This fall, the hills will be alive once more as a brand-new national tour of The Sound of Music launches under the direction of Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien. Before hitting the road, stars Cayleigh Capaldi and Kevin Earley stopped by the Playbill Studio to perform “Something Good” and share why this timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein classic continues to resonate. Check out the video above.
Capaldi, who comes to Maria after her turn in Titaníque, calls the role “an actor’s dream,” noting that “the trap of this character is to fall into a sort of pristine, perfect, maybe Julie-Andrews portrayal of this role. But… when you really examine what this character is, she is the most unhinged, spunky, fiery, very funny, all over the place, bouncing off the walls sort of character. And I think I can bring that energy… and intentionally make her imperfect, because I think that is what people can relate to the most.”
Earley, who recently appeared in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, has a long history with the piece. “The first time I did the show was when I was 11 years old. I played Kurt,” he recalls with a laugh. Now, decades later, he steps into the role of Captain von Trapp, a widower who rediscovers love and family through Maria’s presence. “The fact that it’s lasted 65 years is a testament not only to the love story between the two of them, but the politics of the time that become relevant every so often,” he says. “To be able to join this group, and Jack [O'Brien], and the entire artistic team and the cast, is an honor… it’s a privilege to tell this story, and especially around this time.”
Both actors are looking forward to the touring experience. “Christmas in Toronto is going to be really fun, I think,” Earley says, before adding that Austin remains a personal favorite stop. Capaldi, who has mostly lived and worked on the east and west coasts, is excited to discover the heartland. “Honestly, I’ve never really traveled very much within the continental U.S. So I’m just excited to explore the places that are not on the coasts. I’m really excited to see how our audiences vary location to location. I think this is the magic of this show, is that really, no matter who you are, where you come from, you can gather and experience this story together.”
With Christiane Noll as the Mother Abbess, Nicholas Rodriguez as Max, and Kate Loprest as Elsa, the tour introduces new audiences to the hills and harmonies of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s final musical. As Capaldi observes, “The magic of this show is that really, no matter who you are, where you come from, you can gather and experience this story together… and especially now, being able to tour and make theatre more accessible to people who can’t come out to Broadway, who can’t come out to a coast—that’s the biggest gift that we get as performers.”
As audiences gather in Utica, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and beyond, Capaldi and Earley will be waiting in the wings, ready to share something good. Visit SoundOfMusicOnTour.com.
