Populating the von Trapp family for “The Sound of Music” at New Stage Theatre was as easy as plugging a quartet of Roberson siblings into the parts.
“The Sound of Music” runs Dec. 6-21 at New Stage Theatre in Jackson.
Children’s roles are double-cast in the production, and alternate shows throughout the busy holiday run. For one cast, more than half of the von Trapp’s seven children in the musical are Robersons from Madison. There’s Wyatt Roberson, who turns 14 this month, in his third New Stage appearance, as Kurt. Bailey Roberson, 11, plays Brigitta, in her second New Stage show. Maggie Kate Roberson, 10, and Piper Roberson, six, make their New Stage debuts as Marta and Gretl, respectively.
Such a move brings benefits. They look like family. And, they bring plenty of sibling experience to the task of playing siblings.
Asked to tackle the question of what that’s like, Piper pipes up, “I can tackle it. Where do I punch it?” signaling, perhaps, a budding comedian in the offing.
It’s fun, Wyatt says, particularly with some lines “because sometimes you’re just annoyed at your siblings. I didn’t think that I was ever going to be in a play that you would get to, like, do life.” He revels in the moment Bailey’s character Brigitta pronounces Maria’s dress the ugliest she ever saw. “Brigitta, you mustn’t say a thing like that!” he gets to correct her. But, doesn’t he think it’s ugly, too? He gets to try hiding a grimace with “IF I did, I wouldn’t say so!”
“It just feels like real life,” Wyatt says, “which makes it a lot more fun.”
“Sometimes, I’m kind of like the sassy one,” Maggie Kate joins in. “I feel like Marta should be kind of like Brigitta! I really like doing it.”
Those family bonds are flexible, too, and can spread beyond the Robersons. “The cast, sometimes it does feel like your actual family,” Bailey says. Some lines feel like things she’d say in real life, and others less so but one really hits home with her, “I cannot tell a lie.”
Parents Jay and Trace Roberson have two more boys in the wings — Oliver, eight, who can really sing, and Finn, six (Piper’s twin brother), who can really dance. Alas, the musical’s youngest boy role is for an 11-year-old. “Oliver could hit this beautiful high note, but he, sadly, did not look like an almost 11-year-old,” Maggie Kate says. “It would be miraculous if he looked 11.”
Coming in for auditions, the Robersons were familiar with the musical. Of the whole set, it was clear Piper nailed her first outing. “Other people, they were like ‘Thank you for coming, you can go,’” Wyatt says, with little to no expression. When Piper’s turn came, the director said she’d tell her when to say her lines for a scene with Maria. “Oh no. I already know my lines,” Piper said. “I just need to know who to hug.”
“We got in the car after that, and Mom was like, ‘Well, SHE got the part. I don’t know about any of y’all, but SHE got it!” Wyatt says, laughing.
These are a few of their favorite things about this experience. “I love how Gretl has all the cute lines,” Piper says.
“I’m taking them all!”
“I love when we’re singing ‘Do-Re-Mi,’” Bailey says, embracing the excitement of the song. More standouts: playing Blind Man’s Bluff onstage, her solo in “So Long, Farewell,” and the moment she gives Maria a key heads up, “that she’s in love with my dad.”
The first meeting between Maria and the children scores well with Wyatt, thanks to that ugly-dress exchange. “It makes everyone laugh each time I do it.”
Maggie Kate warms to the part when the family is trying to escape, and running from the Nazis. “It’s so intense and I really enjoy that,” she says, particularly during “So Long, Farewell,” looking back with worry at the rest of the family.
The musical also has a father/son in the cast — Zane Hartfield (as Admiral Von Schrieber) and Ethan Hartfield (as Kurt von Trapp) — but they do not play family onstage.
The Roberson kids attend St. Augustine School in Ridgeland, and are home-schooled part of the week. All except Piper are New Stage summer camp veterans, with Wyatt’s participation dating back to 2014 or 2015.
“It’s just kind of been a safe and fun way for them to get into the arts and use their talents,” mom Trace Roberson says. “They’re talented singers, and they’re loud, so that’s nice,” she adds with a laugh.
“They’re having a blast,” and she delights in the process, too. “I saw pictures of their costumes the other day, and I was like, ‘Ooh! Why don’t I make things out of curtains? They’re so adorable!”
“The Sound of Music” performances are at 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 8-10, 13, 15-17 and 20-21, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18. Tickets are $40 each, with discounts available for students, seniors, military and groups. Visit newstagetheatre.com or the theater box office, or call 601-948-3533 for tickets.
