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Home , Georg von Trapp, Maria von Trapp, Nonnberg Abbey, State Fair (musical), The Sound of Music, The von Trapps

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2015/16 SEASON SPONSORS OFFICIAL AIRLINE PRODUCTION SPONSOR CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR RESTAURANT SPONSOR , the men behind the magic The multiple award-winning musical was the last collaboration between composer and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Together they wrote some of the most beloved shows of the of musicals.

RICHARD RODGERS composed his first songs OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II at a summer camp, then wrote music for college was born into a show business shows at Columbia University. A friend introduced family. His grandfather won him to a smart young lyric writer, Larry Hart, who and lost several fortunes shared his ambitious artistic goals. The two wrote building theaters and opera several clever scores, but they attracted little houses, and his father attention and Rodgers seriously considered an managed the biggest offer to quit and sell children’s underwear. vaudeville palace in Manhattan. They finally got their big break in 1925 with a The family wanted him to small benefit show that won raves from the critics. become a lawyer, but show For the next fifteen years, Rodgers & Hart were business was in his blood and one of the top teams on Broadway, writing 28 he quit law school to write stage musicals and over 500 songs. lyrics for Broadway musicals. Broadway musicals were different then. They Oscar worked with many of were “musical comedies,” built around hit songs, the top composers of the day. popular comedians and singing stars. Rodgers He had a huge hit with the & Hart did their best to tell adventurous stories groundbreaking 1927 musical with individual musical styles. Most of their shows , with music by are now forgotten, but dozens of their songs are Jerome Kern. This was not a Courtesy of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An , www.rnh.com now standards, cherished by pop singers and jazz typical musical comedy, but artists. a musical play that treated For years Hammerstein wasn’t able to follow serious themes, including race relations, and Show Boat with another hit. The Great covered a 35-year span of American cultural Depression of the 1930s caused producers to history. back away from unusual, risk-taking shows, and by 1940 Oscar wondered if his time had passed.

n the early 1940s, a hit Broadway had ever seen, Now Rodgers & Hammerstein a few months after the group of producers asked running for over five years at were Broadway’s musical opening. IRodgers and Hart to turn a time when even the most kings. Together, they wrote a Rodgers lived till an old play into a musical. successful shows lasted only a total of shows in the next 1979. He continued The plot concerned pioneer season or two. 14 years, five of which are to compose — at first farm folk and cowboys in It also changed forever the among the greatest hits of all writing his own lyrics early-twentieth century way shows were constructed. time: Oklahoma!, , (including some for Oklahoma. Larry Hart, who The artistic elements of , the Sound of Music

Sponsored Newspapers In Education Content In Education Newspapers Sponsored was battling ill health and Oklahoma! were tightly and The Sound of Music. In movie), then working serious addictions, said no. integrated: book, score, addition, they wrote a hit with a succession of He was a city boy and had no dances, scenery, costumes, movie musical, , and writers, including interest in rural “hicks.” This and orchestrations all worked a made-for-television musical, Martin Charnin, Sheldon gave Richard Rodgers the together to tell the story. If the Cinderella, which aired live Harnick, and Oscar chance he had been seeking plot didn’t require it, it didn’t in 1957 and was seen by 107 Hammerstein’s neighbor Courtesy of Rodgers & Hammerstein: to work with a more stable happen. Oklahoma! was the million people (60 percent of and protégé, Stephen An Imagem Company, www.rnh.com partner. With Hart’s blessing, second of Hammerstein’s the American population!) Sondheim. Rodgers asked his old friend great musical plays, building The Sound of Music was Oscar Hammerstein to step in. on the innovations he had the team’s last show, and The show they created, introduced in Show Boat. “Edelweiss” their last song. Oklahoma!, was the biggest Hammerstein died in 1960, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 | 28, 2015 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY,

2 All the sounds of the earth are like music

orking with Oscar straitjacket, he had the freedom Hammerstein, Richard to explore themes dear to his WRodgers became a heart. Oscar wrote slowly — he an island in the South Pacific, in the mind, images that different composer. With Larry would sometimes spend weeks 19th-century court of the King of would quickly translate into Hart, Rodgers always took the finding just the right words to say Siam, in a fairy tale kingdom or personality, emotion, and plot. lead. He would write a tune, then what was in his heart. in contemporary San Francisco’s And being a lover of nature, many Hart would fit words to it. Most This freer verse prompted Rodgers Chinatown. of his images were drawn from the of these tunes followed the “hit to alter his compositional style, Oscar knew that lyrics aren’t natural world. song” pattern of the day — usually leaving behind the short pop song exactly poetry. You can read a poem Think of Maria’s opening 32 bars long, built in four 8-bar forms he had excelled at in the ’20s over and over until you puzzle out song, “The Sound of Music.” phrases. and ’30s. Now his music found the author’s meaning. But a lyric Hammerstein wants us to know that But Hammerstein liked to write longer lines and unusual colors to arrives at the pace and rhythm of she loves music, and that she often lyrics first, often creating long match Oscar’s far-ranging stories. music — each word has only a brief seeks comfort and spiritual strength scenes of dramatic verse that told a A Rodgers & Hammerstein show moment to deliver its message. in the mountains outside the . story in unexpected ways. Without might be set on the western frontier, Hammerstein learned to create the tight constraints of the hit song in a fishing village in Maine, on vivid images in the listener’s Sponsored Newspapers In Education Content

Here are just a few of the nature images Oscar Hammerstein embeds in the song “The Sound of Music” and others in the musical.

“The hills are alive with “To sing through the night, “Wild geese that fly with the the sound of music.” like a lark who is learning moon on their wings.” to pray.” | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015

“To laugh like a brook “Climb ev’ry mountain, “How do you hold a as it trips and falls.” ford ev’ry stream, follow moonbeam in your hand?” ev’ry rainbow, till you find your dream.” “Snowflakes that stay on “Blossom of snow, may you my nose and eyelashes.” bloom and grow forever.”

3 Climb ev’ry mountain: The real story of the von family

or many people, the mere mention of While studying in , Maria fell in love Later, after she had graduated, Maria went on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound with the rich musical heritage the city had to a weeklong hiking trip in the Alps. One day Fof Music conjures fond memories of offer. She attended classical music concerts during the hike, Maria was overcome by the hearing the music of the 1959 Tony Award- of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna beauty of the nature around her, she flung her winning musical, or seeing the 1965 Academy Boys’ Choir as well as opera. She visited the arms in the air and decided in that moment to Award-winning movie for the very first time. cathedrals and churches to hear the music that give up everything and devote her life to God. With enchanting songs, beautiful lyrics and a came from within. charming story of a family bound by love for each other, love for music and a will to survive, it is a timeless classic. While the story is based on the historic, real life von , both the musical and the movie tell a fictionalized and somewhat romanticized version. Here we tell the true story of and her family. Maria von Trapp Maria August Kutschera was born on a train bound for Vienna, on January 25, 1905. When her mother died of pneumonia Maria was only two years old. Her father sent her to live in Kagran on the outskirts of Vienna with his cousin, a woman in her 60s. Maria had four foster brothers and sisters, but only one of them lived at home and she was much older. With no children her age living at home, she was extremely lonely. She saw her father only occasionally in Vienna. After her father died when Maria was only nine years old, Uncle Franz became her legal guardian. He was a judge, married to her foster mother’s daughter. Uncle Franz was a cruel man who would punish her, often violently,

Sponsored Newspapers In Education Content In Education Newspapers Sponsored for no reason. By the age of thirteen, Maria Hans Altwies and Kirsten deLohr Helland star as the Captain and Maria von Trapp in The 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s decided she no longer wished to live in fear. The Sound of Music. Photo by Mark Kitaoka. She became outspoken and unruly. She acted up at school, or skipped class and explored the During her last year of college, Maria walked Impulsive as always, Maria walked down mountains and meadows surrounding her home. into a church on Palm Sunday expecting to the mountain, caught a train to and Her uncle punished her, but she didn’t care. hear music. Instead she heard the priest give a climbed the 144 steps to the Although she was a challenge to her teachers, sermon. Maria had her doubts about religion, where she was admitted as postulant, the first Maria was studious and managed to get good but she was enchanted by the priest’s words. stage to becoming a . grades. When she graduated from high school, she applied to the State Teachers’ College of Progressive Education in Vienna. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 | 28, 2015 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY,

4 While Maria’s job was to care for the young with the famous Vienna Philharmonic! The Maria von Trapp, she soon discovered that all following year, the family went on a European of the children needed her. She took them to tour but the politics of Austria were changing. the countryside, tutored them with their studies On the evening of March 11, 1938, Germany and taught them songs and how to sing in invaded Austria. three-part harmony. While her fondness for the children grew, the Captain began to fall in love The Escape with Maria. After the invasion of Austria by the Nazis, Georg grew more nationalistic. He defied In 1927, Captain asked Maria orders to fly the German flag with the swastika to marry him and become a mother to his emblazoned in the center, he refused to children. Maria and the Captain were married perform the and he declined an in . order to join the German navy as a The von Trapp Family Singers commander. When an invitation came for the Georg and Maria von Trapp had two more family to sing at Hitler’s birthday celebration, children. As their family grew, the political they knew they could not snub Hitler any climate of Austria was changing. In 1933 longer. It was time to leave their beloved Austrian-born became the ruler country. of Germany. When he closed the Austrian Here is where the true story and the border to Germans, many businesses and banks fictionalized one diverge. In the musical The failed. Austria and were in dire Sound of Music, the family escapes by hiking financial straits. over the Alps into . In truth, there The family realized that their mansion could was no such escape. The family boarded a train Nonnberg Abbey, Salzburg, Austria be put to use, so they turned the villa into an headed for . The next day the Austrian Sponsored Newspapers In Education Content inn and took in boarders to make money. One border was closed—no one could enter or leave The Captain von Trapp of their guests was Father Wasner, a priest the country. The door back to their homeland and his seven children who came to the villa to say Mass one Sunday. was shut. Father Wasner was impressed with the musical Georg insisted that they go to America—they Convent life was difficult for Maria. She abilities of the von Trapp family and he began had contacts there from their concert career missed the mountains and the countryside to teach them folk songs and rehearsed them and they could perform to make money. In and she struggled with the strict routines and daily. The von Trapp Family Singers were born. October 1938, they were on their way to the schedules the maintained. Sensing her United States. need to leave the confines of the Abbey, the The family never performed publicly until the Reverend Mother Abbess told her of a Captain summer of 1936 when they were encouraged The von Trapps returned to Austria briefly von Trapp who was in search of a governess for to perform at the Salzburg Music Festival, a in 1939, but after WWII began, they settled one of his children (also named Maria), who world-renowned event held each year. Captain in America and made the new country their

was recovering from scarlet fever. While she von Trapp was horrified at the thought of his home. They had a successful career performing | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 did not like the idea, Maria left the Abbey in family singing in public, but he relented and for several years, and then in 1943 the family October 1926, and moved into the von Trapp allowed them to perform “just for this one moved to Stowe, to start a music villa. She was 21 years old. time”. The family was entered in the amateur camp. contest, sang three beautiful songs and won! Georg von Trapp was a kind-hearted, Maria von Trapp died in 1987, 40 years after distinguished looking gentlemen, not the gruff, After the Salzburg Music Festival, the family her husband, but their legacy continues. As distant man portrayed in the musical. He was a received more offers to perform, including audiences flock to theaters to see the epic and widow and father to seven children—two boys on the radio. On request from Chancellor timeless musical based on their life, the story and five girls—aged 6 through 15. Schuschnigg, Austria’s Chief Executive, they of the von Trapp family and their spirit lives were even invited to sing at a state reception on.

5 Nazi Youth: a looming threat in Germany and Austria Remember the charming gazebo depression and socially crippled. the expression “Heil” (hail) as a “politically unreliable” were scene “16 going on 17” Liesel Jews were blamed and the idea of greeting. removed from classrooms. By 1936, von Trapp shared with her creating a strong German people 97 percent of teachers had joined romantic interest Rolf Gruber? won people over. Nazi ideology The group was renamed Hitler the National Socialist Teachers The teen postman Rolf Gruber identified groups of people as Youth in 1926 and was expanded League. Textbooks were replaced was a fictional character but he “dangerous” and “unworthy of life.” to include both classroom and with those that pushed Nazi ideals. portrays a profile of Nazi youth These groups were targeted to be extracurricular activities such as Even young children were given that was very real. removed from German society. camping. In addition to participation picture storybooks depicting Jews in outdoor activities, boys were as less than human and immoral. A common question many people Although he did not become taught the importance of resilience, Propaganda books for older have about the Holocaust is “How chancellor until 1933, Hitler’s views obedience and militarism and students further promoted racism was the Nazi party able to gain so and the indoctrination of many gradually devotion to Hitler, racism and antisemitism as well as the many followers?” The more we can young people began over a decade and antisemitism with the ultimate importance of boys’ roles as Nazi understand about the movement earlier. In 1920, Hitler formed goal being boys’ service as soldiers soldiers. With the infiltration of of Nazi youth, as embodied in the the Youth League of the National in the Storm Trooper Nazi Party. By propaganda disguised as textbooks character Rolf in The Sound of Socialist Workers’ Party based on the end of 1933, Hitler Youth had came the removal of books by Music, the better we can understand the ideals of another German youth over 20 million members. By the Jewish writers and writers whose the rise of the Nazi party. After group, Wandervögel. Wandervögel, end of 1939 participation in Hitler work the Nazis viewed as different. , Hitler played on meaning “Migratory Bird,” had Youth was mandatory. Starting in 1933, Nazis raided already existing antisemitic some similarities to youth scouting libraries and bookstores and held attitudes present in Germany and troops of today in its belief in the Impacting students in the classroom was a key part of Hitler Youth. bonfires to burn the works of writers promoted Jews as the cause of importance of a connection to including Albert Einstein, Sigmund all of Germany’s problems after nature. Members wore shorts and Beginning in 1933, German teachers were targeted. Teachers Freud, Jack , Sinclair Lewis World War I. After Germany lost hiking boots, sang German folk and Ernest Hemingway. the war, the country was in a severe songs around the campfire and used who were Jewish or considered

Nazification JANUARY 1933 APRIL 1935 MARCH 1938 NOVEMBER 1938 OCTOBER 1939 1933 Adolf Hitler was 1935 The Nazi government 1938 German troops During a violent pogrom Hitler orders all appointed Chancellor banned the invade Austria in called Kristallnacht or 1939 Germans deemed of Germany. Jehovah’s Witness what was known as the “Night of Broken “incurable” and organization. the . Evian Glass”, Nazis murdered therefore “unworthy MARCH 1933 Conference delegates approximately 100 of life” to be killed. The first concentration from 32 countries meet Jews, arrested Tens of thousands JUNE 1935 to decide what to do 30,000 Jewish men of institutionalized camp established by The Germany Ministry about the refugees and sent them to mentally and the Nazis was opened of Justice criminalized fleeing . concentration camps, physically disabled in Dachau outside of all homosexual acts Most countries, burned hundreds people are sent to Munich, Germany. between men. including the U.S., of synagogues, and killing centers.

Sponsored Newspapers In Education Content In Education Newspapers Sponsored refused to increase smashed the windows APRIL 1933 SEPTEMBER 1935 immigration quotas of Jewish shops all over The Nazis organized NOVEMBER 1939 The Nuremberg Laws and eventually closed Germany and Austria. a boycott of Jewish- Jews in Nazi occupied were introduced. These their borders. owned businesses in laws were designed to Poland were forced Germany. NOVEMBER 1938 to wear white badges take away Jewish rights Jews were made of citizenship and included OCTOBER 1938 with a blue Star of The passports of all to pay one billion David. Sources: orders that: marks for the • Jews are no longer Austrian and German The Holocaust Center for Humanity: Jews were stamped with damage caused by allowed to be German Kristallnacht. holocaustcenterseattle.org citizens a large red letter ‘J’. www.resistance-archive.org/en/resistance/austria • Jews cannot marry www.doew.at/english/memorial-room-for-the-victims-of- non-Jews NOVEMBER 1938 the-gestapo-vienna/they-took-the-other-road-organized- • Jews cannot have sexual An order was issued resistance-in-austria-1 relations with non-Jews that stated that Jewish www.historyonthenet.com/Chronology/timelineholocaust.htm children should not www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007653 be allowed to attend fcit.usf.edu/Holocaust/timeline/timeline.htm non-Jewish German schools. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 | 28, 2015 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY,

6 Until Germany’s surrender in 1945, boys and League of German Girls/Maidens girls from ages 6 to 18 participated in the (Deutscher Mädel): Girls ages 14–21 The Austrian resistance following Nazi youth organizations: continued their health regimes such as The von Trapp family is one depiction of the rhythm gymnastics and further prepared for resistance in Austria. German troops first entered Austria on March 12, 1938. Little Fellows (Pimpf): Boys ages 6–10 their roles as the mothers. participated in mostly outdoor activities such The next day, Austria was incorporated into as hiking and camping. After the surrender of the German armed Germany in a union known as Anschluss. Anschluss forces in May 1945, some German boys extended the Nazi anti-Jewish policies to Austria. Although there was no unified Austrian resistance, German Young People (Deutsche fought in guerilla groups known as Jungvolk): Boys ages 10–13 continued labor movements of the political left including “Werewolves.” Socialists and Communists formed their own participation in outdoor resistance unions. Religious groups including activities but with an added The following Catholics and Jehovah’s Witnesses also formed military focus including year, Allied resistance organizations. Even former crown marching and navigation. Nazi occupation prince Otto von Hapsburg denounced and views on racial purity and authorities opposed Anschluss by helping Austrians, including Jews, flee Austria. anti-Semitism were pushed. required young Germans to Resistance actions ranged from distribution of leaflets and collecting donations to attempts to Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend): undergo a “de- Boys ages 14–18 further disrupt war machinery. Communist youth groups Nazification” attempted to reach Nazi youth by sending anti-Nazi advanced their preparation to process and letters to young soldiers. Much of this resistance be soldiers by doing military training in was met with extreme violence: groups were almost activities. After age 18, boys democracy always broken up by the gestapo and many of the Communist youth were executed. While the were required to join armed designed to forces. various forms of Austrian resistance were not strong counter the enough to overthrow the Nazis, their motives and Young Maidens (Jungmädel): Girls ages effects of twelve years of Nazi propaganda. actions reveal that not all individuals, such as the von Trapp family, succumbed to Nazi propaganda.

10–14 were indoctrinated with Nazi ideals as Sponsored Newspapers In Education Content well as health regimes and how to be good mothers and housewives.

The Camps Resistance Rescue and Liberation

MAY 1940 JANUARY 1942 APRIL – MAY 1943 MAY – JULY 1944 1940 Auschwitz 1942 Senior Nazi officials 1943 An order was issued to empty the 1944 440,000 Hungarian Jews were deported to concentration met at a villa Warsaw Ghetto and deport the Auschwitz. camp was outside of Berlin inmates to Treblinka. Following established by in what is known the deportation of some Warsaw OCTOBER 1944 the Nazis. as the Wannsee Jews, news leaked back to those The gas chambers at Auschwitz were used Conference. They remaining in the Ghetto of mass for the last time. NOVEMBER 1940 dicussed and plan killings. A group of about 750 The Warsaw Ghetto the “Final Solution,” mainly young people decided JANUARY 1945 was sealed off. There a euphemism for the that they had nothing to lose Many remaining camps were closed and were around 400,000 1945 mass murder of the by resisting deportation. Using evidence of their existence destroyed. Those Jewish people inside. Jewish population in weapons smuggled into the who had survived the camps so far were Europe. Ghetto, they fired on German taken on forced death marches. | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 JULY 1941 troops who tried to round up Germany invaded the Soviet Union. inmates for deportation. They held APRIL 1945 1941 The Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing out for nearly a month before they Hitler committed suicide. squads) were assigned to kill Jews were taken by the Nazis and shot behind the front lines. By the spring or sent to death camps. of 1943, the Einsatzgruppen had MAY 1945 murdered more than a million Jews. LATE 1943 Germany surrendered and the war in Europe With the Russians advancing was over. from the East, many death camps were closed and NOVEMBER 1945 evidence destroyed. Surviving Nazi leaders were put on trial at Nuremberg.

In cooperation with the Holocaust Center for Humanity

7 Upcoming education and outreach events at The 5th Avenue Theatre

Enhance your theater-going experience with some of these exciting events.

Spotlight Night—Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015 Hosted by Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Spotlight Nights give you a chance to hear more about the writers and composers who create musicals. You’ll hear songs sung by some of our favorite 5th Avenue performers and meet members of the creative team who will bring each production to life. Best of all, these events are always FREE! Spotlight Nights are sponsored by U.S. Bank.

Show Talks with Albert Evans Join 5th Avenue Theatre Artistic and Music Associate, Albert Evans, every week for his series of delightful, insightful, and informative presentations that will take you deeper into the world of musical theater. Show Talks with Albert Evans are always free and open to the public. Show Talks with Albert Evans. Photo by Jeff Carpenter. Visit 5thavenue.org for the Show Talk schedule.

Fridays at the 5th—Friday, Dec. 4, 2015 Especially for high school students, these workshops give students the opportunity to create the characters, sing the songs, learn the choreography, and meet with the cast and crew for the productions on our stage. At each workshop, the participants enjoy a pizza party, see the show and attend a talkback with the cast after the evening’s Students participate in a Fridays at the 5th workshop. Photo by Mark Kitaoka. performance--all for only $25!

Sponsored Newspapers In Education Content In Education Newspapers Sponsored Visit 5thavenue.org for more information.

The 5th Avenue Theatre provides high-quality educational and arts programming to 74,000 youth throughout the Pacific Northwest each year. Our programs would not be possible without the support of many generous donors. Join us in thanking the following major education sponsors: The Sheri and Les Biller Family The Boeing Company Safeco Insurance Foundation Susie and Phil Stoller Expedia The Herman and Faye Wells Fargo Alaska Airlines Sarkowsky Charitable Foundation WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 | 28, 2015 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY,

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