The fine arts department will perform its annual schoolwide musical, “The Sound of Music,” the weekends of Jan. 19 and Jan. 26 in the auditorium.

“I knew I wanted to do a traditional show from the beginning,” head director Scott Crew said. “I went back and forth for a while, but ultimately decided on ‘The Sound of Music’ because I knew we could do it and that it would be a learning experience for the kids.”

Like many Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, “The Sound of Music” is a classic show that many have grown up watching movie adaptations of. Compared to previous years where the school put on “Legally Blonde” and “Chicago,” the musical is very family-friendly. 

“When I was little, I wanted to be in the Hebron musical so bad,” senior lead Emma Foughty said. “It was a big dream of mine. I’ve been doing this for four years, but it’s been a little harder to get [children in the] audience these past few shows. I just want some little kid in the audience to be there and think ‘I want to do that.’”

Toward the end of last semester, the tech theater director, Stephanie Berry, left due to personal reasons. A week before school let out for winter break, Dean Robertson, who previously worked at Flower Mound High School, was hired in her place. At the time, technical designers had already been assigned, but there were no concrete designs in place. Robertson has also done this show three times before of different technical degrees. 

“It [felt] kind of weird [having] to come in at that point,” Robertson said. “I’m really glad I did though, because it allowed me to fix basic stuff in the classroom and then try to teach. Doing this show for the fourth time also gives me good insight, which I can pass onto the kids.” 

The technical director is not the only new addition to the show, as the youngest children in the cast are played by elementary and middle school students. Crew said this is to give as much of a realistic look as possible, though the children are a little less experienced when it comes to some of the terminology frequently used by the actors. 

“It’s great because we get to foster their love [for theater],” Foughty said. “We get to teach them everything because they don’t really know a lot about theater. They’re so interested and they’re learning so much. It’s really nice to help out with that.” 

With the show being a “school-wide” performance, it provides an opportunity for every musically talented student to be in the production. The cast is full of any and all students, such as theater theater and choir students, along with a pit full of orchestra and band students led by musical director Nathan Ratliff. 

“It’s a long journey from opening the music for the first time to closing night,” Ratliff said. “The goal is always that when they look back, the students see that it was a rewarding experience. I want them to find [a] place where they grow, and know that they’re a better student, singer and person than they were before.”