Holding a moonbeam in your hand could be a lost dream, but Soo Theatre is bringing big dreams to life Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. as “The Sound of Music” rings through the hills in a special summer performance.
Director and conductor Karen Beacom has certainly moved mountains to recreate “The Sound of Music,” along with a multi-talented orchestra and cast. Many are fulfilling their dream roles.
“I have loved The Sound of Music since I was about 13 or 14,” said 19-year-old Faith Nayback, who snagged the lead role as Maria Rainer a few weeks back.
On stage and in costume for dress rehearsal, Nayback effortlessly matches each note in “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” and every other song the iconic Julie Andrews sang in the 1965 classic motion picture.
“I thought that if I were ever to be cast in ‘The Sound of Music,’ it would be as Liesel because of my age,” Nayback said. “Then, the Soo Theater decided to put it on and I ended up getting the part of Maria, which is a complete dream role. I can't believe I have it.”
Nayback grew up listening, dancing and singing to its soundtrack as a small child, like countless others before and after.
“I didn't know that the songs were from ‘The Sound of Music,’” said Nayback. “That's what I tell people when they say they don't know 'The Sound of Music.' You know ‘The Sound of Music.’ You just don't know you know ‘The Sound of Music.' I name a few of the songs that are in it and they say ‘Oh yeah, I know that song.'”
Nayback’s biography can be found on the Soo Theatre Facebook page:
“Faith is a Sophomore at Michigan Technological University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and has had six years of voice lessons with Karen Beacom. Faith has been performing at Soo Theatre since she played Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast Jr. in 2016; The Sound of Music will be her 14th musical performance at Soo Theatre. Some of her more recent roles include Elsa in Frozen Jr. and Countess in The Marriage of Figaro. Outside of Soo Theatre, Faith participates in the conScience Choir at Michigan Tech and acts as Treasurer in Kappa Sigma Iota (Accounting Club.) She also sings at the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the Soo. Faith is overjoyed to be back at Soo Theatre this summer and can't wait to share the beautiful music and enchanting story of The Sound of Music.”
MyMichigan Health Sault Long Term Care Unit Director of Nursing, Loren Corbin, recently moved to the Sault in October from Hillsdale, Mich only to land her “bucket list role” as Mother Abbess A.K.A. Mother Superior.
“It's my all-time favorite musical forever and ever, and ever,” said Corbin. “I loved it when I was a kid, and went to see it on the big screen.”
Corbin described her character as “head nun” to be strong and motherly.
“It's just a role I’ve always wanted to play,” she said. “Didn't we all take our shirts off when we were little and wrap them around our heads to be a nun?”
Perhaps not everyone pretended to sing like nuns of Nonnberg Abbey, but Corbin definitely felt inspired to do so. Years later, she has found her way with the Sault Theatre family.
“Everybody should come see this show,” the Mother Superior actress said. “It's amazing. I really think it’s very much a family affair. It's really cool for kids. I mean, we have kids down to like seven-years-old just and they're wonderful. They're so cute. The cast is absolutely amazing. We have worked so hard to put this together in such a very short time.”
A true lifelong lover of the performing arts, Corbin was taken back at how Beacom managed to pull everything together into a local masterpiece.
“It is unheard of to have someone direct the play and orchestra,” said Corbin. “She's doing both, and she is so good at it. She's amazing.”
But Beacom turned to say her 40 plus musicians, volunteers and actors were amazing.
“The Sound of Music” is based on “The Story of the von Trapp Family Singers,” published in 1949 from Maria von Trapp's memoir.
The world renowned concert group preceded World War II, when an unruly Austrian woman was sent to act as governess over the seven children of a widowed, retired naval captain.
Watch and hear Nayback hit notes over mountain tops, filling the Sault Theatre with the same love and music Julie Andrews did in 1965.
The cost of admissions is $20 for adults and $12 for children.
