The hills are alive with "The Sound of Music," starting Friday night at the Old Armory Theatre.

Entertainment, Inc! will open its 2007-2008 season with the popular production, featuring the music and lyrics of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

This is not your average production - with a cast of more than 35, it may be better fitting to say the theater is alive. And the stage is filled to bursting with talented local actors.

"It's a large group, with quite a number who haven't been on the Inc! stage much," said Director B. Michael Quale.

That includes the actor playing the lead role of Maria, who is making her debut in community theater. Tara Morenski said if it weren't for encouragement by former Inc! director Jack Dyville, she probably never would have tried out. But after helping with Youth Entertainment on Stage over the summer, her interest was piqued. "It's a bit out of my comfort zone," Morenski said. "But it has been really really fun. Working with the kids has been great."

Morenski's character is the rambunctious student of the Roman Catholic sisterhood sent to work as a governess for a large Austrian family who finds herself falling in love with the patriarch of the family, a decorated World War I captain of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

Quale said the community has shown excitement at the choice of plays to open the 25th anniversary season of the community theater group.

"There seems to be a lot of interest in it," Quale said. "We received many positive comments when people realized it was part of our season."

Quale has directed "The Sound of Music" once before, though not for Inc!. As it opens its 25th season, the group continues its tradition of not repeating a show.

While staging such a large cast is challenge, the focus when putting on a musical like this one is all about the notes.

"It truly is the sound of music," Quale noted, saying much of the effort of preparing for the show has gone into the songs. While the show is familiar, the vocal ranges, especially for the children, are fairly difficult, he said.

It isn't just the von Trapp family, either. Another group, one people might not think of first when they think of the show, has a chance to move the audience with a number of songs.

"The nuns really have a much larger part that (most people) think," Quale said.

Their passionate performances are led by Ann Ronning of Bainville in the role of Mother Abbess. With her stunning voice, Ronning leads the 14 nuns and postulants in something that may be just a little unfamiliar to the younger crowds, several pieces of liturgical music.

"The Catholic liturgy is something people don't hear anymore," he added.

After the music, the thing people will be talking about after this production is costumes, costumes, costumes. Entertainment, Inc! drew some on its large warehouse of costumes to dress the cast, and additional costumes have been rented to create a dazzling atmosphere with lots of variety. For example, there are nine children with eight costume changes each.

In addition to costumes, there are many scene changes. Throughout the production, one thing remains a constant - the mountains.

"The setting is the mountains, so they are present throughout," Quale said, noting they can be seen from the abbey, the villa and other locations. Sometimes they are prominent, sometimes off in the background.

"That is the major set piece," Quale said.

The story is a familiar one, but Quale points out the play is a bit different from the movie. There are a few songs that were written just for the big screen production, but first time stage audiences will find a few new pieces, as well.

Captain von Trapp's friend Max Detweiler and potential love interest, the Baroness Elsa, played by Pastor Jay Reinke and Sara Haugen, have "a couple of fun songs," Quale said, that he feels people will enjoy.

In addition to the light-hearted, this production also has a serious side.

"Historically, I have always found this period interesting," Quale said.

The story takes place while the Nazis were coming to power, and while the story takes place in Austria, the Nazi movement is still very much a part of what is moving the characters forward.

"There were people who would rather look the other way, then there are people who can't do that," Quale said.

Captain von Trapp is among those who is dedicated to his country and can't watch it fall to the Nazis, eventually leading his family to escape in the night.

The part of Captain von Trapp is played by Phil Jore, who has been absent from the Entertainment, Inc! stage for about six or seven years. Those with long memories will associate him with the male leads from "Don Quixote," "Man of La Mancha," "Guys and Dolls," "Barefoot in the Park," and his most recent production, "Bells are Ringing."

Jore said he was drawn back to the stage because it offered an opportunity to spend time with his wife, C'Dale and daughter, Schatzi.

"It was something we could do as a family," he said.

All three have parts in the production, making rehearsals a family affair. And they are not the only ones.

"Most of the children have a parent in the show," Quale said.

The Reinke family has four members performing, Tara Morenski and daughter Emily are both involved, Vern Ryan of Ray is acting with his son and daughter...the list goes on and on.

The family aspect may be part of what draws Morenski to continue taking part in Inc!. When asked during a rehearsal if her face would be becoming a regular fixture on the Old Armory stage, she thought carefully and then smiled.

"Yes, I will be back," she said.

Audiences have a chance to see Morenski, Jore and the rest of the cast the next two weekends at the Old Armory Theatre, located at 320 First Ave. East in Williston.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, Saturday, Oct. 6, Monday, Oct. 8, Thursday, Oct. 11, Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13. Two matinees will also be held, at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7 and Sunday, Oct. 14.

In addition, those who are used to a Thursday opening should note the season opens on Friday this year. The Thursday show will be next week, on Oct. 12.

With the popularity of the production, Quale said a lot of season tickets have been sold already.

"Reservations are a good idea to ensure you have a seat," he said. Audience members of all ages are welcome.

To make a reservation for "The Sound of Music," or to become a season ticket holder or patron, contact the Entertainment, Inc! box office at 577-3179 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any available tickets will also be available at the door.

Cutline: The von Trapp family children, Clara Reinke and Louisa, Austin Anderson as Friedrich, Mary Reinke as Brigitta, Colt Ryan as Kurt, Renae Everson as Marta, Emily Morenski as Hilda, Christopher Pozgay as Karl and Ann Reinke as Gretel. Not pictured is Emily Black at Liesl. The children will take to the stage Friday for the opening of "The Sound of Music," the first production in Entertainment, Inc!'s 25th anniversary season.