COEUR d'ALENE — The curtain rises tonight on the season opener for Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s production of "The Sound of Music."

The classic tale of the aspiring nun named Maria and the von Trapp family amid the backdrop of the Nazi annexation of Austria holds universal themes the creative team hope will resonate with audiences in new ways.

“It’s about grief, it’s about hope, it’s about dreaming,” director Roger Welch said.

The show is a source of nostalgia for Welch, who has returned to Coeur d’Alene to direct the production.

“I left the organization about 10 years ago and the first show that I directed 30 years ago as artistic director was 'The Sound of Music,’ so it’s come full circle,” Welch said.

This season marks the second year CST will showcase productions at North Idaho College after the pandemic theatrical shutdown in 2020. Building on the momentum from last year, CST polled the community to see what shows patrons were most excited to see performed and "The Sound of Music" was at the top of the list.

For theatergoers who have only seen the film version, Welch highlighted that there are songs that will be new to them as well as more of a looming presence of the threat that the Nazis posed to Austria.

“The play is slightly different from the movie, especially when it comes to the German invasion, the Anschluss,” he said.

Jenny Shotwell was thrilled to step into the iconic role of Maria, which will be her first local role after moving to Coeur d’Alene from the Seattle/Tacoma area in 2020.

“This is the first production I’ve done since I had my son seven years ago. It’s been great fun, and this is a dream role,” she said.

Shotwell has sung the national anthem for Seattle Mariners and Seahawks games and works as a vocal and piano coach in Coeur d’Alene.

Growing up, her family hosted frequent watch parties for "The Sound of Music" and she still holds onto the memory of auditioning for the part of Gretl von Trapp and not getting it. She went to see the production anyway, and her family called her a good sport.

Since her move, Shotwell has been delighted to see local support for the arts.

“This community values the arts so much, and the cast has a deep connection to the characters and brings them to life. The kids are so sweet and have so much energy,” Shotwell said.

That animated energy came in handy as the production went through the final push to open, often working 10-12 hour days.

“The stamina of professional theater is a lot. You’re tired, but you don’t mind the exhaustion. So many people know this story and we want them to leave with something they haven’t felt before,” Shotwell said.

CST Artistic Director Chuck Ethridge said he is excited to see how the community responds to the show, which is made up of about 80% regional performers.

“I think it’s important for the community to know that we’re an organization that’s here to provide the kind of joy that this kind of work does. We don’t live in a bubble, doing art just to do it. We’re here hoping that we’re providing some great and important things for our community to love and enjoy,” Ethridge said.

The nuns in CST’s "The Sound of Music," are played by Coeur d'Alene Chorale singers and auditions for the parts of the von Trapp children, in particular, had about 50 kids turn out before six were chosen.

“It’s a show I love and I have been looking and waiting for the right time to do this. I’ve worked with the Coeur d'Alene Chorale, I’ve been a soloist there and been on their board, so I thought, 'what an opportunity to collaborate with them.' This was the perfect show to do that and I think its story is timeless,” Ethridge said.

Historical note: The Anschluss was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich on March 13, 1938.

If you go

When: June 30 through July 9

Where: Schuler Performing Arts Center at North Idaho College, Boswell Hall 880 W Garden Ave., Coeur d'Alene

Tickets: cstidaho.com.

Phone: 208-254-0504