Audition Information

Auditions for Pella Christian's 2025 Fall Musical, Sound of Music, will be Tuesday, May 20, 2025.  Production Dates will be October 30-November 1, 2025 at the Vermeer Auditorium at Pella Christian High School.  Auditions are open to all PCHS students who will be in grades 9-12 this coming fall--including present 8th graders who will be new freshmen at the high school.

Auditions will be held Tuesday May 20 from 3:30-5:00 in the PCHS Music Room

Audition Forms are DUE at Auditions   (please print off and fill the form out)

• Students will all learn a song together and then audition in small groups.  They will also learn a simple dance and audition in a large group.  Callbacks for the major Soloists/Leads will continue at 5:00.

• If you have a conflict, let Mr. Van Peursem know directly and something can be worked out.

• Students presently attending PCHS can pick an Audition Form from the Theatre Arts Bulletin Board.

• New Students and/or incoming Freshmen who are interested in auditioning need to follow this procedure:

               >  Read over the Cast Expectations (BELOW), particularly noting extra rehearsals on Saturdays and/or evenings.

               >  The Rehearsal Schedule for the musical will be posted on the Theatre website in June.  It  might be helpful to look at the site now to get an idea of what PCHS's theatre program is like and what last year's rehearsal schedule looked like.  From our school website: www.pceagles.org:  Click on: Student Life > Arts > scroll down to: Theatre > Find link to: Theatre Website.    Once on PCHS Theatre Home Page, note Tabs running down the left side:  Schedules > Rehearsal Schedule.

                >  Once the Rehearsal Schedule is posted, please look over it carefully and plan ahead for:  senior pictures, college visits (do them when no rehearsals are scheduled or in November), ACT dates and family vacations. 

               >  Please print the Audition Form from the Link at the bottom of the page, fill it out, and turned it in at the Audition Time.

Students Interested in Auditioning for Major Soloist/Parts:

(Maria, Captain, Mother Abbess, Max, Elsa, Liesl, Rolf, the 7 children, Sisters Berthe, Margaretta, Sophia)

1.  If cast for a major soloist, students need to find time over the summer to work on their solos individually on their own.

2.  All students who have any solos ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE FIRST REHEARSAL, WEDNESDAY MAY 21 DURING THE LONG GRAY DAY LUNCH! !  No exceptions!!  Clear that date now.  Music will be handed out and summer rehearsal dates will be finalized.  Bring your summer family calendars to note any conflicts. 

3.    Students need to commit to 3 or 4 REQUIRED summer rehearsals.  YOU CANNOT MISS THEM!  In the past, too many students were careless in meeting for these rehearsals and therefore were not solid in the memorization.  Fitz is too busy in the fall to teach you this music because you did not take the summer rehearsal time seriously!

4.  All music will be performed from memory to all the directors on Monday, August 25 @ 1pm.   Solid, with confidence!

5.  Students interested in a lead solo must audition individually from prepared music excerpts of the roles.  The music will not be taught during audition time; please prepare on your own by playing the notes and/or finding recordings on the Internet.  Your musical audition will need to show familiarity with the song and characterization in singing it...the more confident you are in your singing, the more likely you will be noticed for the part.

6.  Students may audition for ONLY two possible parts…that does not mean you won’t be considered for other leads.

7.  As always, musical solos will be cast on strong singing and dance and a confident stage presence...and NOT on seniority.

8.  Use the links below for the The Prepared Music excerpts:

Female Solo Leads Audition Music

Male Solo Leads Audition Music

Musical Summary of The Sound of Music:

Broadway's favorite family classic, The Sound of Music, is returning to Pella Christian High School's stage this fall, 2025.  Winner of five Tony awards when it opened on Broadway in 1959, this production is a staple of the musical theatre canon.

Set nearly 90 years ago in Salzburg, Austria, the musical tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun. She falls in love with the children, and eventually their widowed father, Captain von Trapp.  The comedic actions of Max Detweiler, a charming and opportunistic music producer who is a friend of the von Trapps, and the romantic interests of Elsa Schraeder, a wealthy socialite and the Captain's intended fiancee, add to the musical’s continuing popularity. 

Popular musical numbers include "De Re Mi," "My Favorite Things," "The Lonely Goatherd," "No Way to Stop It" and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen."  Stunning numbers also include those by the Nonnberg Abbey Choir and the iconic solo by the Mother Abbess ("Climb Every Mountain")

Cast Expectations:

Should you be cast, the following expectations would be asked of you:

1.  The actual rehearsal time is about two months this fall for most people. Because most of the time is limited, your presence at all rehearsals is mandatory.  No exceptions!  A specific rehearsal schedule will come out after the show is cast.

2.  Once the Rehearsal Schedule is posted (mid-July), Cast Members will need to plan ahead for:  senior pictures, college visits (do them when no rehearsals are scheduled or in November), and ACT dates (plan early enough to find a date where there isn’t a conflict on a rehearsal Saturday).  You CANNOT miss rehearsals for these reasons!

3.  Family vacations, PASS and After-School Detentions are also NOT accepted excuses during rehearsals. 

4.  You cannot leave early during rehearsals (or arrive late), as we need to “see” what the stage looks like for each scene.  Besides, choreography is a mess when a partner is not there and reblocking a scene is a waste of other people’s time.  

5.  The first full rehearsal begins Tuesday, August 26.  All songs/parts will be taught/memorized after school the first few days! 

6.  Choreography begins immediately following—after school and on Tuesday evenings, mostly in September.  Lines, Blocking for Leads, smaller dance songs, and music review will also work around this, in the afternoons until about 5:30.  Full Cast dance choreography will be Tuesday evenings.  Please reserve Saturday September 27 as one of our final choreography sessions/review! This Saturday is required; you just have to be there!  Meal provided!

7.  On Saturday, October 18 we will have our first full run through, probably beginning at noon with a long afternoon, as we may have to finish Tech in the morning.  It’s mandatory, you gotta be there.  You just have to.  Meal provided!

8.  Beginning on Monday, October 20, every rehearsal will be a ‘full run’ for the last week and a half. They will go from 5:00- 9:30.   C’mon, I need at least 6 days with the entire lot of you to make you look good, right? 

9.  Saturday, October 25, is our third Non-School Day rehearsal. This may start in the afternoon and early evening--as it is usually All State Music Auditions. We will do makeup, pictures and meal.  No exceptions for all three Saturdays. 

10.  Be aware that Friday evening’s performance is ALSO the first game of varsity football playoffs.

11.  Please be faithful in filling out the audition form, especially asking for conflicts and desired parts!  Any possible conflicts need to be discussed BEFORE auditions.

12. If there are parts you do not want, please also note that as well. Some only want certain parts; that is perfectly fine; we simply want to work with those who want the parts. The bottom line is, be prepared to “commit for whatever it takes.” 

13. Remember that there are always more good people than good parts available.  Because you didn’t get a “good” part doesn’t mean you aren’t good--we just ran out of parts.

Character Descriptions:

Men

Captain:        Lead (baritone; sings 4 solos); A retired Austrian naval captain. Commanding and very military in the way he runs his life to avoid sadness over the death of his wife; underneath, he is warm and understanding

Max: Lead (tenor/baritone; sings 2 duets); A theatrical agent and a loyal friend of the von Trapp family; charming and vital; a man of sophistication who enjoys the good life; provides some of the comic relief

Rolf: Supporting (low tenor/baritone; sings a duet); Suitor to Liesl, telegram delivery boy, later Nazi soldier. A very pleasant young man, somewhat aggressive but in a gentle way.

Friedrich:      Supporting; 2nd child and oldest boy; Tough exterior, very much trying to be “the man” of the family; sings 5 songs with siblings 

Kurt: Supporting; 4th child; Gentle and mischievous; possibly sing a line in falsetto; sings 5 songs with siblings

Franz: Featured (non-singing); The von Trapp butler, rather formal but not without spirit, he is very German and loyal to the Fascist cause. 

Herr Zeller

Admiral von Schreiber    All three have a few lines each; non-singing roles but will sing/dance in ensemble

Baron Elberfeld

5 more to be in the Ensemble as High Society Neighbors and Nazi Soldiers; will sing/dance in several songs I have adapted for them including The Lonely Goatherd, The Grand Waltz and The Ländler, No Way to Stop It, Nazi Soldiers at the Kaltzberg Festival.

Women

Maria: Lead (soprano; sings 6 solos/duets); A postulant at Nonnberg Abbey – young, free spirited, warm, gentle and kind with much determination.

Elsa: Lead (mezzo-soprano; sings 2 duets); A baroness of taste and elegance, sophisticated, dignified and mature; businesswoman, president of her late husband’s corporation

Mother Abbess: Lead (soprano; sings 4 solos/duets); The leader and superior of Nonnberg Abbey;     Motherly, understanding, strong and authoritative, but kind.

Liesl: Lead (mezzo; sings 2 solos); oldest child; blossoming into a young lady with an interest in boys, especially Rolf; has a maternal edge to her and cares very deeply for her younger siblings; sings 5 songs with siblings

Louisa: Supporting; 3rd child; rebellious attitude; quite skilled at playing tricks on the governesses; sings 5 songs with siblings

Brigitta: Supporting; 5th child; smart; reads a lot; bright, observant, and outspoken; sings 5 songs with siblings

Marta: Supporting; 6th child; sweet and gentle; one of the quietest von Trapp children; sings 5 songs with siblings

Gretl: Supporting; Youngest child; soft-spoken and shy; must have a cute factor; sings 5 songs with siblings  (may be played by elementary child)

Sister Berthe: Featured (alto); sings a trio;  Mistress of Novices, prudish, straight laced with a quick tongue, she is less tolerant than other nuns

Sister Margaretta: Featured (mezzo); sings a trio; 
Mistress of Postulants, very kind, understanding and concerned

Sister Sophia: Featured (soprano); sings a trio;  Neither demanding nor critical, sticks with the rules

Frau Schmidt: Featured (non-singing); The von Trapp housekeeper, stoic, efficient but with very little personality; strong and somewhat dominating.

8 more to also be in the Ensemble as Nuns and High Society Neighbors; will sing/dance in several songs I have adapted for them including The Lonely Goatherd, The Grand Waltz and The Ländler, No Way to Stop It, Kaltzberg Festival winners

We also need to fill the following positions ASAP: (PLEASE SEE MVP BEFORE AUDITIONS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED!)

1.  Student Director:  self-motivator who understands acting and can give character notes 

2.  Student Music Director:  self-motivator who understands music and runs the rehearsal track music 

3.  Dance Captain:  self motivator who takes charge in reviewing dance numbers as needed

4.  Production Coordinator:  self-motivator who oversees all technical crews and calls the show’s cues 

Audition Form   (Please print off, fill it out, and bring to Auditions)