Showbiz Queenstown opened auditions at the weekend for scores of children and adults hoping to take the stage for the new production of The Sound of Music.
Christchurch theatre veteran Bryan Aitken returns to Queenstown as director and he led the auditions over the weekend with key crew members including assistant director Marty Newell and musical director Emma Sykes.
A cast of 14 adult principals and six children, as well as up to 20 cameo and ensemble roles, were sought for the season of May 17 to 26 in the Queenstown Memorial Hall.
Fourteen girls auditioned for the roles of the two von Trapp girls aged 5 and 7, while 26 girls tried out for the roles of the two older von Trapp girls aged 10 and 13. Eleven boys gave their best for the roles of the two von Trapp boy aged 11 and 14.
The seventh child and eldest von Trapp daughter was considered one of the adult principals.
Production manager Hilary Finnie said they were "really pleased with the response" and it was hoped the cast would be finalised this week, before rehearsals began next Monday.
Showbiz Queenstown, as the Queenstown Musical Society, produced The Sound of Music in 1982.
Remarkables Park Town Centre and Remarkables Park Ltd will again be joint sponsors of this year's production.
