The Sound of Music

A musicial based on a book by Maria von Trapp, telling the story of the Von Trapp Singers and their escape from Nazi Germany. The stage version had music by Richard Rogers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. First produced in New York in 1959 to record-breaking advance ticket sales, where it won eight Tony Awards - including “Best Musical”. The show opened in London in 1961 and became the longest-running American musical of its generation.

The 1965 Hollywood film, which starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, won five Oscars, including “Best Picture”, and quickly became the highest-grossing film in history. Even today, The Sound of Music remains the most successful movie musical in history.

South African productions

First produced in South Africa by Brian Brooke with Heather Lloyd-Jones at the Brooke Theatre in 1963.

1996 Artscape?* also produced a version.

Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society in 1984, 1996 and 2002.

2014 Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2013 production brought to South Africa by Pieter Toerien, David Ian and The Really Useful Group, with André Schwartz as Captain von Trapp and Bethany Dickson as Maria. The season: Cape Town - Artscape Opera, 19 February 2014 – 29 March 2014; Johannesburg - The Teatro at Montecasino, 5 April 2014 – 8 June 2014. Directed by with Andre Schwartz as Captain von Trapp and Bethany Dickson as Maria, as well as Janelle Visagie as Mother Abbess, Tarryn Sudding as the Baroness Schraeder, James Borthwick as Max Detwieler, Carmen Pretorius as Liesel von Trapp, Rhys Williams as Rolf Gruber, Malcolm Terrey as Franz, Rika Sennett as Frau Schmidt, Genna Galloway as Sister Berthe, Monique Weich as Sister as Margaretta and LJ Neilson as Sister Sophia. Pauline du Plessis, Ami Rose Barber, Sebe Leotlela, Pisto Msongelna, Claire Simonis, Mike Huff, Richard White, Adam Pelkowitz, Mark Sykes, Duane Alexander, Ryan Flynn, Torah Rapoho and Claire Taylor are the ensemble cast.