The hills are alive with the sound of music, and Coquitlam's Daniel Cardoso will be helping to sing the lyrics when he performs in The Sound of Music, playing at the Gateway Theatre until Dec. 31.
Cardoso has two parts in the ensemble cast; he plays a party guest at the end of the first act and, in the second act, he plays a Nazi soldier who comes to escort Captain von Trapp from the Salzburg Festival concert to his naval post. They may be small parts, but Cardoso is thrilled to be performing in the holiday classic.
"I grew up on the movie, we had it on VHS and my parents are huge fans of it," he said, adding that he saw the live show in Toronto recently.
Cardoso graduated from Heritage Woods secondary in Port Moody and is now studying in Capilano University's three-year musical theatre program, which he graduates from in May.
He was one of a handful of Capilano students who were called in for auditions for the Gateway show after a visit from the artistic director.
After a month in rehearsals - and several Christmases watching The Sound of Music - Cardoso is well versed in the song list, though he has a hard time picking a favourite.
"There's so many," he said. "But I really do love Sixteen Going on Seventeen. It's just a really fun song and a really fun number to watch and listen to and see what they've done with it. It's also kind of adorable."
The Sound of Music follows Maria (played by Alison MacDonald), a high-spirited nun who is sent to work for Captain von Trapp (Ian Butcher), a widower with seven children. Their shared love of the children, music and each other brings the two together, but the threat of war forces the family to leave everything behind to make a daring escape from Austria.
Directed by Christopher McGregor, the cast of 30 includes Allan Zinyk as the quick-witted Max Detweiler and Amy Hall-Cummings as Baroness Elsa Schraeder.
The beloved musical includes all your favourite things, including The Sound of Music, My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Edelweiss and So Long, Farewell.
Gateway Theatre spokesperson Sherry Elasoff said the show's closing night on Dec. 31 has become a treasured way to celebrate New Year's Eve.
The Sound of Music is at the Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Rd., Richmond) until Dec. 31. Tickets are $47/$30, available at www.gatewaytheatre.com or by calling 604-270-1812.
