“The Sound of Music” at Renaissance Theatre Company
- OC Theatre Guild
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Because the Classics Endure for a Reason
By Shannon Cudd
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s final collaboration, the 1959 musical “The Sound of Music” has so permeated popular culture that not only are its songs considered standards, but “My Favorite Things” has even crossed over into the Christmas canon. And that’s not even taking into account the annual sing-along events or the pilgrimages many fans make to Salzburg, Austria, where the film version was shot. It’s safe to say this musical is beloved in a big way, making it the perfect choice for Renaissance Theatre Company and its mission of bringing classic works to life.
For those few who may not be familiar, the plot centers on a novice nun, Maria, who becomes a nanny for an emotionally distant, widowed naval captain and his seven children in 1930s Austria. She brings music and love back into their home against a backdrop of looming political unrest.
Artistic Director and show director Jeremy Golden started the non-profit company with his wife in 2015 under the name Laguna Niguel Community Theater. Once the organization gained nonprofit status, it was renamed Renaissance Theatre Company to reflect a broader mission. Just before COVID hit, the company was set to secure a permanent performance space, but the pandemic caused those plans to fall through. They now rent space at Aliso Niguel High School, where Golden also teaches theatre.
Golden explained that Renaissance believes “in the power of classic works-- ones we understand to be the great works of dramatic literature. It's where our heart lies. We feel like the classics have been around for generations and still have things to tell us today.”
Rather than reimagining the script through a modern lens, Golden plans to focus on the relationships and the original intent of the playwrights, lyricists, and composers. He describes his vision as “traditionalist.” Themes of family, the power of music, and human connection are central to his approach.
Art imitates life in this community theatre production. “We believe in the power of community and how art brings our community together.” He is overwhelmed by the community’s eagerness to see the show and get involved-- even before rehearsals began.“
Live theater brings people together in a way that is hard to find elsewhere,” Golden mused. “And I think the story itself shows how the music is bringing this family together, and it's opening doors and softening hearts. And I want to focus on that.”
One way Golden is expanding his reach this time around is by double casting the children in the show to give more opportunities to all the talented kids who showed up at auditions.
“I take it, as a teacher myself, an extraordinary responsibility to be able to instill the love of the arts and interpersonal communication,” Golden explained.
He’s also involving teens and young adults. “I have a lot of connections with current and former students,” Golden said. “My stage manager is an alum. My lighting designer is an alum. My sound designer is an alum. I've got six to eight current students in the show and a few alumni. I love that connection. That’s always been one of the reasons I liked the idea of Renaissance performing at Aliso Niguel High School-- there’s that next level of training.”
Golden also wants to offer an outlet for community members who love the arts but don’t make a living from them. “Some of these kids are seeing that they can do theater their entire life, even if they don’t make a career out of it. And I think that’s a wonderful thing to share with them,” he said. Even though the modern world tries to tell us otherwise, it is okay to have hobbies that are not monetized.
Golden hopes audiences will come to see the show because it is “The Sound of Music” that they have come to love. Additionally he promised “they will be transformed, because it will be a production that will transport them beyond the songs they’re familiar with. I want them to leave realizing it was everything they wanted it to be, and a little bit deeper.”
There are many aspects of the stage show that didn’t make it into the popular movie. Audiences might be surprised by the stage version’s additional songs and further development of characters like Max and the Baroness.
“I’m excited to bring this familiar story to them in a new and exciting way,” Golden gushed. The hills will be alive in Aliso Viejo beginning July 25.
Shannon Cudd is a writer, actor, and theatre lover based in Orange County, California.
“The Sound of Music” Renaissance Theatre Company Aliso Niguel High School
28000 Wolverine Way, Aliso Viejo, CA July 25 - August 5, 2025
(949) 415-6280, www.RenTheatreCo.org