Lauren D’Ambrosio as Maria and Brad Satterwhite as Captain von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” which plays Sept. 27 to Oct. 18, 2025 at the Saratoga Civic Theater
by Walter M. Mayes, Artistic Director and Director of The Sound of Music
Few musicals hold as cherished a place in the American imagination as The Sound of Music. Since its Broadway debut in 1959 at the height of the Golden Age of the American musical, it has delighted millions with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s unforgettable score and the inspiring story of the von Trapp family singers. Many know the tale best from the iconic 1965 film starring Julie Andrews, which introduced “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” to generations.
But while the film is a classic, it’s important to remember that The Sound of Music began as a stage play and that the stage version tells its story with some key differences. Certain songs appear in different places and are sung by different characters; some characters have fuller arcs (the roles of “Uncle” Max Detweiler and Baroness Elsa Schrader have two charming comedy numbers that deepen their characters’ situations). Moments are written with the intimacy of live theatre rather than the sweeping vistas of film. When you see this production, you’re experiencing the show not as a Hollywood musical, but as a piece of dramatic theatre with music at its heart.
The story itself is more than just a charming tale of nuns, children, and a governess with a guitar. It is set in 1938, on the eve of the Nazi occupation of Austria. This event, called the Anschluss (a German word meaning “joining” or “union”), marked the forced annexation of Austria into Hitler’s Germany. That part of the story feels uncomfortably relevant today. History reminds us that moments of political upheaval, intolerance, and fear can grow when fascism goes unchallenged. The Sound of Music does not preach politics, but it does remind us of the power of individual conscience to speak and act when it matters most. In The Sound of Music, Captain von Trapp’s resistance to the Nazi regime is not just a personal matter; it’s a courageous moral stand against a rising tide of hatred and authoritarianism. He is a role model for us all.
Of course, this production is an evening of joyous theatre. The music soars, the love story between Maria and Captain von Trapp blossoms, the nuns sing up a storm, and the children, Liesl through little Gretl, win every heart in the house. It’s a show that captures the joy of family life and the courage it takes to protect it, told from the point of view of a rambunctious novice nun who learns that love is the true power of God’s calling. That combination made The Sound of Music a Broadway hit in its own time, and it is why it continues to resonate today.
Our patrons who adore the film will still hear the songs they cherish. Still, they will also discover fresh moments and a deeper dramatic pulse that only live theatre can provide. This is not just a nostalgic favorite; it is a living, breathing story about hope, love, the power of music, and the strength to do what is right when the world grows dark.
Come prepared to be entertained, to hum along (in your head, please!), and to leave the theater reminded that music, courage, and love never go out of style.
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