Tiger Weekly - Serving Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

BRLT strikes a chord with 'The Sound of Music'

By Christie Matherne

Baton Rouge Little Theater takes on a fan favorite, The Sound of Music.

"The Sound of Music" is one of America's favorite stories. Set against a looming Nazi takeover of Austria, it maintains an uplifting, harmonious sense of joy for the little things. Baton Rouge Little Theater (BRLT) has taken on "The Sound of Music" for July, and it couldn't have been a more appropriate setting for this particular production.

In BRLT's take on the classic, Jaime Hipp and Bill Martin star as Maria Rainer and Captain Georg von Trapp, respectively, and light up the stage together as their characters fall in love. Not to be overlooked is Erin Woolworth, who plays Mother Abbess and has fabulous vocal talent.

BRLT and "The Sound of Music" have something in common though: They have both stood the test of time. In fact, BRLT has stood longer. "We're preparing for our 66th season right now," said current artistic director Keith Dixon. "We are the oldest arts organization in town. We've been through every economy since 1946, and I think there's something to be said about that."

Baton Rouge Little Theater has roots that run deep in the history of Baton Rouge. After the initial groundwork was laid in 1946, the group established a semi-permanent playhouse in the modest Building 346 on property now owned by the Metro Airport, and they called themselves the Baton Rouge Civic Theater. Inspired by the "little theater" groups around the nation at that time, they changed the name to Baton Rouge Little Theater in 1951, and named its first full-time artistic director, Lee Edwards.

They've come a long way since those days at Building 346. Their location is now a proper playhouse on Florida Blvd., and Dixon is very proud of the legacy of BRLT in the Baton Rouge community.

"[Baton Rouge Little Theater] is an institution in this town. And the talent...the talent in Baton Rouge is amazing. You wouldn't think of a city like Baton Rouge in terms of performance, but there's an awful lot of talent here," Dixon said. "That's really been the key to our success all these years."

Baton Rouge Little Theater's production of "The Sound of Music" has been running since July 9, and the cast is preparing for its final shows on the weekend of July 30. Show times and ticket information can be found at www.brlt.org.

Originally Published: July 28, 2010

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