Interview: Michigan Native Teri Hansen Says THE SOUND OF MUSIC Will Fill Your Heart with Joy at Fisher Theatre!

Michigan native Teri Hansen loves performing in The Sound of Music because the audiences are just as emotionally involved in the show as she is. "When the curtain goes up, there is an audible gasp because of this gorgeous set and beautiful start," she said. "Then we really start to tell this tale; this dangerous and urgent story, yet a love story as well. You can feel the audience right at the beginning of the show and during it they are edging forward on their seats until the end when they are on their feet going right over the mountain with the Von Trapp family."

The Sound of Music is one of Rodgers & Hammerstein's most famous shows and has been brought to life in many forms. "Everyone knows the story and perceives it as a love story, but it is not only a romantic love story. It is a love story between a children and their mother. It is a love story of faith in a traditional and broad sense," said Hansen. "It is also about overcoming obstacles to find your dream and to achieve it. The thing about this brand new production that our director, and fellow Michigander, Jack O'Brien understood is that this is a real story. You have Maria Rainer a nun, orphaned, and not knowing about life; Captain Von Trapp, a widower with seven children; And then a country on the brink of war not knowing the Nazis were going to come in night and take over. You have a very dynamic, dangerous, and thrilling story, but it's love story as well and it's a true story."

Hansen is no stranger to The Sound of Music as this is her third time playing the role of Elsa Schraeder, but she absolutely adores the character. "I love Elsa. First and foremost, I get to wear the fabulous designs of Jane Greenwood (2014 recipient of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre.) This is my second show with Jane, so I know I'm lucky girl and I have three glorious outfits," she said. "For all the BroadwayWorld.com fashionista's, 1938 was an incredible year in Paris. Dali was there. The Surrealist movement was happening. You had Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and the legendary fashion house of Lavin. It was wild, wild time. And I get to wear three outfits inspired by those." All of Hansen's costumes are exact replicas of period pieces. Her black and white costume is a Chanel replica. The end of act 1 eggplant gown, and one her of favorite moments with the audience when she appears, is a replica of Lavin. Her final costume, the one she described as "being told by Greenwood that when you leave a man, you have to look fabulous," is an exact replica of a Schiaparelli fuchsia power suit that only a woman as strong and powerful as Elsa could sport. She described her costumes well, but the pictures are even better; and on stage they will be, along with the rest of the show's costumes from this sneak peak, will be absolutely stunning to see live in person!

"The other aspect of Elsa that I love is that she is a very relatable woman, especially in the 21st century," said Hansen. "Especially in the 21st century because she is president and CEO of her own company, financially independent, has no children, and has never been married. She is in an unique situation where she knows or suspects strongly that this Nazi take over is breathing at her neck and feels as the pragmatic and very intelligent woman that she is, that it might be best for her to be linked for the first time with a man. Georg (the Captain) was in the Navy, is a man of means and they are both millionaires. He has a home in the country and they would be off the radar, but she could still go back and forth to Vienna and he would, of course, serve the Nazis, or so she has it all planned out in her head. She loves him, but it is more of a practical love that looks good on paper and serves them both. She's quite keen on the marriage until she realizes they have different points of view where she believes he is putting not only himself at risk of being killed by the Nazis, but his children and her as well. She is not willing to risk herself and leaves. But another thing about her is there is never any animosity between her and Maria, which is something new in this production. There is sort of sisterhood almost, no meanness, just two rivals in a respectful way who love the same man. So when she does leave, she simply says good luck, I hope you live to see another day. O'Brien brilliantly captured the urgency and immense danger in this production. The clock was always ticking and that is one of things that lends excitement to this brand new production that many say they have never seen in The Sound of Music before."

Another reason Hansen is happy to be play Elsa in The Sound of Music is she is coming back to Detroit. "I'm just so happy to be coming home," she said. "I know tons of people - family, friends, and fans that are coming to see the show and it will be so exciting." She is a Michigan native with very firm roots all over our great state. Her dad played for the Detroit Lions. She is the only graduate from the School of Music at Central Michigan University to earn an Honorary PhD. She has sung with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra many times. She was also the runner up in the Miss Michigan pageant. Her family is very involved in Michigan different aspects from working for Michigan companies to politics. Her siblings and her all attended Michigan schools. "I'm a poster child for Detroit. I have my I love Detroit t-shirts along with many others from around the state that I wear all the time," Hansen said. "Whenever my sister picks me up from Detroit Metro airport there is always sliders from White Castle on dashboard and a Vernor's ginger ale because that is how I roll. I can't wait to go to Hamtramck to have some Polish food. I love our city and know it's been through a lot, but it's home and I'm happy to be coming back!"

After touring for years with Marvin Hamlisch, Hansen did the music of Richard Rodgers with him along with other lyricists. "After our first concert, Marvin and I were greeting the audience and he asked me, 'where was my CD?' I didn't have one. He said, 'our next gig is in four weeks, I want you to have a CD done then.'" Hamlisch told to do the music of Richard Rodgers, the greatest composer who ever lived. "So I did and I have a beautiful CD, if I may say so myself, inspired by my dear departed friend Marvin Hamlisch, called Into Your Arms...Love Songs Inspired by Richard Rodgers. It has one song from The Sound of Music that was not in the stage version. There are three songs in our production that were not in the stage production. The two songs that Max and Elsa sing "How Can Love Survive" and "No Way To Stop It." And one of my favorite songs from the show, which is called "Something Good," and that is song on my album from The Sound of Music." The CD is available on iTunes, her website (www.teridalehansen.com), or at the show. Hansen wants anyone coming to the show to know that she would be delighted to meet and greet people and sign her album at the stage door after the show.

When ask to leave one final thought about why Detroit audiences should come see The Sound of Music, Hansen summed it up perfectly, "your heart will be full of joy."

The Sound of Music opens May 10th and runs through May 22nd at Fisher Theatre in Detroit. For more information or tickets, visit www.BroadwayInDetroit.com.

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