“Doe, a deer, a female deer … “

Sound familiar?

Maybe flashes of Julie Andrews spinning in circles and singing aloud comes to mind. For some of the cast members performing in “The Sound of Music” Sunday at Stephens Auditorium, this brings back many childhood memories of the popular musical.

“I have seen ‘The Sound of Music’ many times,” says Jim Ballard, who plays Captain von Trapp. “It was my mom’s favorite movie when I was little.”

Ballard, originally from North Carolina, says he enjoys playing the role of the Captain.

“We can relate to each other because he is a Navy man and I was in the Marines,” Ballard says. “I can identify with his morals because he has a good heart and he loves his kids.”

Ballard has acted in many different performances before “The Sound of Music.” He says he has been in about five shows per year for the past 12 years, but wasn’t always interested in theater. While attending college in Greenville, N.C., he was a member of the basketball team. He says the theater professor at the university needed “a big guy” in a play and Ballard agreed to play the part.

He says has been in interested in performing ever since.

“I love the thrill of something different every night,” he says.

The musical, set in the Austrian Alps, follows the story of Maria, a young woman who is in training to become a nun. Maria is confused as to whether or not being a nun is what she really wants to do. She leaves the abbey in search of her true calling and becomes a governess to seven motherless children. The musical continues as Maria finds herself through music. A love story untangles between Maria and the children’s stern father, Captain von Trapp. “The Sound of Music” is based on the true story of a family’s flee from Nazi control.

Lindsay Northen, who plays Maria, says the role was different than others she has portrayed.

“Playing Maria is like playing four different characters,” Northen says.

“She is a whole new person once she takes a new step in her journey.”

She says playing Maria was challenging at first, but turned out to be fun. Maria’s character, Northen says, fell into her type of role, meaning every actor has a certain category of plays right for him or her.

“My type is classical character and Maria fits that role,” she says.

Northen says she has always loved “The Sound of Music,” but never dreamed she would be performing in the musical.

“I saw there was an audition in New York and thought it would be a great experience,” Northen says. “I didn’t think I would get it.”

The cast began its national tour in August and will continue until May. Although the tour just started, Northen says she is really enjoying herself. She says the show gets better every time.

Northen, fresh out of college, says doing the show is like “a playground.”

“You get the opportunity to try new stuff every time,” she says. “I get a chance to do the things I just learned [in college].”

“The Sound of Music” has many widely known songs, such as “My Favorite Things,” “The Sound of Music” and “Do Re Mi,” but Ballard admits singing isn’t the strongest of his talents.

“I’m not really singer, I’m an actor/singer,” he says.

“I can sing, but I like to find roles where it’s more about the story.”

Both Ballard and Northen say their fascination with “The Sound of Music” began when they first watched the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s film version of the story.

“I think anyone with kids, or anyone remembering being a kid, can relate to ‘The Sound of Music’ because of the father’s love for his children,” Ballard says.

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Who: “The Sound of Music”

Where: Stephens Auditorium

When: 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., Sunday

Cost: $16.50-$20.50 students, $31.50-$39.50 public