The Sound of Music extends booking period
Feature by Lizzie Guilfoyle
WITH the release of 400,000 tickets, The Sound of Music has extended its booking period until March 29, 2008. And Connie Fisher is to continue in the role of Maria von Trapp until February 2008.
Previously Posted: From Monday, April 30, 2007 and following the departure of Lesley Garrett, Margaret Preece who has been playing The Sound of Music‘s Mother Abbess at certain performances, will take over the role full time.
As well as playing leading roles with the English National Opera, Scottish Opera and Opera North, Preece has worked frequently with opera houses in Europe. Her other work in London includes The Bacchae (National Theatre) and The Phantom of the Opera (as Carlotta).
She also appeared as the Confidante in Joel Schumacher’s film adaptation of the musical in which she sang the part of Carlotta, over-dubbing for Minnie Driver.
Previously Posted: From April 9, 2007, Aoife Mulholland – How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?‘s Irish Maria – will appear as Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music on Monday evenings and at Wednesday matinees.
The show’s star Connie Fisher, who has only just returned from a medical absence of two weeks, has now limited her weekly schedule to six performances (instead of the full eight), on the advice of doctors.
For the moment, Fisher’s understudy Sophie Bould who usually plays Captain von Trapp’s eldest daughter Liesl, will continue in the role of Maria on Monday evenings and at Wednesday matinees.
Commenting on his two leading ladies, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “I am thrilled that Connie has returned to the show, fit and well, and welcome Aoife, who gave a sensational audition.”
Mulholland is currently starring as Roxie Hart in the long-running musical Chicago at the West End’s Cambridge Theatre.
Previously Posted: With Connie Fisher unwell and Lesley Garrett (Mother Abbess) away working as a judge on Celebrity Fame Academy, disappointed fans have been given the opportunity to exchange their tickets for The Sound of Music for a later date. However, they may have to wait until November.
A statement on behalf of the show said: “Anyone who wishes to exchange their tickets for later dates should get in touch with the agency or box office from whom they bought their tickets.
We regret that we may be unable to re-seat customers in the very near future (it may be as late as November) but we will be happy, in the circumstances, to re-seat as soon as we can.”
The absence of two stars at the same time is an unfortunate coincidence – while Fisher’s illness was unexpected, Garrett’s holiday was pre-arranged in order for her to undertake the unpaid work on Celebrity Fame Accademy.
Meanwhile Fisher, whose popularity helped the production achieve advance sales of over £10 million, has agreed to remain with the show throughout November.
Previously Posted: Connie Fisher has been forced to temporarily withdraw from The Sound of Music. The singer/actress who took the coveted role of Maria after winning the reality TV show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, has injured her vocal chords.
After suffering a heavy cold in February, Fisher returned to the production after just one week’s sick leave, but the strain of performing six shows a week (as opposed to eight) has taken its toll.
Now, on doctor’s advice, she is resting but hopes to return to the production in two weeks. In the meantime, the role of Maria will be played by Sophie Bould.
Previously Posted: According to a reliable source, Connie Fisher, The Sound of Music‘s Maria, has extended her contract until February 2008. With the current booking period ending on October 13, 2007, a new booking period is also expected to be announced soon.
Previously Posted: After just one week of opening and with a reported £15 million already taken at the box office, The Sound of Music has extended its run at the London Palladium by six months – until October 13, 2007.
Connie triumphs as Maria: Critics hail Sound of Music
Previously Posted: Simon Shepherd has withdrawn from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s revival of The Sound of Music which opens at the London Palladium on November 15, 2006.
His departure has been explained in an official statement:
“Following the first two previews of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 November, Simon Shepherd, director Jeremy Sams and producers Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian agreed that his performance as Captain Von Trapp was not working within the production and therefore he has withdrawn from the show.”
The role has now gone to Alexander Hanson whose musical credits include We Will Rock You and Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard and Aspects of Love.
His other credits include Tonight at 8.30 (Chichester 2006); The Villain’s Opera, Troilus and Cressida and The Merchant of Venice (National Theatre); and The Fugitives and Auf Wiedersehen Pet (TV).
Until Hanson is ready to take over, Captain Von Trapp will be played by understudy Christopher Dickins.
Previously Posted: As expected, Lesley Garrett, Simon Shepherd, Lauren Ward, Ian Gelder, Sophie Bould and Neil McDermott will star alongside Connie Fisher in The Sound of Music which will now start previews on November 3, 2006, a day earlier than previously announced.
Opening night has also been re-scheduled – to November 15, 2006, a day later than originally planned.
Garrett, who has sung for both the English National Opera and the Royal Opera House, has also performed in operas and concerts all over the world, released 11 solo CDs and regularly appeared on television. Her own series, The Lesley Garrett Show, was a huge success.
In 2002, she was awarded a CBE for her Services to Music.
Although Shepherd is probably best known for his role as Dr Will Preston in television’s Peak Practice, he has appeared on the London stage in Art, Bent and The Secret Rapture.
Ward’s credits include The Philadelphia Story (Old Vic) and Camelot (Regent’s Park); Gelder’s many credits at the National Theatre and RSC include the recent West End transfer of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible; Bould’s credits include the NT’s production of Coram Boy; and McDermott starred in Bad Girls the Musical in Leeds.
Previously Posted: Emma Williams (Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), who was to have shared the role of Maria Von Trapp with Connie Fisher, has left the production just days before rehearsals for The Sound of Music begin.
A statement by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and his co-producer David Ian confirmed that Fisher will now perform in all eight performances each week:
“Following the casting of trained actress Connie Fisher and discussions with the producers, Emma Williams, who it was anticipated would play the alternate Maria, has withdrawn her services from the production.
Connie will now play all eight performances a week, unless indisposed in which case she would be covered in the usual manner by the understudy.”
The statement went on to say that Williams “looks forward to working with Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian, the Really Useful Group, Live Nation and (director) Jeremy Sams in the future and wishes Connie every success with the role.”
Although no further casting has been announced for The Sound of Music, it’s thought that Simon Shepherd will play Captain Von Trapp, with Lesley Garrett as the Mother Abbess, Lauren Ward as the Baroness, Ian Gelder as Max, Sophie Bould as Liesl and Neil McDermott as Rolf.
Previously Posted: Television viewers have voted bookmaker’s favourite, Connie Fisher into the role of Maria in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s revival of The Sound of Music, which is scheduled to open at the London Palladium on November 14, 2006.
The televised search, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, came about as result of Lloyd Webber’s failure to secure Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson for the role made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film.
Of the ten girls selected from the thousands of hopefuls for the finals, only three remained for the grand final – Connie, Helena (Blackman) and Siobhan (Dillon). In the end, it came down to just Connie and Helena, Siobhan having been voted off by viewers earlier in the evening.
Connie was clearly delighted with the result and before going on to perform the show’s title song, said: “I feel on top of the world. I won’t let you down, I promise. Every night will be opening night. Thank you for making my dreams come true.”
Connie, 23, who lives in London and currently works in telesales – a job she hates – has always had her eyes set on musical theatre but has been unsuccessfully auditioning for parts since graduating from theatre school in the capital.
Although Lloyd Webber admitted Connie would be his choice for the role of Maria only minutes before the result was announced by host Graham Norton, it’s thought that he has already signed up a professional theatre actress to share the part with her.
Buy tickets for The Sound of Music