When Westfield High School’s theater teacher, Christine Maxted, expressed her wish for a live orchestra to accompany the school’s spring musical, senior Sean Salas took immediate action. Salas, a marching band percussionist, organized auditions, refined the score, and scheduled rehearsals.
At the opening night performance on Thursday of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “The Sound of Music,” Salas was prepared. The senior, who plans to study music at Shenandoah University this fall, received high praise from Maxted. “It was a lot to take on, but he was calmer than I was,” she said. “He was ready to go – and he was excellent.”
The production received additional support from senior Annabelle DuBard, who hand-stitched many of the costumes, including playsuits for the Von Trapp children, sourcing drapes for the fabric as Maria did in the film.
The musical will have three more performances this weekend, with tickets available online.
