“This show is fresh, alive and actually feels like a brand new musical.” - Chicago Theater Reviews
For 65 years, The Sound of Music has been one of our “favorite things.” With its timeless story and irresistibly charming score, this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic isn’t just meant to be enjoyed - it’s meant to be shared. Now, a critically acclaimed North American tour brings the cherished musical to stages across the country to teach a new generation to sing.
Let’s start at the very beginning …
The Von Trapp family at the center of the musical by Lindsay & Crouse, Rodgers & Hammerstein was a real singing group that had an extraordinary origin and an impressive professional career in Europe and in America, with a various recording contracts and a dedicated fan base. Maria Von Trapp’s memoir, The Trapp Family Singers, had seen some success upon its release in 1947, but it wasn’t until the late 1950s that Broadway star Mary Martin teamed up with her husband, Richard Halliday, and Rogers & Hammerstein, that the story began to sing.
Though the musically-inclined family had considerable recognition in the states, preparing the story for stage was no easy feat. “Either you do it authentically—all actual Trapp music—or you get a complete new score for it,” said Hammerstein. Fresh off their success with South Pacific, Rogers & Hammerstein set out to write an original score.
Lindsay & Crouse referenced Maria’s memoir for the plot, while Rogers & Hammerstein connected with several parties to give the musical authenticity and depth:
Hammerstein started a correspondence with Sister Gregory, a friend of the Hallidays and a nun who served as head of the drama department at Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois. She became the expert on matters related to the nuns, but also inspired the lyrics to become more spiritually rich.
Maria Von Trapp, who at this time was in Papau New Guinea for missionary work, had read an early script, and according to the Rogers & Hammerstein archives, had several concerns: she felt that the character of Maria was not enough of a tomboy and therefore did not undergo enough of a change; second, the Captain was far too Prussian and humorless than her real-life husband.
Kevin Earley (Captain Georg von Trapp) and Cayleigh Capaldi (Maria Rainer) with the von Trapp Children (l to r) Ariana Ferch (Liesl), Eli Vander Griend (Friedrich), AvaDavis (Louisa), Benjamin Stasiek (Kurt), Haddie Mac (Brigitta), Ruby Caramore (Marta), Luciana Van Dette (Gretl) in The Sound of Music. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.
Refreshed for new generations and directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this vibrant and romantic tale of Maria and the Von Trapp family will captivate audiences with its universal themes of love, resilience and the power of music. Featuring beloved songs you know and love like “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Edelweiss,” this is the iconic tale of a spirited nun who chooses not to live behind closed doors - and, by following her heart, learns to climb every mountain.
Enjoy the heartwarming story all over again at one of eight performances at Walton Arts Center April 13-18, 2027.
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