Landing the lead role in the 20th anniversary of West Albany High School’s musical productions is no small feat. This year, the lead role, Maria von Trapp from “The Sound of Music,” will be played by senior Charlotte Nicholas. Nicholas has been involved in the world of theater since her seventh grade debut as Dorothy in her middle school’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” —and she’s been watching her two older brothers perform in West Albany High School’s shows for even longer.
Nicholas has a foot in three performance arts: band, choir, and theater.
“I haven’t taken any drama classes, but I’ve been in choir all four years,” Nicholas said. “I was in Treble Choir my freshman year, and then Rhythmix [for] the past three years.”
Nicholas has performed in many WAHS productions: 2021’s “Sense and Sensibility,” 2022’s “Anastasia,” 2023’s “Little Women,” and 2024’s “Radio Show Disaster.”
Performing Arts teacher Cate Caffarella directs all choirs, along with almost every play and musical the school puts on.
“She was Jo in Little Women,” Caffarella said. “I think that was kind of her first big part, and it really challenged her and got her to step out.”
Caffarella has known Nicholas since her eldest brother began performing at WAHS and has taught her since her freshman year, when she first started choir.
“What I’ve seen in Charlotte is just a huge change in her confidence and her leadership,” Caffarella said. “I don’t think that she always truly believed in herself. I can tell when she walks in the room [now], she’s just like, ‘I can do it,’ like, ‘I’ve got it.’”
When she learned she had landed the role of Maria, Nicholas said it felt like a full-circle moment.
“I was really excited,” said Nicholas. “[Getting the lead role] senior year was super exciting, and the fact that it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I’ve seen my brothers do it, that was really special.”
According to Caffarella, having the lead role in one of these musicals is demanding. Practice is several days a week every week up until the show, often lasting until 6 p.m., not including the memorization of lines and songs.
“You have to be organized, you have to be dependable, you have to be very work-oriented, because your example is setting that tone for the rest of the cast,” she said. “Charlotte is that person. She showed up to our very first rehearsal [and had] memorized one of her songs already.”
Despite the hard work put in to land and carry out this role, Nicholas enjoys the show process, which includes auditions, practice, tech week, and performances.
“[It was exciting] getting a lead and also having it be Maria, [who is from] one of my favorite musicals,” Nicholas said. “It’s probably go[ing to] take me a really long time to memorize all the lines, but it’s fun so I don’t mind it.”
Nicholas’s favorite part of acting and singing is performing and getting to know her castmates. This year, one of those cast members is an elementary student playing the part of Gretel, who Nicholas describes as “really sweet.”
“Performing is definitely really exciting, and it’s really fun to get to show off your hard work,” Nicholas said, “but also rehearsing and getting closer with your castmates and stuff.”
Caffarella explained that the leading actor also has to be especially able to work well with others, something she thinks Charlotte excels at.
“Charlotte is very encouraging, very kind and supportive of other people,” Caffarella said. “She brings people in. She makes people feel comfortable, and they want to work with her.”
West Albany doing “The Sound of Music” this year is important because this musical is also the first full-scale production the school put on with a large cast, band pit and all.
“It’s a big deal that we’ve been doing musicals for 20 years, and they’ve become kind of an expectation from the community,” Caffarella said. “We have people who don’t have students that are at West, but they still come back and see the shows.”
