Chuck Kuepfer, Staff Reporter

Jayme Armstrong has been busy this year.

Armstrong has entertained Drayton Entertainment audiences in recent productions including 9 to 5: The Musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and most recently, Harvey.

Now Armstrong has the leading role in The Sound of Music, a much loved musical masterpiece, which runs at the Drayton Festival Theatre from May 15 through June 9.

“This year has just been crazy,” admits Armstrong, who is enjoying the workload. “This is my fourth contract this year where I close one show the night before and start rehearsals for the next show the next day. It’s so fun. My job is amazing.”

Armstrong is now rehearsing her role as Maria, an aspiring nun who leaves the convent to govern Captain von Trapp’s seven children in the timeless classic.

It’s a demanding role.

“She is pretty much every scene,” said Armstrong. “It’s kind of one of those coveted musical theatre, leading-lady roles that every leading lady wants to play.”

Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment, indicated Marshall is a standout talent. She’s widely known to Canadians as a finalist in the CBC reality show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

“It’s a real coup to have Jayme Armstrong as our Maria,” stated Alex Mustakas. “She is rightly considered one of the greatest leading ladies in musical theatre today.”

Captain von Trapp is played by W. Joseph Matheson, who starred last season’s in Italian Funerals and Other Festival Occasions.

The show features a cast of young actors who play the seven the von Trapp children. They are: Alyson Workman (Liesel), Jonny Woolley (Friedrich), Brontae Hunter (Louisa), Peter Jones (Kurt), Hadley Mustakas (Brigitta), Victoria Luis (Marta), and Avery Grierson (Gretl).

Marshall said the kids add a unique element to the daily rehearsals.

“Whenever they get there it just breathes a whole new excitement into the project,” she said.

Rounding out the cast are Laurie Murdoch (Max Detweiller), Jill Diane Filion (Elsa Schrader), Rebecca Poffas (Mother Abbess), Christina Gordon (Sister Berthe), Karen K. Edissi (Sister Margaretta), Gabi Epstein (Sister Sophie), Ian Deakin (Franz), Michelle Fisk (Frau Schmidt), Stuart Dowling (Herr Zeller), Lucas Meeuse (Rolf Gruber), William Fisher (Admiral Von Schrieber), Dawn Bergstrom (Baroness Elberfeld), and Sheldon Bergstrom (Baron Elberfeld).

The Rodgers and Hammerstein production features a classic score with such iconic songs as My Favourite Things, Do Re Mi, Edelweiss and Climb Every Mountain.

Timothy French is director and choreographer of the production.

“I think this is kind of like the show for families. It’s all about heart and home,” said Marshall. “Our director said something really great today. He feels the show is about finding a place for your heart. Where is your heart going to live and reside?”

Tickets are available online at www.draytonfestivaltheatre.com, in person at the Drayton Festival Theatre, or by calling the box office at 519-638-5555 or toll-free at 1-855-DRAYTON.

“It’s such a beautiful show. It’s such a lovely story, and I think it’s one of those stories that kind of touches somewhere with everybody,” said Armstrong.