Experience backs CLC's 'Sound of Music'
The two lead actors in the College of Lake County's summer musical "The Sound of Music" bring a combination of real life and musical theatre experience to their stage roles.
Erin Ormond and Ed Harrigan will bring the roles to life on the Mainstage Theatre at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts this weekend.
"The Sound of Music," which won six Tony Awards for best musical, book and score, is based on real events and was the last collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The now-familiar story is set during the outbreak of WWII, where a young nun named Maria is sent to be the new governess for seven unruly children. She discovers the family is run, in military style, by the seemingly coldhearted Captain von Trapp, a lonely widowed naval officer.
Ormond, who studied music at CLC and Carthage College, plays Maria. In real life, she operates an in-home day care business - where she often sings to her young charges - and teaches for Christian Youth Theatre. She is performing the role of Maria for the second time in her musical theatre career; the first time was in 2003 with the Town Square Players from Crystal Lake.
"That was my favorite show, so I wanted to try it again," she said. "The chemistry between the children and me (all 14 of them) is good," Ormond said. "They get along well, but they still act like brothers and sisters. They give me hugs before they leave rehearsal."
Harrigan, who plays the Captain, works as a health-care project manager and is the real-life father of four children. Two years ago, Harrigan and his family took the "Sound of Music" tour of Salzburg, Austria, while on vacation. He sings at church but hasn't performed in a musical since college.
But when Harrigan brought his 10-year-old daughter to auditions, director Thomas B. Mitchell encouraged him to try out. Grace Harrigan is part of a children's chorus.
Nearly 250 people of all ages auditioned for the musical, Mitchell said, and a large cast of 77 were selected. The demanding roles of the seven Von Trapp children are double cast into a blonde family and a dark-haired family.
In addition to the Harrigans, several other family groups are featured in the cast.
Carter Kenehan of Lake Forest, 12, plays Kurt Von Trapp. His brother Connor, 15, plays Rolf.
"I wanted to be with my brother in a big play," Carter said. "I saw Connor perform as Lewis in 'The King and I' at CLC, and I thought it was fantastic."
Carter said he enjoys sharing the role of Kurt with Matthew Silverberg. "You have someone else to talk to about the part and you're able to become friends with that person. Matthew is a great source of information. We get ideas from each other," he said.
If you go
What: College of Lake County's production of "Sound of Music"
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25; 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26
Where: James Lumber Center on the CLC campus, 19351 W. Washington St.
Cost: $16; $13 for seniors, CLC students and staff and subscribers
More info: clcillinois.edu