Sound of Music: Walton Arts Center

Not every theatrical production requires its audience to hiss at a character. And not every movie calls for round after round of boisterous singing at the top of one’s lungs. But those are the very things that made Walton Arts Center’s Sound of Music Sing-a-Long so very special for our students.

This January, the Walton Arts Center generously afforded a group of 15 Summit students and leaders tickets for the Sound of Music Sing-a-Long. The premise was simple. Play the classic film, with subtitles during each song, and provide props and guidance to get the crowd intensely involved (and a little hyper). However, what the group experienced was beyond their expectations of a typical show.

Upon arrival to the theater, each person was given a bag of what they told were “props” for their participation in the evening’s show. “Props?” Eyebrows rose. As the group seated themselves in the balcony, they were surrounded by the sounds of two hosts, dressed as nuns, leading the entire auditorium in an excited round of “Doe a Deer” with hand motions. The energy in the room rose like a loaf of bread as voting began on the audience costume contest. Students cheered and whooped for each participant, whether it was the elderly man dressed in his Austrian finest or the adorable toddler dressed as a nun.

Finally the curtains drew back to reveal a massive movie screen and the hills of Austria sparkled in illuminated frame on stage. The crowd erupted with cheers about the grandeur of “THE HILLS,” exclaiming it as the prescribed phrase for the geological wonder. The movie continued with cheer and song and excitement.

Students joined the crowd in joyous expression from song to song. “It’s been a really long time since I wanted to sing this much,” said one 9^th grade guy from Bentonville High School. It was as if the show built strong feelings in everyone, “We got to talk DURING A MOVIE! Field trip to Austria, let’s go!” “That was so fun. I will retain my ticket forever.” It truly was inspiring, a Bentonville 9^th grade girl reflected, “it was so… awesome to sit there and sing. I feel inspired now.”

The Walton Arts Center is, without a doubt, one of our "Favorite Things!"