INTERVIEW: Proctors Theatre is Alive with The Sound of Music
03/17 - 3/22 @ Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
Photos by Jeremy Daniel
“It’s an opportunity to revisit this classic story that so many people cherish and hopefully learn something new from it.”
For decades, audiences have been captivated by The Sound of Music, with its music, romance, and the courageous von Trapp family, all against the dramatic backdrop of the Alps. But what is it about this special blend of components that makes it such an enduring classic?
Cayleigh Capaldi, who plays Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music at Proctors Theatre from March 17 to 22, shares her perspective on the show's enchantment over the world.
“What inspires people to keep sharing this story is that the themes are so timeless, yet so timely. Every generation can relate to love, the power and importance of family, courage, bravery, and choosing to do what is right in the face of evil,” explains Capaldi. “The fact that this is a true story about real people who made great sacrifices in their lives to do what is right is still something that so many people can relate to today.”
This year, the iconic musical turned 66, and the 1965 film adaptation is celebrating its 61st anniversary. “Throughout the decades, generations have brought the next generation to this story,” adds Capaldi. “The fact that this continues to be reintroduced to the next generation is what keeps it alive.”
Describing the music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II as the ‘infectious and iconic’ ingredient of the show’s continued success, she credits The Sound of Music with simply having that extra touch of kismet that all the best shows have. For Capaldi, even performing as Maria in The Sound of Music is destiny.
Born and raised in London, she has show business in her blood. Coming from a background of seven generations of performers, including her parents, Capaldi’s earliest memories are of dressing rooms and backstage, watching her parents from the audience.
“I would just run around these old theaters on the West End and explore, open up hidden rooms and doors, and look for theater ghosts,” she remembers. “I would see these amazing, historic theaters as my playground—respectfully!”
The von Trapps, a family of performers, remind her of her own. “I definitely feel my family with me when I’m on stage every night. It does feel like kismet.”
Theater was a natural stepping stone for Capaldi, appearing in Off-Broadway, Regional, and West End productions, including Titanique (Rose, Céline Dion), Figaro (Sienna), Frozen (Elsa), Into the Woods (Cinderella), Putting it Together (The Younger Woman), and Little Women (Jo March).
“I’m very lucky to have already been able to play so many incredible, strong women,” laughed Capaldi. “This is my second Julie Andrews role that I can check off the list!” Her first was the titular character in the regional production of Mary Poppins.
As a young girl who grew up watching her films, Julie Andrews is one of Capaldi’s greatest inspirations. Her range as an actress appeals to Capaldi, who hopes to follow in her example.
“She always leads from a place of craft and discipline, and she spent so much time honing her craft and her art,” effuses Capaldi. “She is an incredibly accomplished dramatic actress, not to mention the beautiful God-given gift of her voice. I find that very inspiring, that she never let herself be pigeonholed into one sort of genre.”
Following in her footsteps, Capaldi is unwilling to be defined by one particular genre. She was surprised to get the offer for The Sound of Music while performing the lead in Titanique, a raucous jukebox musical parody of Titanic. To practice genre-jumping from a comedy to a classic was an opportunity she wasn’t going to miss.
From characters like Maria to the strong artistic women in her own family, she believes growing up with these stories is the fuel behind her drive to perform. The power of the stage and storytelling at those formative young years was life-changing, and she hopes to pass it on.
“I keep in perspective who is going to be watching these shows,” says Capaldi. “I think of all the little girls and little kids who can be inspired by these strong women. That’s really what keeps me going. Whether that inspires them to be a part of storytelling in their future or if it just gives them the courage to do everyday things.”
Her interpretation of Maria carries her spirit. Fans of the 1965 film adaptation may be surprised to see bouncing brunette curls falling over Maria’s shoulders instead of her famous short blonde hair.
The hairstyle change is intentional and accurate to the real Maria, one of the character choices that Capaldi personally collaborated on, alongside wig designer Tom Watson. To approach her own version of the character, she worked closely with the creative team to create a ‘happy medium’ between honoring the true story and the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
“If we were going down the path of bringing my authentic self to this character, then I wanted her to have my hair color,” she says. “I wanted her to have my curly hair texture. That hair had to be long, because it’s similar to what the real Maria von Trapp had in real life.”
“The way a character looks can tell you so much about them,” she describes. “Throughout all of the show, it’s just this gorgeous, long, brown, curly, untamable hair. It says so much about how she is untamable and she cannot be contained by any sort of box by society, the standards that are set around her, the abbey, the nuns, or the rules of the world.”
“That becomes her biggest superpower, because that’s what allows her to win over the children and the Captain—that spirit of conviction, of not being swayed by pressures around her,” she continues. “It gives her the strength and the courage, along with the Captain, to make the decision to leave Austria, to choose to do what is right, and to stand up for what they believe in.”
Another reason The Sound of Music is so cherished is the ever-powerful theme of love, especially the love of family. “Do-Re-Mi” is Capaldi’s favorite song to sing for this reason; she feels that is where Maria’s story begins. On the surface, it may seem like Maria is teaching the children notes on a scale, but at its core, she is giving them life skills.
From there, the show takes off running. “She knows at that moment her place is with the children to inspire them, raise them, heal them, and show them what love feels like and the healing power of that,” says Capaldi.
The theme in the musical of love as a way to heal is one that Capaldi sees not only between Maria and the children but also, crucially, between her and Captain von Trapp.
The Captain, consumed with grief over the death of his wife, closes himself off from music and the world as a defense mechanism. Maria is an orphan, left at the Abbey and told that she is meant for one specific purpose. When finally given autonomy, she initially struggles as she realizes it’s not her destiny anymore.
“Their love story is so beloved because it’s real,” says Capaldi. “It’s not glamorized; it’s not idealized. These two people are coming into the relationship of their love with a lot of personal baggage and a lot of history, which is so real. A lot of people experience that.”
She teases out a moment of their love story from this production. “In our show, it takes Brigitta blatantly telling Maria, ‘Obviously you two are in love with each other! You can’t see that?’”
Capaldi’s ‘partner-in-crime’ friendship with co-star Kevin Earley as Captain von Trapp translates to the relationship between Maria and the Captain formed in Act II, where the Captain and Maria are fully on each other’s team, even completing each other’s sentences.
“It’s inspiring to people that no matter what traumas you have endured and what baggage you may bring into a relationship, good relationships are the ones where those things don’t matter and you can take that other person where they are and love is the ultimate healing power.”
Tying all these elements together every day on tour to create a perfect show is an exciting whirlwind. The production recently said ‘farewell’ to their original group of children after six months of touring with them, but Capaldi is enthusiastic to perform with the new group of young actors and be a part of introducing their talents to the world.
“I think the audience is going to be blown away by these kids; our new group is so wonderful,” promises Capaldi.
The Sound of Music is Capaldi’s National Tour debut. After six months with eight shows a week, she is looking forward to bringing everything she’s learned on this journey to Proctors Theatre.
“I’m so excited to come to Proctors Theatre, to meet people from the area and to be in that theater,” she says. “I hope that audiences come to our show and, for 2.5 hours, allow themselves to escape into this story.”
”It’s going to be exactly what people need right now,” she adds. “The music will uplift you. The story will inspire you. At its core, what live theater does best is hold a mirror up to the audience. Through these stories, we are able to better understand ourselves. It’s an opportunity to revisit this classic story that so many people cherish and hopefully learn something new from it.”