Jewish actor says musical makes audiences think, leave with message of hope

When Mark Bradley Miller was 6 years old, he sat down with his family during the holidays to watch “The Sound of Music” on television.

Mark Bradley Miller

“I remember seeing Maria stand on the top of the hills singing at the beginning of the movie, but then it got to the nuns – and as a young kid I was bored and went into the other room,” Miller told the JHV.

“I sat down at the piano and started playing ‘The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music’ and my mother came in and was like, ‘He’s a musical prodigy, we have to get him lessons.’”

Little did a young Miller know that decades later he would be on stage eight times a week, performing all around the country in “The Sound of Music” 65th anniversary national tour.

Miller, who plays several roles, including Baron Elberfeld and the priest, joins a talented cast that will be in Houston Sept. 29 through Oct. 4 as part of Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center series.

“I feel so blessed every night on stage,” Miller said. “It is the best group of people I have ever worked with. We all get along well together, and it’s a nice family atmosphere.”

Miller, who was raised in an interfaith Jewish-Catholic family in Rochester, N.Y., credits “The Sound of Music” cast and creative team for bringing the story back to life.

Cayleigh Capaldi stars as Maria Rainer. Tony Award winner Lisa Howard plays Mother Abbess, and Kevin Earley plays Captain Georg von Trapp. Other lead roles include Nicholas Rodriguez as Max Detweiler, Kate Loprest as Elsa Schraeder and Ariana Ferch as Liesl von Trapp.

“We are very lucky with the people we get to tell this story,” Miller said. “Cayleigh as our Maria is truly a gift. Everyone expects Julie Andrews – and no one can touch her – but Cayleigh has completely made the role her own. And over the past year, she has continued to grow with it.”

Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, the musical classic transports theatergoers to the hills of Austria, captivating audiences with its universal themes of love, resilience and the power of music. “The Sound of Music” features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

The spirited story of Maria and the von Trapp family features a Tony, Grammy and Academy Award-winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and “The Sound of Music.”

For Miller, who regularly stands in for three different principal actors, the message of the show is still very relevant today.

“Everyone knows the songs, but when you hear them in the context and on the stage, it can be eye-opening,” he said.

“We all know what happened in World War II, but this was 1938 at the very beginning. They knew stuff was going on, but none of the really bad stuff had happened yet. Having the audience see it from that hopeful aspect of ‘we can
get out of here,’ but at the same time knowing what is coming.

“Jack O’Brien had a completely different take about the political aspect, which is so much more important, especially in the environment we are living in right now.

“It’s not all candy-coated. It’s not just about singing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ and cute Maria running around. It’s a little more hard-hitting about the political aspects and what these people chose to do and defy.”

Miller said it is interesting to see how the audience reacts to certain aspects of the show, like when the Nazis are presented.

“There are times when there are audible gasps when the ‘Heil’ salutes happen,” he said. “In the current political climate, if it opens one set of eyes that were closed, that is meaningful.”

Miller has been on stage with dozens of productions, including “Mamma Mia!”
“My Fair Lady,” “South Pacific” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Before going on the Broadway stage, Miller also used his voice in synagogue, singing regularly as part of a quartet at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh while studying at Carnegie Mellon University.

Miller also has a passion for interior design and sees himself settling down, working in the interior design world after his stage career ends.

For now, he will continue the “Sound of Music” tour through its conclusion in summer 2027.

“Never say never, but this could be my last acting job,” he said. “You never know what could come next, but I am enjoying getting to travel around and tour the country performing a beautiful show.”

Miller said audiences are walking away with plenty of different emotions.

“One is the joy of the romance and family atmosphere, but also the eye-opening aspect of what happened,” he said. “The show is making people think, but you are left with a feeling of hope and a nice uplifting message at the end.”

“The Sound of Music” will be on stage at The Hobby Center from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4 with show times Tuesday-Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at thehobbycenter.org.