Photos provided by Jeremy Daniel

As attention spans get shorter, longevity in popular culture is becoming increasingly harder to attain, but Broadway turned Hollywood’s “The Sound Of Music” has thus far endured for over six-and-a-half decades.

Then again, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s swansong musical, featuring a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is nothing short of a masterpiece, and as those who flock to the James M. Nederlander Theatre through Sunday, November 2 will find out, it still holds up all these generations later.

The reasons are multiple, yet as far as this Chicago stretch on a national tour is concerned, it starts with an instantly lovable, frequently local cast including Cayleigh Capaldi (Maria Rainer), Kevin Earley (Captain Georg von Trapp), Christiane Noll (Mother Abbess), Nicholas Rodriguez (Max Detweiler), Kate Loprest (Elsa Schraeder), Ariana Ferch (Liesl von Trapp) and Ian Coursey (Rolf Gruber) under the direction of triple Tony Award-winner Jack O’Brien.

Of course, the source material itself is perhaps the most significant part of the equation, which is loosely based upon Maria Augusta von Trapp’s 1949 memoir, “The Story Of The Trapp Family Singers,” tracking their inspiring tale of faith, fortitude and fighting back during the Nazi takeover of Austria.

Some might compare it to the many instances of communities being marginalized all across the globe even today, while others may simply soak in the generally inspiring nature of the family-friendly production.

It’s easy to root for main character Maria, a questioning nun-to-be who’s a bit of a free-spirit compared to her solemn peers, yet nonetheless beams the love of the Lord towards the widowed Captain’s children when she accepts a role as their governess.

A major part of their relationship is built around singing lessons and the surrounding situations, which include the iconic “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and “Do-Re-Mi,” plus push along possible feelings developing between her and their father in the process.

Needless to say, the bonds sewn by that very soundtrack could be the only chance of potentially saving them after being forced to bid “So Long, Farewell,” but fans can always take comfort in the fact the hills are alive with “The Sound Of Music” until the adventurous end.

“The Sound Of Music” continues at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through Sunday, November 2. For additional details, visit SoundOfMusicOnTour.com and BroadwayInChicago.com.

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