THE HILLS ARE
ALIVE AND WELL

This polished national tour reminds
audiences why the Rodgers and
Hammerstein classic still resonates

Cayleigh Capaldi

The national touring production of The Sound of Music is playing through May 31 at the Civic Theatre, and what a joy it is! Name your pleasure—brilliant singing, dancing, or acting—and it’s served up with wall-to-wall inspiration.

The Sound of Music was the last of the Richard Rodgers–Oscar Hammerstein II collaborations (with a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse). It opened on November 19, 1959, and ran for 1,443 performances, the third-longest run of any play in the 1950s.

Kevin Earley, Kate Loprest, and Nicholas Rodriguez

The story is set in Salzburg, Austria, in 1938 and is based on the life of Austrian singer Maria von Trapp. Maria Rainer, a young postulant, has been a problem for the nuns of her abbey because of her free spirit. At the request of the Mother Abbess, Maria is hired as governess to the seven children of the wealthy naval Captain Georg von Trapp. She soon wins the affection of the children by teaching them such larky songs as “Do-Re-Mi,” “So Long, Farewell,” and “The Lonely Goatherd.”

Ian Coursey and Ariana Ferch

Von Trapp is engaged to the socially prominent Elsa Schraeder, but within a short time he and Maria fall in love and marry. The family becomes popular for their amateur concerts, but their lives are darkened by the German invasion of Austria. The family gives a final performance in Salzburg and flees to Switzerland.

(standing) Cayleigh Capaldi, Kevin Earley, (seated) Ruby Caramore, Eli Vander Griend, Ava Davis, Luciana VanDette, Haddie Mac, Benjamin Stasiek, Ariana Ferch

There are 32 performers listed in the Playbill, topped by a stunning performance by Cayleigh Capaldi, who looks and acts like a teenager. The original Maria was Mary Martin, who popularized the role at age 44. Julie Andrews was 30 when she starred in the 1965 film version. Capaldi’s youth energizes the role with her tremendous vocal range, hitting high notes that sent the audience cheering. Kevin Earley is a perfect fit as the youthful Captain von Trapp.

Cayleigh Capaldi and Christiane Noll

The von Trapp children are all cute without being cutesy, forming a charming and nimble ensemble to complement the adults. Kate Loprest is a smooth Elsa Schraeder, and Nicholas Rodriguez is the amiable Max Detweiler, who takes the easy path to getting along with the invading Nazis. Christiane Noll is a warm, wise Mother Abbess who provides a powerful first-act closer with the always stirring “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

Jack O’Brien’s direction is beyond memorable. O’Brien is the former artistic director of The Old Globe. His supervision of this demanding production leaves the viewer dazzled, especially by the giant floor-to-ceiling hangings that shift the huge landscape perspectives.

Christiane Noll and Cayleigh Capaldi

The honor roll begins, but does not end, with Douglas W. Schmidt (scenery), Jane Greenwood (costumes), Natasha Katz (lighting), Kai Harada (sound), Danny Mefford (choreography), and Jonathan Marro (music director). The production is enhanced by scenes such as the silent preparation for Maria’s wedding and the startling unfurling of three panels bearing a giant Nazi swastika as a backdrop to the final von Trapp departure, which chills the audience.

Previous viewings of the 1959 The Sound of Music suggested to some critics that the show provides a decent 2½ hours of entertainment, with a score relying mostly on light tunes and more than enough sentimentality. I don’t put the original show in the same discussion as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic The King and I. But this revival and revision of The Sound of Music belongs in a class by itself.

Kevin Earley and Cayleigh Capaldi with the von Trapp Children: Ariana Ferch, Eli Vander Griend, Ava Davis, Benjamin Stasiek, Haddie Mac, Ruby Caramore, Luciana VanDette

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photos by Jeremy Daniel

The Sound of Music
Broadway San Diego
San Diego Civic, 1100 Third Ave. in San Diego
ends on May 31, 2026
for tickets ($52.25 and up), visit Broadway San Diego

tour continues; for dates and cities, visit Sound of Music

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Kevin Earley and Cayleigh Capaldi