Jodi Louwagie, left, will play Mother Abyss in the Fairmont Opera House’s production of ‘The Sound of Music’ at the end of July. Paula Kabe, right, has been cast as Maria. Both women – members of the Blue Earth Town & Country Players – say landing their respective roles was a dream come true.

Later this month, the halls of the Fairmont Opera House will be alive with ‘The Sound of Music,’ directed by Sara Gudahl. Though the production will be held in the City of Lakes, Faribault County residents will recognize two familiar faces on stage.

Paula Kabe and Jodi Louwagie, both of whom are Blue Earth Town & Country Players (T&CP) veterans and board members, have years of theater experience under their belts. However, they admit taking the stage as Maria and Mother Abyss, respectively, will represent a landmark achievement in their theatrical careers.

In fact, Des Moines native Louwagie says ‘The Sound of Music’ was the first musical she ever auditioned for. She has been waiting for a second chance to perform in the iconic show ever since.

Louwagie was in seventh grade when she first auditioned for ‘The Sound of Music,’ and, due to a musical mishap, her audition was unsuccessful. In the years following, however, Louwagie landed many theatrical roles, including that of the Stepmother in T&CP’s production of ‘Cinderella’ last summer.

‘Cinderella’ is just the very beginning of Louwagie’s theater resume, which also includes roles in ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,’ ‘Jerry Springer: The Opera,’ ‘Jekyll & Hyde,’ ‘Clue: The Musical,’ ‘Guys and Dolls,’ ‘9 to 5’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’

“I’ve done quite a bit,” Louwagie acknowledges.

After a life on the stage, this summer’s production of ‘The Sound of Music’ represents a chance Louwagie has hoped for for decades.

“I have been waiting 30 years for this to come around again,” she says, smiling. Better, still, she has landed her dream role as Mother Abyss, singer of the power medley ‘Climb Every Mountain.’

“Singing that song in the theater, with an audience, I might cry a little,” Louwagie admits.

Kabe, meanwhile, has a strong connection with the character of Maria – both inside, and out. She says she is constantly mistaken as a doppelganger for Julie Andrews, the famed actress who played Maria in the 1965 movie production of ‘The Sound of Music.’

“I’ve wanted to play this part forever,” Kabe explains.

Though this may be Kabe’s first time playing Maria, it will not be her first time performing as a cast member in ‘The Sound of Music.’ When Kabe was a junior at Blue Earth High School, she played the part of Baroness Schraeder in the school’s production of the musical.

Kabe’s theatrical career began even earlier, when she joined T&CP in eighth grade. She has continued to add to her theatrical resume ever since.

“I did theater in college, and when I was in Rochester,” she says, adding, “I prefer musicals to straight plays.” 

Kabe performed in four Rochester Civic & Rochester Repertory Theater productions in the early 1990s, but she took a break from theater while living in New York City.

Kabe returned to the stage when she came back to Blue Earth to work as an administrative office manager at United Hospital District. She has had roles in T&CP productions from 2015 on, including ‘Once Upon a Mattress,’ ‘Mary Poppins,’ ‘Seussical’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’

Unable to participate in T&CP’s production of ‘Clue: The Musical’ this summer due to a scheduling conflict, Kabe jumped at the chance to audition for ‘The Sound of Music,’ little dreaming she would land the lead role.

As the singer of the titular number and other beloved songs like ‘My Favorite Things’ and ‘Do-Re-Mi,’ Kabe’s role as Maria represents an exciting, and intimidating opportunity.

Kabe says she cannot wait to take the stage as Maria, but she is also aware that the audience will be very, very familiar with all of her character’s musical numbers.

“It’s sort of a double edged sword,” she explains. “I already know the songs, but everyone else knows the songs. I think the familiarity of the music is both the best and worst part of it.” 

The production dates are fast approaching, with eight shows scheduled throughout the last two weeks of July. The Fairmont Opera House will host six evening performances of ‘The Sound of Music’ on July 20-22 and July 27-29, all at 7 p.m.

There will also be two matinee shows at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, and Sunday, July 30.

The show requires hours of practice for those involved, and lots of time behind the wheel for out-of-towners like Louwagie. An employee of Nortech Systems and a resident of Lakota, Iowa, Louwagie has spent hours driving between Blue Earth, Fairmont, and her home since ‘The Sound of Music’ rehearsals started in early June.

However, both Louwagie and Kabe seem to be enjoying their hectic evenings as the musical’s leads.

“I’m having such a good time,” Kabe says. “The cast is so wonderful.” 

She adds she loves being involved in a live production, with a live orchestra.

“Live theater is so fun, because each audience makes each show different,” Kabe explains.

Louwagie says she is most excited for the shows where some of her favorite people will be seated in the audience.

“I’m looking forward to singing for family and friends,” she shares.

Those interested in joining the audience for a production of ‘The Sound of Music’ can buy tickets at https://fairmontoperahouse.org.

Kabe hopes the show will not disappoint.

“I really want to do a good job,” she says. “It’s everyone’s mom’s and grandma’s favorite thing.”