The hills are alive with the sound of music…and so are the halls of Fayetteville Technical Community College, as the Fine Arts Department prepares for its upcoming production of the beloved musical, The Sound of Music. Mark your calendars for March 5 through 14, when the performances will take place at FTCC’s Cumberland Hall Auditorium at 2125 Hall Rd.
The Play
The Sound of Music was written by famed musical theatre duo Rodgers and Hammerstein (Carousel, Oklahoma!) and premiered on Broadway in 1959. Its huge success onstage led to the making of the 1965 film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. It would go on to become a household favorite for generations.
The play is based on real people and true events. The von Trapp family escaped the Nazi regime after Germany’s takeover of Austria before World War II, and really were a musical sensation. Although the play takes some creative liberties with the facts of life, the play is informed by Maria’s memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.
At the start of the play, Maria is a feisty but faithful young postulant at Nonnberg Abbey when the Mother Abbess decides she should go to serve as governess to a widowed Naval captain with seven children. Her arrival brings music and fun back into the normally strict, quiet house. Love and courage keep the family together as they face difficult choices in the face of political unrest and changes in Austria.
Fans of the film will hear many of their favorite songs in the play: Do Re Mi, My Favorite Things, and 16 Going on 17 all help to tell the story of the von Trapps. There are some differences between the movie and the stage show. But not to worry, The Sound of Music still has the same beloved story, characters, and music you know and love.
The Production
What makes this specific production at FTCC a "must-see" isn't just the script, but the people on stage. Directed by FTCC Theatre Instructor Katie Herring, the production represents a unique collaboration—a blend of college students, staff, and the wider Fayetteville community.
FTCC Fine Arts provides a platform where people from all backgrounds and levels of experience can come together.
For the students enrolled in the Associate of Fine Arts programs, specializing in theatre, music, art and entertainment technology, this isn't just a class project. It is a professional-grade laboratory. They aren't just learning lines; they are learning the logistics of a major production, from music and choreography to light cues and stage management.
For the community members who auditioned, it’s a chance to grace the stage of one of the city’s most accessible artistic hubs. This collaboration creates a cast that feels like a real community, creating connections that only this type of work can provide.
The two leading roles are played by current FTCC Fine Arts students. Ty’ana Wynn-Taylor plays Maria and is studying Music at FTCC. Nick Campanello plays the strict and serious Captain von Trapp. Campanello recently ended his career in the Army and is currently finishing his Theatre degree at FTCC. There are several other FTCC students in the cast, playing children, nuns, and other ensemble roles.
Another unique feature of the cast is the involvement of several families. Angela Westmoreland plays Mother Abbess and her son Renny is the younger of the two von Trapp boys, Kurt. Amanda & Elizabeth O’Quinn are another mother and child duo; Amanda plays Sister Margaretta and Elizabeth is the youngest von Trapp, Gretl. Autumn Matthews is Elsa Schraeder and her daughter Heaven portrays Liesl von Trapp, who is 16-going-on-17. Jordan (Ensemble) and Michael Deutschlander (Herr Zeller) are a husband-and-wife duo who are both part of the production, onstage and off.
The Performances
One unique aspect of the FTCC’s theatre productions is that they are all free and open to the public. With financial support from the college and FTCC’s Foundation, the Fine Arts program does not rely on ticket sales to fund its work and can therefore offer all its performances for free.
Seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis; doors for seating will open 30 minutes prior to the start of each performance. Audience members are encouraged to arrive early.
The opening night of The Sound of Music is on Thursday, March 5, and will include a pre-show reception to celebrate the occasion. The reception will begin at 6 p.m., giving attendees an opportunity to enjoy some hors d'oeuvres and a beverage, as well as meet some of the cast before they head backstage to prepare for the show, which begins at 7 p.m.
The other performances are as follows: Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m.; Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Whether you are a lifelong fan who can sing every lyric of "Edelweiss" or someone simply looking for a powerful night of storytelling, The Sound of Music at FTCC promises to be a highlight of the spring season. It’s a story about the strength of family, the power of song, and the bravery required to climb every mountain.
For more information, visit faytechcc.edu/ftcc-fine-arts-sound-of-music.

 (Photo: The cast and crew of The Sound of Music work through stage directions at a rehearsal for the show. The Sound of Music will be performed at FTCC's Cumberland Hall Auditorium from March 5 through 14. Photo courtesy of FTCC)