EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in the March edition of “IFN Monthly.”

BY JAIME GATTON

Center Stage Alliance’s upcoming production of “The Sound of Music” has been a generation in the making.

Director Josh Myers and Mike McColl, a professional actor based in Los Angeles who will play center-stage as Captain Georg von Trapp, are cousins who grew up more like brothers. Myers is a fourth-generation dairy farmer in Union Grove, and McColl, who grew up in Greensboro, said the farm has always been one of his favorite places to be.

Myers has long wanted to direct a production of “The Sound of Music,” and McColl has forever loved the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, even playing Rolf years ago in a high-school production.

The cherry on top: Myers’ son, Cru, will play Rolf in the upcoming Statesville production, which opens March 16 in the Mac Gray Auditorium.

“I’ve always wanted to play the role of Captain von Trapp and work on a show with my cousin Josh,” McColl said.

And that’s exactly what the two have manifested.

Once upon a time …

With the arts clearly running through family genes, McColl struck out for L.A. in 1996 to study acting, and Myers later graduated with a degree in film and movie production. The two remained close as McColl’s acting career launched on the West Coast. He landed recurring roles on NETFLIX’s “The Lincoln Lawyer” and ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” playing the role of the doctor whose decision not to order a CT scan for Patrick Dempsey ultimately killed “McDreamy” off the longtime popular show. With perhaps the hint of a dramatic eye-roll, McColl said: “Yes, I’m best known for causing McDreamy’s death. A few seasons later, I returned, and I died, too.”

That might be why his family affectionately refers to him as “McDeadly.”

McColl has also been the promo/trailer voice for Paramount Network’s mega-hit “Yellowstone” and ABC’s “The Bachelor.”

Building a dream

Meanwhile, on the East Coast, Myers’ wife, Mykel, had been dreaming up what in 2020 would become Center Stage Alliance, a small theatre company in Statesville with big aspirations.

Until now, the company’s efforts have largely focused on theatrical productions. But the bigger picture, Josh Myers said, is to include educational classes to teach other theatrical elements, such as art, dance, music and technical components like stage makeup, props and backstage stagehands. “I look forward to having things like shop class, but we’re not quite there yet,” he said.

The group is already growing: 18 children attended CSA’s first summer camp in 2021. A year later, 75 students enrolled. “The Sound of Music” production boasts 50 cast-and-crew members, ranging in age from 8 to 75 years old.

Myers — a skilled blacksmith — said his personal goal is to inspire kids to do artistic things with their hands instead of picking up tablets. Theatre, he said, presents countless opportunities to do just that. He also wants to introduce theatre to a younger generation who may not have the opportunity to be exposed to it otherwise.

“We’re working on getting a group of 40 foster children (to “The Sound of Music”) who’ve never seen theatre before,” he said. “We want to introduce every child to something that can change their lives, whether that leads to a career or just a love of theatre.”

Family ties

Strong family ties kept McColl connected to Iredell County — and now to CSA. “I wish I’d had a community theatre like this when I was a kid,” he said. “It’s the kind of thing that can have a profound and positive impact on not just those involved directly, but on audiences and the community as a whole.”

With years now invested in the L.A. theatre community, McColl and his wife Gwyn, also an actor, have been thrilled to assist as consultants for CSA. But McColl said they’ve also wanted to find opportunities to be involved in person.

The hills are alive

“It was just a timing thing,” McColl said of his decision to surprise Myers by auditioning from L.A. for “The Sound of Music.” McColl said he realized he could spend a couple months with family in North Carolina while juggling rehearsals and completing his professional voiceover acting work from the farm.

McColl’s moving rendition of “Edelweiss” in his audition tape garnered immediate and resounding approval from every member of the casting committee, Myers said.

The farm has been a fitting backdrop for practice, McColl said, adding that he’s also been able to work with Myers’ son on his upcoming role as Rolf.

“It’s been really rewarding to see him making progress,” McColl said. “This experience has been fun for me for a lot of reasons — not just for playing the role of Captain, but also for being able to help with the technical things and working with the kids and adults.”

And watching his cousin at work has been a priceless opportunity, too, he said.
“No one works harder than Josh. He works all day on the farm. And he’s in this for the love of it. I immensely respect his work ethic.”

McColl’s involvement has inspired other actors to step up and take their roles — and acting, in general — seriously. “It’s been incredible,” Myers said. “Mike and I have always had a relationship more like brotherhood, and he’s been a role model for years. We’ve been wanting to work on a project together since I graduated from film school 22 years ago.

“I feel like a director’s most important job is choosing the right people for the project,” Myers said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the production team that I’ve gathered, and this entire cast seems like a gift.”

Showtimes & Tickets

“The Sound of Music” shows will run March 16-18 and 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. and March 19 at 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit https://centerstagealliance.org.