Two young actresses with Fox Chapel Area High School connections have landed plum roles in an iconic musical based on a true story.
FCAHS Class of ‘22 graduate Maddie Dick and Fox Chapel Area senior Emily Harajda are portraying sisters Leisl von Trapp and Louisa von Trapp, respectively, in Pittsburgh’s CLO production of “The Sound of Music,” now playing through July 16 at The Benedum Theater.
One of Rogers and Hammerstein’s most beloved productions, the show follows the journey of Maria, a quirky and spirited young nun as she becomes governess for the large von Trapp family.
For Harajda, landing a role in a professional production has been a rewarding, yet fast-paced experience.
“Adjusting and learning so quickly — I’ve never done a professional show — and putting it together in three or four days while taking notes and being off-book has been a challenge for me,” Harajda said.
Harajda described theater as her “entire life.”
“It’s one of the only things I can see myself doing in the future. It’s been a way to build a family and a passion the past 13 years,” said Harajda, who is in her third year as a CLO Academy student and has been a musical participant since the third grade at Act One Theatre School.
“I want to keep learning and keep performing because it brings me so much joy and brings me so many friends and a new kind of family,” Harajda said.
Dick, a second-year Bachelor of Fine Arts musical theater student at the University of Michigan, said she’s most excited to return to her hometown to perform at the Benedum.
“Theater means home. It’s selfishly, as a performer, the one thing that I can do that takes my mind off of everything else,” Dick said. “As a more global thing, I really think art and performing art is really important and having the opportunity to say what you need to say and spread love to other people who are sitting in the audience is a gift and a pleasure.”
Dick referenced the fast pace of the production as her biggest challenge with “The Sound Of Music.”
“We finished the show in three days. It was…you come into the role with it memorized. That, and keeping the stamina up and making sure we have a wonderful show for everyone that wants to see it,” Dick said.
Her role in “The Sound of Music” contains a bit of dejavu, as Dick played Gretl — the youngest of the von Trapp children — in the 2011 summer production of Pittsburgh CLO’s “Sound of Music.”
“The best part about playing Liesl is being a part of something so timeless and loved,” Dick said.
Dick’s regional credits include “A Chorus Line” and “A Musical Christmas Carol.”
Her goals include graduating from Michigan and performing professionally.
“I’ll just perform and keep doing what I love, wherever and whatever I can,” she said.
To order tickets, click here.
Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .