Washington, D.C. – Howard University’s Department of Theatre Arts has announced an innovative production of the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The Sound of Music,” featuring an all-Black student cast in a bold reimagining of the classic tale.
The production, set to premiere next month at the Ira Aldridge Theater, maintains the original Austrian setting and narrative of the von Trapp family’s escape from Nazi occupation but infuses the story with new perspectives through its casting choices.
“This production invites audiences to see this familiar story through a different lens,” explained Dr. Denise Richardson, chair of Howard’s Theatre Arts Department and director of the production. “By casting Black actors in these historically European roles, we’re challenging assumptions about who belongs in which stories and expanding the boundaries of classical musical theater.”
Junior theater major Aisha Washington will star as Maria, with senior drama student Marcus Jefferson taking on the role of Captain von Trapp. The production will feature students exclusively from Howard University, with the von Trapp children portrayed by talented Black children from local theater programs.
“When we first announced auditions, the response was overwhelming,” Richardson noted. “Many of our students grew up loving this musical but never imagined themselves in these roles. This production says, ‘These stories belong to all of us.'”
The announcement has generated significant discussion within the D.C. arts community and beyond, with passionate voices on both sides of the debate.
“This production represents everything theater should be—bold, inclusive, and forward-thinking,” said Eleanor Martinez, director of the D.C. Theater Alliance. “Howard is asking important questions about who gets to tell which stories, and that’s exactly what great art should do.”
Local theater patron and Howard alumna Dr. Kimberly Jackson expressed similar enthusiasm: “I’ve seen ‘The Sound of Music’ six times, but never with people who look like me in these roles. This isn’t about erasing history—it’s about expanding our imagination of who can inhabit these beloved characters.”
However, not everyone has embraced the concept. A small group of protesters gathered outside the university last week, with some holding signs objecting to the production.
“It’s the Von Trapp family, not the Von Rap family,” said Gregory Thornton, a self-described “musical theater purist” who organized the protest. “This isn’t about race—it’s about historical accuracy. These were real people from Austria. Why can’t we just tell stories as they were?”
In response to such criticism, Howard student and cast member Jayden Williams countered, “That comment itself reveals exactly why this production matters. The assumption that Black performers would somehow transform this into a ‘rap’ production speaks to the stereotypes we’re challenging. We’re performing the classical music exactly as written.”
The university has embraced the controversy as a teaching moment, scheduling post-performance discussions and a symposium on representation in classical performing arts.
“The conversations this production has already sparked are as valuable as the performances themselves,” noted Dr. Richardson. “When art makes people uncomfortable, it’s often doing something right.”
“The Sound of Music” opens April 5th and runs for three weekends at Howard University. A portion of ticket proceeds will support scholarships for students pursuing degrees in performing arts at the university.
Truth Bureau 