Meet the Von Trapps

After one of the most extensive talent searches in the area, Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV have announced the cast of “The Sound of Music.”
Hundreds of area students auditioned for the roles of the Von Trapp children for the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein show.
Directed by Chase Kniffen, “The Sound of Music” features musical favorites including “Do, Re, Mi,” “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”
Performances will be held May 14 through July 4 at the Empire Theater, 114 W. Broad St. Tickets are $37-$40 (discounts for groups are available) at 282-2620 or www.barksdalerichmond.com.
Without further ado, meet the cast:

Ellie Wilson (Gretl) is 6 years old and is adored by her parents and three older brothers. She has lived in Midlothian, Virginia her entire life. Ellie loves singing, dancing, doing gymnastics and playing the piano. This is her first production.

Sydney Morgan Hall (Marta) is a 2nd grade student at South Elementary in Prince George County. Sydney enjoys dancing and swimming. She is a member of the Hanover Show Biz Kids at Ann Catherine Cross School of Dance and swims for VACS year-round team. Sydney has also enjoyed modeling for Wolff Fording the past two years.

Meghan Rose Cordner (Brigitta) is only 9, but has a love and passion for musical theatre that is well beyond her years. She began studying theatre at the age of 4 and currently trains for 6 hours a week in dance, acting, voice, and piano. She has been involved in several community performances including Seussical and Peter Pan.  Meghan has been accepted into Destination Broadway this summer and will travel to New York in July to train for a week with Michael Rafter and other Broadway professionals. Aside from theatre, she is also pursuing opportunities in film and modeling.

R. Cooper Timberline (Kurt) was first seen by local audiences at six months old, as the infant King Arthur in The Sword In The Stone at Theatre IV. He has since played Michael Darling in “Peter Pan,” Oliver in “Oliver!,” Tiny Tim in “A Christmas Carol” and numerous other roles locally and regionally. He studies dance with Richmond Ballet (ballet) and huffles Dance Center (tap).

McKelvey Ewing Harrison (Louisa) is a 5th grader at St. Catherine's School and is thrilled to be back on the Empire stage. Last Spring, she appeared in Theatre IV's ptoduction of Annie as Tessie. The highlight of her summer (2009) was attending Destination Broadway's summer camp in New York City. During the school year, McKelvey especially enjoys participating in her school's dance club, La Petite Joni.

Eric Pastore (Friedrich) has appeared on the Empire Stage as the memorable Ralphie in A Christmas Story, the title character in The Ugly Duckling and, most recently, as Young Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.
Other credits include Mame (Barksdale Theatre), the RTCC-nominated Children’s Letters to God (Stage 1 Theatre Company), Ragtime: In Concert (Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen), Grease (JCC) and The Nerd (VCU). He also performed in Seussical, Jr., You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Godspell, Jr. with SPARC. Eric has appeared in several television and radio commercials and can be seen in an episode of “A Haunting” on The Discovery Channel.

Ali Thibodeau (Liesl) At Barksdale, she’s appeared in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Miss Dorothy, receiving the RTCC award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), Disney's High School Musical (Sharpay) and First Baptist of Ivy Gap (Sammy). At Theatre IV, she’s been seen in The Ugly Duckling, The True Story of Pocahontas, Peter Pan (Tigerlily), and A Christmas Carol (Belle.) At Stage 1, she appeared as Polly in Normal.