The Sound of Music facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Sound of Music |
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Mary Martin was the first Maria (photo, 1950)
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| Music | Richard Rodgers |
| Lyrics | Oscar Hammerstein II |
| Book | Howard Lindsay Russel Crouse |
| Basis | 1956 German movie, Die Trapp-Familie The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp |
| Productions | Broadway (1959) West End (1961) Movie (1965) |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical |
The Sound of Music is a very famous musical. It tells a heartwarming story through songs and acting. The musical was inspired by a 1956 German movie called Die Trapp-Familie and a book by Maria von Trapp, titled The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.
The story for the musical was written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The beautiful songs have music by Richard Rodgers and words (lyrics) by Oscar Hammerstein II. This was the last musical that Rodgers and Hammerstein created together. Oscar Hammerstein II passed away nine months after the show first opened on Broadway.
Contents
The Story of the Trapp Family
The musical's story is about a young Austrian woman named Maria Rainer. She becomes a governess (a teacher and caregiver) for the seven children of Captain Georg von Trapp. The Captain is a widower, meaning his wife had passed away.
The children's names are Liesl (who is 16), Fredrich (14), Louisa (13), Kurt (10 or 11), Brigitta (9), Marta (7), and Gretl (5). Maria brings joy and music back into their home. She teaches the children how to sing with the famous song Do Re Mi.
Maria and Captain von Trapp eventually fall in love and get married. Later in the story, Captain von Trapp refuses to join a powerful and dangerous political group called the Nazis. To stay safe, Maria and her family escape from Austria to Switzerland after performing at the Salzburg Festival.
First Shows and Success
The Sound of Music first opened on Broadway in New York City on November 16, 1959. The main role of Maria was played by Mary Martin. Theodore Bikel played Captain von Trapp. The show was very popular and ran for 1,443 performances.
The musical also opened in London's West End on May 18, 1961. There, Jean Bayless played Maria and Roger Dann was Captain von Trapp. This production was also a huge hit, running for 2,385 performances.
Awards and the Movie
The Sound of Music won a very important award called the Tony Award for Best Musical. This award celebrates the best shows on Broadway.
The musical became even more famous when it was made into a movie in 1965. The movie starred Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp. It is one of the most loved movie musicals of all time.
Images for kids
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Mary Martin and children in a publicity photo, 1959
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The Sound of Music showing at the London Palladium in 2009
See also
In Spanish: The Sound of Music (musical) para niños
