The Sound of Music (musical)

The Sound of Music (musical)
Name	The Sound of Music
Music	Richard Rodgers
Lyrics	Oscar Hammerstein II
Book	Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Basis	Maria von Trapp's memoir *The Story of the Trapp Family Singers*
Productions	1959 Broadway

The Sound of Music (musical) is a musical theatre production with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir *The Story of the Trapp Family Singers* by Maria von Trapp. The story follows a postulant, Maria, who becomes a governess to the seven children of a widowed Austrian naval captain, bringing music and joy into their home against the backdrop of the Anschluss.

Background and creation

The musical was the final collaboration between the legendary Broadway partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The producers Leland Hayward and Richard Halliday acquired the rights to Maria von Trapp's memoir, initially envisioning a non-musical play. The writing team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, known for works like *Life with Father*, was hired to adapt the book. Mary Martin, a major star of the American musical theatre, was instrumental in developing the project and was cast as Maria. The creative team conducted research, including meetings with the real Maria von Trapp and visits to Salzburg. The original director was Vincent J. Donehue, though he was replaced during rehearsals by the book's co-author, Howard Lindsay.

Synopsis

The story opens at Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg, Austria, in 1938, where the free-spirited postulant Maria is deemed unsuitable for the monastic life. The Mother Abbess sends her to be the governess for the seven children of the stern Captain Georg von Trapp, a retired Austrian Navy officer. Maria wins over the children, including Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, and Gretl, by teaching them to sing. The Captain's fiancée, the wealthy Baroness Elsa Schraeder, and his friend, the opportunistic Max Detweiler, arrive. As Maria and the Captain fall in love, the political situation darkens with the Anschluss, the Nazi annexation of Austria. Forced to accept a commission in the Kriegsmarine, Captain von Trapp decides his family must flee the country, culminating in a dramatic escape over the Alps.

Musical numbers

The score features some of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most enduring songs. The first act includes the title song "The Sound of Music", "Maria", "My Favorite Things", "Do-Re-Mi", and the romantic duet "Sixteen Going on Seventeen". Act Two features the love song "Something Good", the comedic "No Way to Stop It", and the inspirational anthem "Climb Ev'ry Mountain". The musical also includes the poignant "Edelweiss", which became an unofficial anthem for Austria.

Productions

The original Broadway production, directed by Howard Lindsay and choreographed by Joe Layton, opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 16, 1959. It starred Mary Martin as Maria and Theodore Bikel as Captain von Trapp. The production ran for 1,443 performances, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. A successful West End production opened at the Palace Theatre in 1961, starring Jean Bayless and Roger Dann. Numerous major revivals have followed, including a 1998 production at the Martin Beck Theatre starring Rebecca Luker and a 2006 staging at the London Palladium with Connie Fisher. The show remains a staple of community theatre, summer stock theatre, and professional tours worldwide.

Reception and legacy

Upon its premiere, critical reception was mixed, with some New York theatre critics finding it overly sentimental, but audiences embraced it wholeheartedly. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1960. Its cultural impact was magnified exponentially by the 1965 Academy Award-winning film adaptation starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, directed by Robert Wise. The soundtrack album became one of the best-selling albums of all time. The musical is celebrated for its memorable score and its themes of family, resilience, and the power of music, securing its place as one of the most popular musicals in history.

Adaptations

The most famous adaptation is the 1965 film by Twentieth Century-Fox, which became a global phenomenon. A 1972 Japanese anime film was produced by Tatsunoko Production. A live television production aired on NBC in 2013, starring Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer. The story has also been adapted for television series, including a 1991 Brazilian telenovela *Top Model* and a 2014-2015 South Korean KBS drama *The Sound of Your Heart*. The real-life history of the Trapp Family Singers has been the subject of several documentaries.

Category:American musicals