57 years to the day after its first Broadway debut in New York City the Prairie Players performed their opening of the Sound of Music at the William Glesby Centre in Portage la Prairie. That's from director Chris Kitchen who adds it's also the first time the performers legitimately sold out all four of their shows, and performed with their largest cast ever.

Music Director Stephanie Kauffman notes it was a lot of work.

"I've lived with this for probably eight months. And there were a few times where I'd go home and think what on earth have I got myself into. And yet when you see the end result here, and also hearing people's comments saying, 'Wow, we didn't know we had such talent in this town,' that makes it worth it all."

Kauffman adds one challenge she faced was coordinating the nuns while they sang and walked toward the stage in the opening number. She explains the distance between the actors complicated their ability to sing in synchronization with one another.

Kauffman says she has such a great group of singers to work with, and James Reynolds provided substantial help on music advice. she says Coralie MacLaren is a phenomenal pianist, willing to work with whatever she asked her. Without all of these people, she adds, it would have been a much tougher job.