BATH — The New England Regional Theater Company is getting ready to perform Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music,” the true story of the von Trapp family singers who fled their native Austria to escape the Nazi regime.

The musical is set in the Austrian Mountains, where a young woman named Maria trains to become a nun. Sisters at the abbey, however, do not believe she is ready to devote her life to God. As a result, Maria is sent to Captain von Trapp’s home in the hills, where she serves as a governess for his seven children. Maria manages to sing her way into the hearts of the children as well as the captain. Eventually, the Nazis push their way into the heart of their homeland and threaten the livelihood of the entire family.

Although the story is about one of the world’s darkest hours, the delightful score and dialogue leave theatergoers feeling optimistic.

“ ‘The Sound of Music’ has not only been an audience favorite for decades, it perfectly showcases the many talented students we have in New England Regional Theater Company (formerly known as New England Youth Theater),” said Rebecca Beck, producer and co-director.

Lillian Ramser of Turner, a junior at Leavitt High School, plays the lead, Fraulein Maria. She has been studying voice, theater, dance and acting for three years at Studio 48 Performing Arts Center, the home of NERTC. She is a member of the Hornets and Harmony A cappella Group and was recently accepted into the prestigious Boston University Summer Theater Intensive program. This five-week college course focusing on all aspects of theater and musical theater will culminate in a final production in Boston.

Playing Captain von Trapp is Tyler Beck of Brunswick, recently seen as Angel in Portland Lyric’s Theater’s production of “Rent.” He studies dance, theater, and voice at Studio 48 Performing Arts Center and is a member of Dance Evolution Competition Dance Team. He plans to pursue a career in theater and film.

Courtney Jones, a freshman at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham, plays the Baroness Elsa Schraeder. She has studied voice, theater and dance at Studio 48 since age 8. She is a member of Dance Evolution Competition Dance Team and has competed in dance throughout New England. She was accepted into Harrison School of the Performing Arts in Lakeland, Fla., as a sophomore next year, where she will major in musical theater.

Other cast members are Zach Fisher of Sabattus as Max Dettweiller, Emma Rankins of Durham as Marta, Kristin Korda of Saco as Mother Abbess, Becky Hamer of Bath as Sister Sophia, Shira Girsh of Bath as Sister Margaretta, Sarah Dorval of Brunswick as Sister Berthe, Matthew Estabrook of Falmouth as Rolf, Chloe Teboe of Brunswick as Lies, Sarah Perreault of Brunswick as Louisa, Brian Sidders of Cumberland as Friedrich, Gabrielle Chapman of Wiscasset as Brigitta, Kyle Sidders of Cumberland as Kurt, Jackie Ellsworth of Topsham as Gretl, Graydon Nuki of Brunswick as Franz, Tess Hinchman of Bath as Frau Schmidt, Gabrielle Nuki of Brunswick as Ursula, and Matthew Boyle of Bath as Herr Zeller.

In the ensemble are Sophia Wood of Auburn; Sabrina Fisher of Sabattus; Lydia MacDonald of Brunswick; and Grayson Antreassian, Lexi Stevenson, Madeleine Blakemore and Katy Daniel Whitman, all of Bath.

“The Sound of Music” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 27-28, and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29, at Montgomery Theater at Morse High School on High Street.

Tickets, $13 and $15, may be purchased at the door. For more information, call 798-6966.