Sound of Music coming to Royal Wanganui Opera House

Damien Avery as Captain von Trapp, Tizane McEvoy as Maria and the Von Trapp children in a scene from The Sound of Music.

More than 300 children from around New Zealand auditioned to play Gretl, Marta, Brigitta, Kurt, Louisa and Friedrich von Trapp in The Sound of Music this year.

Two teams of young actors were eventually chosen to play the children on alternating nights.

The Sound of Music tells the uplifting true story of Maria, the fun-loving governess who changes the lives of the widowed Captain von Trapp and his children by re-introducing them to music, culminating in the family's escape across the mountains from Austria.

The musical originally premiered on Broadway in 1959 to record-breaking advance ticket sales, where it won eight Tony Awards.

The 1965 Hollywood film, which starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, won five Oscars, including Best Picture, and remains the most successful movie musical in history.

Tizane McEvoy plays Maria and Damien Avery is Captain von Trapp in the touring production directed by Geraldine Brophy who also plays Frau Schmidt in the production.

The show's producer is Ben McDonald whose theatre company has recently toured Grease, HMS Pinafore, Menopause the Musical and South Pacific.

McDonald has said that The Sound of Music production, which is on a 23-date tour of New Zealand, is an original production.

With an original set and costumes, McDonald said it doesn't look like the film, yet it still has enough of the film in it for people to recognise it.

Ben McDonald Ltd operates without corporate sponsorship and "everyone who lifts a finger" to help with productions is paid at the approved rates.

Some of the profits made from The Sound of Music tour will be donated to the Phare Ponleu Selpak school in Cambodia which has an emphasis on vocational training for the performing arts.

The Sound of Music, Friday, October 13, 8pm, at Royal Wanganui Opera House. Adult $79.90, child to 16yrs $42.50. Book at RWOH or online at royaloperahouse.co.nz.