A singing nun, a retired navy captain who treats his children like machines, a country that is torn apart by an oncoming war, and two people who find love are just some of the elements to be found in this year's musical, The Sound of Music.

Mr. Robert Kuite, general director of the musical, has set the performance dates for March 25, 26, and 27 at 8 p.m. in the Maine West auditorium. There will also be a special matinee at 4:30 on Wednesday, March 24. This matinee will be for junior high school students and special interest groups.

Although the casting is not yet complete, the directors have already begun working on the problems that face a show of this size. Assisting Mr. Kuite are the following faculty directors: Mr. William Hoag, drama coach; Mr. Donald Lord, vocal choir; Mr. George Blanas, art; Mr. Verne Brownell, audio‑visual; and Mr. Robert Soltysik, lighting.

Other faculty directors include: Mr. Robert Pelikan, sets; Mr. John Craigle, set design; Mr. Gerald Hug, publicity; Mr. Grant Anderson, vocal; and Mr. Francis Vaupel, orchestra director. Also helping will be the Music Boosters, who will pay for many of the musical's expenses.

When the curtain rises on The Sound of Music it is 1938 at the Nonnberg Abbey in Austria. Maria is a young girl who has decided to become a nun at the abbey. However, problems arise in the abbey when Maria violates several of the rules and is always leaving to sing in the mountains. The Mother Abbess decides that Maria is not yet ready for life in the abbey and sends her to be the temporary governess for the seven children of Captain Von Trapp. When she arrives, Maria finds the children treated like machines and the father rather indifferent towards her. As time goes by, Maria teaches the children how to sing, even though the captain has expressly forbidden singing in his house. As she becomes more involved with the children, and later the captain, Maria realizes that she is desperately falling in love with him, even though he's engaged to another woman.

Tickets for The Sound of Music go on sale March 1 in the bookstore and at Maria Schafer's in Des Plaines.