ACO celebrates its favorite things

"Bratwust with mustard and great German music,

"Meatballs and veggies and warm apple strudel,

"Old friends and new ones all ready to meet,

"These are a few of our favorite things."

Premiere-going aficionados of "The Sound of Music" enjoyed Bavarian-inspired food, music and beer as the Arts Center of the Ozarks celebrated the start of its 48th season on July 11. The preshow gala extended into intermission as more than 260 people saw the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about "a problem named Maria" come to life on the ACO stage.

"It seemed like a good time to do 'Sound of Music,'" director Harry Blundell said of the selection for the season kickoff. "You can't beat the storyline, first off. It's a great story about real people. And I love it when we can get some young people on stage with older, seasoned actors. It's a great community project."

It was also a moment for the arts center to celebrate its legacy.

"Having Betsy (Crouch Jilka) come back is kind of a special moment for ACO. She grew up here," Blundell said, "and since then has added academic and professional credentials that made her a perfect Maria."

When she was just 2 or 3 years old, Betsy came to the Springdale theater with her mother, Cathy Crouch, who was playing in the pit orchestra for "Annie."

"I remember crying because I wanted to be on stage so badly," she said.

And she was, all through her childhood, including -- at the age of 14 -- playing Liesl in "The Sound of Music."

"She has always been very focused on the job at hand, even way back when she was in 'The Music Man' with me in 1987," Blundell remembered. "Even at that point, she was so caught up with the idea of performing, her discipline was already in place. She's always had the same drive, the same focus -- and a lovely voice."

Joining Jilka centerstage were John Jefferson, a newcomer to the ACO stage in the recent "Blithe Spirit," portraying Capt. Von Trapp -- "It's one of those classics I've always wanted to do just because it's a classic," he said -- and Carley Johnson, Jordon Marshall, Madison Gates, Levi Johnson, Claire Luther, Kyla Cross and Gracie Kennett as his children. Donna Rollene also wowed audiences -- most of the shows were sold out or close to it -- as the Mother Abbess. Josh Parisi was Rolf, Michael Weir was Max Detweiler, and Kandace Bowen was Elsa, the captain's love interest.

Kathi Blundell, ACO's administrative director, said it took a massive effort by volunteers to get the show on stage and the opening night gala successfully served up. Catering was done in house and also included Austrian meatballs, Black Forest ham, pretzel bites with cheese fondue, German roasted potato salad, mini German chocolate cakes, Pfefferneusse cookies and cheese blintzes.

"We wanted opening night to have a Bavarian beer garden kind of feel," said Erin West, director of events and operations at the arts center. "We had lots of flowers, German beers in the bar, and all of the foods were somewhat Bavarian or German in feel."

"It was fun to do something with Bavarian flair," Blundell added. "It was just the start of a really great season of not only theater but music events, art and drama classes and everything else."

Next on the calendar at ACO is the kickoff of the second year of the Main Street Music Nights, Music to Rob A Train By: An Evening with The Coverlets, scheduled for Aug. 8.

Leo Mazow and Brittany Stephenson are The Coverlets, a unique Fayetteville musical duo with roots in American folk, rock and country from the Depression to the present. Train robberies, drought and unrequited love will be part of this American folk song journey, Blundell said.

"Leo Mazow is a very distinguished art historian at the University of Arkansas, known nationwide, but he also happens to play a great guitar," she added. "And he's a big Thomas Hart Benton scholar, so there might be some art involved, too."

One performance of "The Sound of Music" remains at 3 p.m. today. At presstime, only a few seats were available.

The three Main Street Music Nights are part of the larger Serendipity series. A Serendipity Pick 3 package is available at $30 for ACO member adults, $20 for ACO member students, $40 for nonmember adults and $24 for nonmember students by calling (479) 751-5441 or at acozarks.org.