The Sound of Music
Musical
Writers:Howard Lindsay Russel Crouse Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II
Overview
Synopsis
The final collaboration between Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, The Sound of Music, has become a play beloved around the world. Based on the true story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, this play captures a personal tale of growth and hope amidst the horrors of World War II. The Sound of Music tells the tale of young postulant Maria Rainer, whose free spirit has trouble fitting into the rules and regulations of Nonnberg Abbey. Commissioned by the Mother Abbess to serve as the governess for seven motherless children, Maria transforms the Von Trapp family home from a place of dour rules and regulations to one filled with joy, with laughter, and with music. In the process, Maria wins the hearts of all seven children--and their widower father, Captain Von Trapp. With the Mother Abbess’ blessing, and to the children’s delight, Maria follows her heart, and Maria and the Captain marry. Upon returning home from their honeymoon, Maria and the Captain learn that their beloved Austria has been taken over by the Nazis, and the retired Captain is asked to report for immediate service in the Nazi Navy. When the Nazis show up at their door to take Captain Von Trapp away, it is a family singing engagement (wily navigated by their friend Max) that buys the family time to make their narrow escape. Their Austrian convictions compel Maria, the Captain, and the children to flee over the mountains of Switzerland to safety, taking the words of the Mother Abbess to heart: “Climb Every Mountain… till you find your dream.”
Show Information
- Book
- Howard Lindsay , Russel Crouse
- Music
- Richard Rodgers
- Lyrics
- Oscar Hammerstein II
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1959
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- austria, 1938
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Middle School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Religious Groups, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen, Early Teen, Child Characters
Context
The Sound of Music is based on the real-life story of the Von Trapp Family singers, who escaped Austria when it was invaded by Germany during World War II, and then proceeded to tour the world as a singing family before settling in Canada. Their story is documented in a memoir entitled The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, by Maria Von Trapp. Rodgers and Hammerstein were first approached by actress Mary Martin about writing a song for a play-with-music she and her husband were writing,
to read the context for The Sound of Music and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The scene opens in the Nonnberg Abbey in Austria, where the nuns are observing mass. (“Dixit Dominus” / “Alleluia”) All the nuns and postulants are in attendance – except Maria. A search ensues. Meanwhile, Maria has lost track of time, enjoying the beauty of nature out in the hills around the town, and singing – which, we later learn, is against the nuns’ rules. They are only to sing in church. (“The Sound of Music”)
The next morning, back at the abbey, Mother Abbess and the
to read the plot for The Sound of Music and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Countertenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either or Both |
Variety |
Songs
Act One
- Preludium (Morning Hymn, Angelus Bells, Alleluia) - The Nuns of Nonnberg Abbey
- The Sound of Music – Maria
- Maria - Sisters Berthe, Sophia, Margaretta and Mother Abbess
- My Favorite Things - Maria and Mother Abbess
- My Favorite Things (Reprise) – Maria
- Do-Re-Mi - Maria and the Von Trapp Children
- Sixteen Going on Seventeen - Rolf and Liesl
- The Lonely Goatherd - Maria and the Children
- The Lonely Goatherd (Reprise)
- How Can Love Survive? - Max, Elsa and Capt. Von Trapp
- The Sound of Music (Reprise) - The Children and Capt. Von Trapp
- So Long, Farewell - The Children and Capt. Von Trapp
- Morning Hymm - The Nuns
- Climb Ev'ry Mountain - Mother Abbess and the Nuns
Act Two
- My Favorite Things (Reprise) - The Children and Maria
- No Way to Stop It - Elsa, Max and Capt. Von Trapp
- An Ordinary Couple - Maria and Capt. Von Trapp
- Gaudeamus Domino - The Nuns
- Maria (Reprise) - The Nuns
- Confitemini Domino - The Nuns
- Sixteen Going on Seventeen (Reprise) - Maria and Liesl
- Do-Re-Mi (Reprise) - Maria, Capt. Von Trapp and the Children
- Edelweiss - Capt. Von Trapp, Maria and the Children
- So Long, Farewell (Reprise) - Maria, the Children and Capt. Von Trapp
- Finale Ultimo - The Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
Relating to a person's life.
A method of voice production used by male singers, especially tenors, to sing notes higher than their normal range.
References an era of book musicals written roughly between the 1940s and the 1960s.
A Broadway musical written and produced between 1943 and 1965.
References a singer who has what has been considered a more classical approach to singing.
Officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party, it was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945.
A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.
The war between the Axis and the Allies, beginning on September 1, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland and ending with the surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945, and of Japan on August 14, 1945.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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