As ‘Sound of Music’ prepares to head for the hills, these people make the Children’s Musical Theaterworks production a special experience

---

Opening weekend report for “The Sound of Music”: “I think we all did a great job. I didn’t miss any lines so I am pleased with my performance.”

Favorite moment in the show: when the Von Trapp family make their escape together.

Closing thought: “Please join me and my family at the show. It is a great heartwarming family experience.”

KC RUTIAGA

Role: A nun in the ensemble, as well as Baronness Elberfeld.

CMT connection: She was first introduced to CMT in 2010 when her then 4-year-old daughter auditioned for a show (she soon learned she needed to wait until she was 5). In the years following she became a frequent volunteer who was eventually invited to serve as a board member. She has served on the board since 2016.

Mom and daughter nuns: Ella and KC Rutiaga in ‘The Sound of Music.’

Stage experience: It’s her first time on stage. “I’ve been around theater for many years, beginning in junior high and high school when I was involved in stagecraft, but I had never once acted on stage. I was encouraged by a few friends and family who thought it would be fun for me to see what it was like on stage rather than just being a theater mom. I figured I needed to try it at least once!”

CMT family ties:

Opening-weekend report for “The Sound of Music”: “I think we all did great. As far as I can tell, I did not make any mistakes.”

Most surprising thing about being on a different side of the curtain: The music was not easy to learn. “The nuns have four- (or more) part harmonies, and we had to work very hard to get them right. But the entire on-stage experience was so fascinating. Getting to see how a show actually progresses from vocal week to tech week was really a learning experience.”

Nervous factor: Surprisingly, she wasn’t nervous. Plus, not being able to see the audience because the lights is a plus.

Backstage fun: The “mom crew” is sometimes louder than the kids. “I have several good friends in the show, and we definitely have the coolest dressing room where everyone comes to hang out. We have all the necessities, a humidifier so the humidity is just right, a heater to keep us toasty, Christmas decorations, and 5 different flavors of cough drops to choose from! We may even bring a charcuterie board this weekend (or maybe a baked brie, is there time for that between scenes)?”

Favorite moment in the show: She gets a little choked up in the final scene when the family Von Trapp is gathering up their courage and their children to make the journey over the mountains. “The looks on all of their faces is so real, and when they exit I get a little lump in my throat every time. This moment was only topped once in Sunday’s show, when during bows, our Captain Von Trapp, portrayed by Randy Kohlruss, surprised us all when he proposed to his long time girlfriend, Emma Raymond (who portrays Elsa Schraeder), in front of a full house. Wow, what a moment in CMT history.”

Closing thought: “I want to thank Eric and Shannah Estep for giving me the opportunity to be in the show and to finally experience what my kids have been doing for most of their lives. It’s been wonderful!”

ERIC ESTEP

“Role”: He’s the director. Though he’s been in the show before (as Capt. Von Trapp), this is his first time directing. “For me, this has been a personal triumph as it’s the biggest show I’ve ever tackled as a director and my first go at directing adults. Our cast features a range of actors from age 8 – 80+ and they’ve all been wonderful.”

CMT family ties: He directs his wife, Shannah, in the show. “This is another first for me and it’s been a lot of fun. Last year, she directed me in “Oliver! (a first for her) so it’s kind of fitting that this year we reversed roles.”

Does he talk shop at home? “Oh, yes! Whenever any of us work on a show together, it actually becomes pretty all-consuming and dominates most of our conversations. We kind of embrace that, though, since theater has always been a huge part of our family life and is what initially brought Shannah and I together. We’re always swapping stories, comparing notes, or problem-solving for each other. It’s nice because we all ‘get it’ and can relate.”

Director’s take: To him, at its heart it’s a love story on multiple levels – Maria’s love for God, for music, and for her new family; the Captain’s love for his children and steadfast devotion to his country; Liesl’s first love (and heartbreak) — the list goes on.

Favorite moment in the show: That’s a tough one because there are so many, he says. “My very favorite has to be the pivotal scene when the Captain reconnects with his children after Elsa brings them in to hear them sing. It’s such a heartwarming moment. I also very much enjoy the final scene when Rolf is faced with the critical decision of what to do when he discovers the family in hiding. And of course, Mother Abbess’s send-off with the reprise of “Climb Every Mountain” gives me chills every time.”

Closing thought: “I’ve reminded the cast that at any given performance, there will be audience members who know the show extremely well while there will be others who are experiencing it for the first time. Our job is to tell the story … and I think both casts do it very well.”