Act 1
Scene 1
Scene Begins…Older Maria, alone on the stage
Older Maria: Not long ago I realized: The door to the past cannot be shut. This
realization came about during a lecture that had taken me to Salt Lake City, Utah. I was
scheduled to speak at the Mormon Church University.
Bishop enters and takes Older Maria by the arm
Bishop: Welcome Ms. Von Trapp to Brigham Young University
Older Maria: I am very pleased to be here, sir.
Bishop: We are all very pleased that you would come to speak to us, your story is
legendary and your example, exemplary
Older Maria: Oh, you don’t need to go on so Bishop. I am already here. I have already
agreed to speak.
Bishop: Ms. Von Trapp, I did want to let you know, we are coming close to the midyear
exams

Older Maria: Aha
Bishop: I also wanted to tell you that at BYU our lecture series is not compulsory. The
students do not have to attend
Older Maria: Yes Bishop?
Bishop: We have booked you in the field-house
Older Maria: And what is a field-house?
Bishop: It is a stadium which holds 14,000 people
Older Maria: Bishop, if you are worried that we might have only a small audience on
account of the exams I am pleased to transfer my lecture from the fieldhouse into a
classroom so I can see my audience, and everything will be just fine.
Enter BYU Students, some on stage, some from back of auditorium talking excitedly
Bishop: (looking apprehensive) Ms. Von Trapp, can you please wait here for a moment
(Takes Older Maria back stage…comes back on and approaches students and talks
with a few)
Lines from BYU Students

Bishop: (coming from the back of the theater with Older Maria and walking up onto the
stage) Ms. Von Trapp, this way please. It is almost time to start. And just so you
know, the stadium is filled to capacity and students have just now been allowed to sit in
the aisles. I guess we would call you a hit.
Older Maria: Well, I guess I won't get to see my audience after all
Bishop: No, but they are looking forward to seeing you (Bishop and all students exit
stage)
Older Maria: (to audience) Then came a really wonderful hour together with these
young people who listened in rapt attention.
BYU Student--Audience Member (stand and raise hand) Ms. Von Trap? Ms. Von
Trap?
Older Maria: Yes

BYU Student—Audience Member: You come from a large family, don't you? You must
have had a very happy childhood.
Older Maria: Actually, I was an only child and an orphan, my childhood was most
unhappy. But my in the end I did get to experience the joy of a large family and I hope I
shared with others a happy childhood.
Perhaps I could share a little bit of my story with each on of you. In my childhood, God
entered my life in a very gentle and loving way. (Maria moves off to stage left)
Act 1 (Props: Book)
Scene 2

Giggling girls come from the back of the theater
Girlhood friend 7: Hey, there’s Maria
Girlhood friend 6: I love Maria
Girlhood friend 5: She is always up for an adventure
All girls (waving, Maria? Maria!)
Young Maria looks up and waves back
Girlhood friend 1: Maria, what are you doing? (walking up on stage)
Young Maria: I am reading,
Girlhood friend 2: What are you reading?
Young Maria: The Travels of Marco Polo
Girlhood friend 4: What’s it about?
Young Maria: Well, it’s about Marco Polo, but it is about the world. It is about
languages and cultures. You see, I hope to see the world some day. I wish to be a
traveler, just like my dear father.
Girlhood friend 3: But Maria, you never go anywhere
Young Maria: Well, that is not true. I go places in my imagination. I go anywhere that
these two legs can take me. And I go hiking across Austria.
Girlhood friend 4: We all go hiking across Austria (locking arms with three friends)
Girlhood friend 5: I want to have an adventure

Girlhood friends (me too, that sounds good, etc)
Young Maria: (putting down her book) Girls, I think you are asking for an adventure right
now (she starts off ) Aren't you all coming?
All girls exit
Older Maria: I was always happiest when I was on the go. My father taught me the
importance of the world and learning and exploring and traveling and living my life in all
ways that made me happy. But when I was nine years old my father slipped away to
the life after this one. That was the end of my childhood.
Young Maria: Prayer for Papa (acapella)