The Stage

Lloyd Webber - My Sound of Music reality show won’t ban pros

Published Tuesday 10 January 2006 at 15:35 by Alistair Smith

Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed that the televised search for the star of his new production of The Sound of Music will be open to professionals and has insisted he will not take “Simon Cowell pot-shots” at those auditioning for the part.

The composer and impresario is using a reality TV format to discover a young actress to play Maria, the part made famous by Julie Andrews in the musical’s film version. Unlike many other reality shows, auditions will not be restricted to amateurs.

Speaking to The Stage, he said: “We are looking for a very young Maria, by definition that young Maria is going to be unknown. But, it’s going to be open to the profession as well [as amateurs] - that will be the difference from other shows of it’s kind.

“I think it will be very exiting. It won’t be everyone taking Simon Cowell pot-shots at artists. You will see how all the artists work together and be given an insight into the creative process. I think we’ll have something really special.”

Lloyd Webber has been in talks with the BBC to screen the TV programme and he will produce the stage show with Live Nation’s chairman of global theatre David Ian, although the composer stressed that he is serving as the project’s creative producer.

His Really Useful Group has been planning to revive the production 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.

The composer revealed that he expects to take the show to the London Palladium in October and is looking to cast a younger Maria than has previously played the role, as he believes that previous productions had not filled the part in the way that Rodgers and Hammerstein - the musical’s creators - had envisaged. “I think that Maria has always been 20, ideally,” he added. “But, we’ll see.”

• Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston’s planned return to the West End stage this year in The School of the Night has been cancelled. The show had been due to open at the Comedy Theatre on February 27, with previews from February 13, but has now been called off. No further productions have yet been announced.

• Journey’s End is set to hold its final performance in the West End on January 38, prior to a Broadway transfer. The production opened at the Comedy theatre on January 21, 2004 - the 75th anniversary of the play. It has been performed in four West End theatres and 30 other venues across the UK. It is currently being staged at the New Ambassadors Theatre and is directed by David Grindley and presented by Background.