‘Sound of Music’ to headline 2012-13 season for SLOC

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bill Buell

In its 85 years of producing popular musical theater, the Schenectady Light Opera Company has mounted Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” twice, in 1968 and 1987. 2013 will mark the third time.

“We honestly felt that in our new location, an old church building, it was a great opportunity to do ‘The Sound of Music’ again,” Jane Figueroa, chairwoman of SLOC’s show recommendation committee, said Friday. “That show has such a wide appeal, it’s a wonderful old chestnut, and it also gives us an opportunity, while we’re expanding our commitment to our youth group, to use some of those younger kids in this show.”

“The Sound of Music,” winner of five Tony Awards in 1959, including Best Musical, will take center stage at SLOC, formerly St. John the Baptist Church, in March of 2013. SLOC had been staging its productions at its building on 826 State St., before moving to the church at 427 Franklin St., in February of last year to mount “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

Kicking off SLOC’s 2012-13 season will be “Next to Normal” opening on Oct. 12, followed by “Little Shop of Horrors” opening on Dec. 7. The Howard Ashman/Alan Menken musical will be SLOC’s youth production.

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” will be produced from Feb. 8-17, 2013, followed by “The Sound of Music” from March 15-24 and then “Sweet Charity” from May 10-19.

“We had dancers, musicians, actors and directors from all age levels and all areas of expertise working on the recommendation committee,” said Figueroa. “We tried to make it very balanced, and we feel like we did that. We have some older and classic shows that will appeal to our older audience, and we have some new, edgy stuff that should invigorate our younger group. We feel like there is something there for everyone, so we’re very excited about the season.”

Tickets for the 2012-2013 season are currently on sale. Single performances are $18, while a season’s pass (for five shows) will cost $120.

“When you consider the high quality of our musicals, a season subscription is one of the best entertainment values in our region,” said SLOC president Kate Kaufman Burns. “Ticket sales are up more than 30 percent over sales at our prior location, so we believe this season builds upon the initial success at our new location.”

For more information call 1-877-350-7378 or visit www.sloctheater.org.

Here is the schedule:

Oct. 12-21 — “Next to Normal,” music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, is the Pulitzer Prize-winning story of a troubled family with a mother who suffers from bipolar disorder. Directed by Mike Mensching.

Dec. 7-16 — “Little Shop of Horrors,” music by Alan Menken, and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, is an off-Broadway musical based on the low-budget comedy film from 1960. SLOC’s youth production for the season, it will be directed by Sev Moro.

Feb. 8-17, 2013 — “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” music and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Jeffrey Lane, earned 10 Tony nominations in 2005 and is based on the 1988 movie with Michael Caine and Steve Martin about two suave and sophisticated con men on the French Riviera. Directed by Mike Gatzendorfer.

March 15-24, 2013 — “The Sound of Music,” music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is one of the world’s most popular musicals, detailing the story of the Von Trapp family’s escape from German-held Austria into Switzerland during World War II. Directed by Jeff Hocking and Becky Strait.

May 10-19, 2013 — “Sweet Charity,” book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, earned 12 Tony nominations and follows the trials and tribulations of a young woman looking for love and romance in New York’s Times Square. Directed by Richard Rowe.