Methodist church planning ‘Sound’ singalong

Published 11:12 pm Monday, September 17, 2018

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Singalongs at First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven and warm, woolen mittens.

It doesn’t quite have the same ring as the original by Rogers and Hammerstein, but that’s OK. The folks at FUMC won’t mind.

The church is hosting a free showing of “The Sound of Music” Sept. 30 in the Ministry Center on South Jackson Street. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the show starts at 4 p.m., said church secretary Suzanne Britt.

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It’s a singalong, and not only will the words be on the screen, but music minister Brad Johnson will be leading the singing.

There might even be some karaoke for some of the songs.

“We’ll all be singing along together,” he said. “It’s just a fun, fall activity.”

Musician Tyler Bridge plans to bring his family to the show.

“People know more of the songs in that movie than they think they do,” he said.

FUMC usually plans a quarterly event for the months with a fifth Sunday. When organizers were brainstorming ideas, someone suggested a “Sound of Music” singalong. They’re calling it an Oktoberfest since it’s on the eve of October.

“We were thinking of something that was family friendly. We thought this is something we can open up to the whole community,” Britt said. “And it’s multi-generational. We didn’t want it to be just one age group.”

Britt said this is not just an event created so the audience can sing with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. She hopes they come looking like them, too.

“We’re encouraging people to wear costumes. That would be awesome,” she said. “We’ve seen where other churches have done it and people even dressed up like the Von Trapp kids.”

Admission is free, but organizers are asking people to sign up at fumcbrookhaven.app.rsvpify.com so they’ll have an idea of how many may attend. Registration is not mandatory, but helpful, she said.

Hot dogs, chips, sodas and popcorn will be available for purchase for change.

“We’re charging just enough to cover the cost of the food,” she said.

Tables and chairs will be set up, but families are welcome to bring blankets to camp out like a drive-in movie.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

“If people want to come in early and stake their claim and get settled in with the kids, they can,” she said.