One Of Our Favorite Things—The Sound Of Music Live And On Stage At Texas Performing Arts

Austin is always alive with the sound of music—so it’s only fitting that the literal “Sound of Music” makes a stop at Texas Performing Arts this week in a touring production built to make a new generation sing. “The Sound of Music” has been one of our “favorite things” for decades. “[O]ne of the most successful movie musicals of all time,” the iconic Rodgers & Hammerstein production tells the tale of Maria, a spirited young nun who brings music, love, and courage to the von Trapp family while helping them find their voice—and ultimately escape the rise of Nazism in Austria.

This nationally touring production, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, features all the hits—“Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “Edelweiss,” “Maria” and more. Climb every mountain and get yourself to Texas Performing Arts this week to see, and hear this cultural behemoth live.

What Critics Are Saying About This Live Show:

• Variety: This new production “tests rather than challenges tradition,” bringing “shimmering novelty to a familiar piece’s look and sound” while keeping “the story’s bones and cozy, iconic tunes” intact. The Trapp children’s musical growth feels “more gradual… and more believable” than the movie, while the production’s design delivers a “lovely, understated physical production” with lighting that sets an “atmosphere with excitement and taste.”

• TheaterMania: O’Brien’s direction “strikes an excellent balance—introducing subtle, thoughtful updates while preserving the enduring charm” of the classic… with a “timeless score” whose orchestrations “sound magnificent.” Cayleigh Capaldi’s Maria brings “warmth, joy, and a sense of wonder,” making songs like “Do-Re-Mi” feel “fresh, heartfelt, and utterly unforgettable.” The production captures the show’s “uplifting songs, tender heart, and joyful spirit” — “just ‘a few of my favorite things’” done “perfectly.”

• Chicago Tribune: A “masterpiece that never leaves us,” this revival works because it’s “generous when it comes to human frailty” and rooted in “the importance of family.” The production leans into character specificity—a “delightfully nerdy Maria,” a Liesl with “sad eyes and a worried face,” and a Captain defined by “emotional blocks that have to be removed.” Even after “literally dozens of times,” the show still makes seasoned viewers “sniffle… through the entire thing,” proving that “mythology is the brick on which great musicals are built.”

Meet Tony Award Winner Jack O’Brien: Jack O’Brien is a three-time Tony Award–winning director renowned for balancing classic theatrical tradition with modern emotional insight. His career spans landmark productions including Hairspray, The Coast of Utopia, and numerous acclaimed revivals, earning a reputation for revitalizing beloved works without betraying their spirit. Across Broadway, national tours, and regional theaters, his direction is known for precision, warmth, and an ability to make timeless material feel urgent and alive.

When: Tuesday, February 3 @ 7:30 PM | Where: Texas Performing Arts Center | Tickets: Here.

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