6.1.26
Some of my earliest memories involve watching The Sound of Music with my family, singing “The Hills Are Alive” and “Do-Re-Mi,” and pretending to be Maria as she belts her way through the Austrian Alps.
It is no surprise that I am still deeply touched by the gentle whisper of “Edelweiss” and inspired by the soaring notes of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” So, when a co-worker invited me to her play, The Sound of Music, I assured her with an enthusiastic yes that I would be there!
She had been practicing to be Sister Margaretta since before Christmas and was so excited to share it with her Full Circle Friends. Already a huge Sound of Music fan, I was excited to support her and enjoy a favorite that never grows old.
As the play drew near, I learned it was being put on by Backlight Productions in conjunction with the Nashville Opera, with most of the leads being performed by artists with (IDD) intellectual and developmental disabilities. I was now even more excited, as I had never seen such a special performance before.
I quickly saw with my own two eyes that each talented artist had a student or professional assistant—a shadow of sorts—which alone was a beautiful and moving experience. The “shadows,” as I’ve named them, were there to support each artist when a line was forgotten or a dance move was lost in the nerves of the moment. The way they stepped out of the light to give the moment to the Marias, Captain von Trapps, and Liesels was poetry in motion.
Within moments of the curtain rising, the audience was swept into the pure beauty that followed. We had been instructed on how to interact with the cast, especially during the sing-along sections. However, as the first notes were sung and lines were said, I found myself nearly losing my breath—and I do not exaggerate. There were moments throughout the performance where I felt my heart was going to explode and my tears were going to get loud. I was so deeply touched to see these actors taking center stage and thriving in spaces that historically haven’t been accessible to them.
It was a professional production from beginning to end—no shortcuts were taken. Lines, dances, and songs were executed seamlessly after months of practice. The playbill, professional headshots, individual write-ups on each performer, and expert costuming truly honored these performers. With the exception of the shadows dressed in black, a handful of professional actors, and some voices from the Nashville Opera, the IDD artists on stage did all the rest, having their most deserved moment in the light. Backlight Productions has birthed a space where true talent knows no boundaries and these artists are given the professional platform they completely deserve.
To watch this cast pour their whole hearts into every ounce of romance, humor, musicality, choreography, and drama was nothing short of transformative. I kept thinking, I’ve been changed, and I don’t even know how to express what I am feeling. Their excitement was electric, and their pride was so deeply earned that you couldn’t help but feel it in your chest—barriers fell. In that theater, the typical divide between audience and stage melted away. We weren’t just watching a performance; we were sharing in a profound, collective celebration of what it means to create, to feel, and to be human.
Climb ev’ry mountain
Mother Abbess-The Sound of music
Search high and low
Follow ev’ry by-way
Every path you know
Climb ev’ry mountain
Ford ev’ry stream
Follow ev’ry rainbow
‘Til you find your dream
A dream that will need
All the love you can give
Every day of your life
For as long as you live
Climb ev’ry mountain
Ford ev’ry stream
Follow ev’ry rainbow
‘Til you find your dream
A dream that will need
All the love you can give
Ev’ry day of your life
For as long as you live
Climb ev’ry mountain
Ford ev’ry stream
Follow ev’ry rainbow
‘Til you find your dream
