Lloyd Webber considers TV talent show to find Sound of Music’s Maria

Published Monday 28 November 2005 at 13:30 by Nuala Calvi

Andrew Lloyd Webber is in talks with the BBC to set up a Pop Idol-style show to find the leading lady for his upcoming West End revival of The Sound of Music.

If the project goes ahead, the composer and theatre owner will appear in the programme, which will give thousands of hopefuls the opportunity to try out for the part of Maria, famously played by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film version.

The West End production is scheduled to take place in autumn 2006 in partnership with producer David Ian. Reports that it will be staged at the London Palladium have, however, been denied by Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group.

The company has been planning to revive the show for some time and hopes that a TV tie-in will encourage a much wider audience to take an interest in musical theatre. Open auditions are not usually held for Lloyd Webber productions, with the recent exception of Bombay Dreams.

A spokeswoman for the impresario told The Stage: “I can confirm Andrew is in the early stages of development talks with the BBC for an exciting new project next year.”