder as Baroness Elberfield.
Playing nuns are Samantha Craft, Macey Hess, Mary Leversen, Jessica Martin, Easton Preston, Jessica Robison and Sara Wright.
The ensemble includes Harley Beaver, Mary Bonomo, Morgan Bonomo, Anna Castelluccio, Samantha Dowsett, Julia Ferrier, Brianna Hall, Hannah Headapohl, Nicole Irwin, Abby Klann, Kyra Kuriata, Emily Longden, Brittany Malin, Billy Preston, Jessica Robison, Kendall Rogers, Tenneil Sink, Isabel Thorne, Allyson Wild, Zaria Williams, Sara Wright and Anne Zebell.
Nick Bogen, Shane Filley, Tessa Flade, Alexis Hale, Andrea Hatter, Karsten Keller, Joanna Marhanka and Harold Schaus are members of the technical team.
Teacher Amy Hackett assists Marrs with directing, choir director Jeff Robinson is vocal director and Steve Mast accompanies on keyboards.
PAC supervisor Lincoln Clark is in charge of sets and tech, assisted by Ethan Pasternak.