21 Jul 2021
The Role of Faith in The Sound of Music-A Discussion
Parallel 45 Theatre (https://www.facebook.com/p45theatre/?__cft__[0]=AZWxnPGOQaczKntibczJhWtRPuA2j2lOC_jne3ulobRDLeh-ekpZuRMkYShmlsO3LDzyIjAvaQWczfo0_5eB6m4e6hwKr9mw3ha3IdtvupF5rOPRMw3Xx4PlVMaDMAypWNm93MSnVUPSSmhBHHIDpF2k&__tn__=kK-R) invites you to take in “The Sound of Music” performance Thursday July 15 at 7:30 PM at Civic Center Park, followed by a live onstage conversation about the role faith plays in the story with Artistic Director Kit McKay (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=2418176&__cft__[0]=AZWxnPGOQaczKntibczJhWtRPuA2j2lOC_jne3ulobRDLeh-ekpZuRMkYShmlsO3LDzyIjAvaQWczfo0_5eB6m4e6hwKr9mw3ha3IdtvupF5rOPRMw3Xx4PlVMaDMAypWNm93MSnVUPSSmhBHHIDpF2k&__tn__=-]K-R) interviewed by Professor of Ethics and local Pastor, Anthony Weber (https://www.facebook.com/anthony.weber.7796?__cft__[0]=AZWxnPGOQaczKntibczJhWtRPuA2j2lOC_jne3ulobRDLeh-ekpZuRMkYShmlsO3LDzyIjAvaQWczfo0_5eB6m4e6hwKr9mw3ha3IdtvupF5rOPRMw3Xx4PlVMaDMAypWNm93MSnVUPSSmhBHHIDpF2k&__tn__=-]K-R).
Weber is an Adjunct Instructor at Northwestern Michigan College and a graduate of Cedarville University and Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary, who co-hosts a podcast often discussing the themes of faith in pop-culture.
Parallel 45 Theatre’s production of “The Sound of Music” was chosen by Artistic Director McKay specifically to address the largest and most urgent themes of our times in a story at its essence of a family caught in crisis, whose faith and resilience is tested at the deepest levels possible during an extreme socio-political culture. While fans of the famed story will recognize all the elements they love, in McKay’s hands the play will also seem more relevant than before.
In January of 2021, McKay wrote in her journal as she contemplated whether of not Parallel 45 Theatre would even exist this summer:
“The obvious news is I no longer have to emphasize or explain the extremes in the background of ‘The Sound of Music’ to anyone. It isn’t my job to wrap our hearts around the concept of impossible and sudden circumstantial trauma. The world has swiftly and powerfully accomplished that for almost everyone on the planet. We are, as a people, in various states of impossible trauma. The throttle hold of global circumstances has left us in almost complete isolation, coping with (as I write this), innumerable deaths around the world along with all the emotional, political, physical, economical and psychological devastation and chaos that comes in its wake.”
She continued, “As we embark on the opening of this play, if all goes well, it will be time to for our community to emerge from that collective trauma, to open our doors, exit our ‘safe’ confinement, dismantle the barriers we’ve put up to survive-- emotional and literal-- and adventure on to gather, and ultimately reconnect and unite.”
Moderator Weber, himself a lifelong theatre fan, will lead a conversation with McKay following the Thursday, July 15th performance of “The Sound of Music” focusing on McKay’s approach to the material, and the role faith plays in the narrative of the story and how it relates to right now. Audience members will also have an opportunity to ask their own questions and contribute comments.
Parallel 45 Theatre is proud to host this non denominational dialogue where guests of all faiths, or no faith, are welcomed to join together at the theatre -- where we experience our dreams, examine our history and experiences, and provoke more empathy, tolerance and acceptance for everyone.
