Tip on Auditioning for ‘The Sound of Music’: Every Role Tells a Story
by Chris Peterson
Welcome to the first installment in a new series where I’ll be sharing audition tips for specific shows, drawing from my experience as both a director and someone who has worked in casting. I’ve sat on both sides of the table and know what it feels like to walk into the room as a hopeful performer and what it takes to cast a show that tells the story truthfully. If this series can help one person feel a little more confident, a little more prepared, or a little more seen, then it is doing its job.
We are starting with The Sound of Music because, although it’s a very good place to start, this show is often misunderstood. There is something deceptively simple about it. Maybe it is the beloved movie, the familiar melodies, or the image of children spinning in fields. But beneath that beauty is a show that demands truth, connection, and an understanding of the stakes.
These characters are not cartoons. They are living through war, loss, duty, and love. And if you treat the audition like a pageant or a vocal showcase, you will miss what makes this musical so moving.
So if you are auditioning for The Sound of Music, here are some tips to carry with you into the room. Then we will take a closer look at some of the specific characters.
Start with the stakes.
This is not a fluff piece. Austria is falling under Nazi control. Families are being torn apart. People are risking everything for freedom. When you sing or speak, let the urgency of the world seep in. Even the joyful moments should carry the weight of what is coming. That awareness will separate your performance from those simply chasing the nostalgia. Understand what is at risk.
Don’t play the movie.
Yes, we all know Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. But you are not auditioning to impersonate them. You are auditioning to bring something honest to the role. Watch the film if you want to study the story, but then put it aside. Focus on what you can bring to these characters. Directors want to see your version, not a tribute act. Honor the legacy without becoming stuck inside it.
Act the music.
Rodgers and Hammerstein did not write songs to sound pretty. They wrote songs to advance story and reveal character. So whether you are singing “My Favorite Things” or “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” know what you are saying, who you are saying it to, and why it matters in that moment. Think of every lyric as a thought in action. If it is heartfelt, the voice will follow.
Now let’s talk roles.
Maria
She is not just cheerful. She is conflicted. She feels called to the abbey, but also deeply pulled toward the world. Her journey is one of discovering her true purpose. Show her curiosity. Show her restlessness. Show her love for music, for children, for life. She is not perfect, and that is what makes her beautiful. When preparing “The Sound of Music” or “Do-Re-Mi,” remember that she is teaching, not performing. Lead with warmth, not polish. Let us see the questions she is still wrestling with. The more unfinished she feels at the start, the more moving her transformation becomes.
Captain von Trapp
He is grieving. He is lost. And beneath the discipline and control is a man who desperately wants to feel again. In your audition, do not just bark orders. Let us see the cracks. Let us see the possibility of change. When singing “Edelweiss,” remember that it is a goodbye to a homeland, not a lullaby. It should ache. Bring stillness and simplicity to the role. This man has learned to survive by closing off. The question is whether he dares to open back up.
Liesl
She is not just the big sister. She is a teenager on the edge of adulthood. She thinks she knows everything. She is learning that she doesn’t. “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” can be playful, but there is a real emotional shift in her arc. She starts naive and ends with her eyes wide open. Show that growth. She is not just singing about romance. She is stepping into a world that is suddenly much more complicated than she thought.
Max Detweiler
Max is a survivalist. He is trying to stay relevant and safe while navigating a dangerous political climate. He is funny, yes, but that humor masks fear. Play the charm, but find the complexity. He is not a clown. He is someone trying to stay afloat. Max is watching everything unravel and trying to maintain status and dignity in the face of something he cannot control. The stakes are higher than he lets on.
Mother Abbess
This is the voice of wisdom in the show. She sees what Maria cannot yet see. Her authority should come from grace, not intimidation. “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” is not about vocal volume. It is a call to action. Deliver it with heart and intention, not just vocal power. Make it a personal plea, not a sermon. She is someone who understands regret, which is why her advice carries weight.
Elsa Schraeder
Elsa is often miscast as the villain, but she is not. She is just not the right fit for Maria or the Captain’s new life. She is elegant, sophisticated, and practical. In your audition, show her poise, but also her humanity. She is hurt, not cruel. Let her exit the story with dignity. She is someone who thought she was building a future, only to realize she is no longer wanted. Give that moment weight.
The Children
Whether you are playing Gretl or Friedrich, the key is not cuteness. The key is clarity. Know your lines, sing your notes, and listen like a real person. Do not try to be adorable. Just be present. Maria falls in love with these children because they are full of potential. Show that spark. Each child has a distinct personality. Know what makes your character different from the others and lean into it with confidence.
Rolf
He is not just a boy with a bike. He is a young man caught in a terrifying time. At the start, he wants to impress. By the end, he is choosing sides. Play the charm, but do not ignore the danger. His choices matter. He represents a generation being shaped by propaganda and fear. In your performance, find the tension between his desire for love and his hunger to belong.
Auditioning for The Sound of Music is not about channeling the past. It is about bringing honesty to a story that still resonates today. If you can find the truth behind the songs and the heart beneath the harmonies, you will be in a strong position to earn your place in this timeless musical.
Let the music carry you, but let your choices lead the way.