THE SOUND OF MUSICThe final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world's most beloved musical. When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain, and they marry. Upon returning from their honeymoon, they discover that Austria has been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the Captain's immediate service in their navy. The family's narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in the theatre. The motion picture version remains the most popular movie musical of all time.

Cast Requirements: PRINCIPALS

3 Women 5 Girls (ages 5, 7, 9, 13 and 16) 2 Men 2 Boys (ages 11 and 14)

FEATURED 4 Women 2 Men

ENSEMBLE Neighbours of Captain von Trapp, nuns, novices, postulants, and contestants at the Festival Concert

CHARACTERS Maria Rainer - a Postulant at Nonnberg Abbey, Lead. 21-32yo. SopranoThe Mother Abbess Supporting. 40-70yo. SopranoSister Berthe - Mistress of Novices. Cameo. 40-70yo. MezzoSister Margaretta - Mistress of Postulants. Cameo. 40-65yo. MezzoSister Sophia Cameo. 40-65yo. MezzoCaptain Georg von Trapp Lead. 40-60yo. BaritoneFranz - the butler Cameo. 30-65yo. Speaking onlyFrau Schmidt - the housekeeper Cameo. 30-45yo. Speaking OnlyLiesl von Trapp – Supporting. 15-18yo. Mezzo Friedrich von Trapp – Supporting 13-15yo Soprano Louisa von Trapp – Supporting 12-14yo. Mezzo Kurt von Trapp – Supporting. 8-12yo. Soprano Brigitta von Trapp – Supporting 8-10yo. Mezzo Marta von Trapp – Supporting 6-9yo. Mezzo Gretl von Trapp - the youngest Supporting. 4-7yo. mezzoRolf Gruber – Supporting. 16-20yo. Baritone

Elsa Schraeder Supporting. 30-40yo. AltoMax Detweiler Supporting 30-55yo. BaritoneHerr Zeller Cameo 20=50yoAdmiral von Schreiber Cameo 40-60yoNeighbours of Captain von Trapp, nuns, novices, postulants, and contestants at the Festival Concert

Set Requirements: THE SOUND OF MUSIC takes place in Austria, early in 1938.

SPECIFIC LOCATIONS Nonnberg Abbey Mountainside near the Abbey The Office of the Mother Abbess A Corridor in the Abbey The Living Room of the Trapp Villa Outside the Trapp Villa Maria's Bedroom The Terrace of the Trapp Villa A Hallway in the Trapp Villa A Cloister Overlooking the Chapel The Concert Hall The Garden of Nonnberg Alley

Genre / Style: Musical DramaRehearsal / Orchestral Material: Rehearsal Set - 20 Libretto-Vocal Books, 2 PIANO VOCAL SCORE. Orchestra Package (25 Books) 1 PIANO VOCAL SCORE, 1 FLUTE I, 1 FLUTE II (Doubling Piccolo), 1 OBOE (Doubling English Horn), 1 CLARINET I, 1 CLARINET II, 1 BASSOON, 1 HORN I, 1 HORN II, 1 HORN III, 1 TRUMPET I, 1 TRUMPET II, 1 TRUMPET III, 1 TROMBONE I, 1 TROMBONE II, 1 TUBA, 1 PERCUSSION, 1 GUITAR (Doubling Mandolin), 1 HARP, 1 OPTIONAL PIANO, 1 VIOLIN I (Divisi), 1 VIOLIN II (Divisi), 1 VIOLA (Divisi), 1 CELLO (Divisi), 1 BASS. Optional material: Additional Songs: “I Have Confidence” and “Something Good” from the movie. Two-Piano Arrangement Act 1 & Act 2. Partitur (Full Score for Conductor). Synthesizer String Book

Musical Numbers: The Sound of Music, Maria, My Favourite Things, The Lonely Goatherd, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Edelweiss, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, So Long Farewell.

Maria Von TrappHere is a breakdown of the character 'Maria von Trapp' from 'The Sound of Music'.

Occupation - Maria is a nun at Nonnberg Abbey, Salzburg (Austria) but is sent to become the governess at the Von Trapp Villa. She works for Captain Von Trapp and looks after his 7 children.

Marriage - She marries Captain Georg Von Trapp and become Maria Von Trapp.

Appearance - Maria arrives at the Von Trapp Villa with one dress, a hat and her guitar stating that 'all her worldly clothes were given to the poor' but 'the poor didn't want this one'. The Captain arranges for her to be given material to make herself more dresses.

Hobbies - Maria loves to sing and this often got her in trouble in the Abbey, however becomes very useful with the children.

She teaches them to sing ( Do-Re-Mi ) and they eventually end up performing in the Salzburg Music Festival. 

Personal Traits - Maria has a huge and exciting imagination and is very adventurous. Throughout the movie you see her make 'play clothes' for the 7 Von Trapp Children from the curtains which previously hung in her room, as well as taking them tree climbing and boating on the lake. She is a very 'fun' character and believes the children should have more fun so attempts to introduce this into their lives.

Austria early 1938ACT ONE

Scene 1: Nonnberg Abbey.Nuns Black habit, scapular, wimple, collar, veil, rope-tie

Novices Same as Nuns, only white veils

Postulants Calf length black dress, black short cape, veil with white band

Scene 2: Mountainside near the Abbey.Maria Dressed as a postulant

Bertha, Sophia, Margaretta Nun’s habits

Scene 3: Office of Mother Abbess, the next morning.Mother Abbess Habit

Scene 4: A corridor in the Abbey.  

All Repeat

Scene 5: Living Room of the Trapp villa, that afternoon.Captain Von Trapp Casual blazer coat, trousers

Franz Daytime butler’s livery, apron, vest, trousers

Frau Schmidt Housekeeper’s dress, apron

Maria Dated unattractive dress, hat, large old-time bag

Gretl age 6, Marta age 7, Brigitta age 9Louisa age 13,  Liesl age 16

Blue sailor dresses , Blue hose

Kurt age 11, Friedrich age 14 Blue sailor suits, short pants style

Scene 6: Outside the Trapp villa, that night.Liesl Repeat

Rolf Tyrolean pants, shirt, hat, stutzen and tie

Scene 7: Maria's bedroom, later that evening.Maria Robe over nightgown

Girls Identical nightgowns

Boys Identical pyjamas

Frau Schmidt Repeat

Liesl Optional change to smudged duplicate of dress from Act1, Scene 6

Scene 8: A   hallway in the Trapp villa. All Repeat

Scene 9: Terrace of the Villa, six weeks later.Franz Same, remove apron

Elsa Styled morning dress, can be skirt and blouse

Captain Von Trapp Daytime change, possibly to tyrolean flavour

Ursula Tyrolean maid’s uniform

Max Dapper sporty attire

Rolf Repeat

Girls Outfits made from curtains in Act 1, Scene 7; back to sailor costumes

Maria Attractive peasant costume with skirt, blouse, bodice, apron

Scene 10: A hallway in the villa, one week later.Female guests. Ball-gowns, gloves, headpieces

Male guests Tail suits, Bavarian uniforms or tyrolean dress costume

Capt. Von Trapp, Baron Everfeld, Max All tail suits, Max addition of top coat

Franz Formal butler livery

Maria Another peasant dress

Elsa Elegant ball-gown, gloves, hair piece

Girls Party dresses

Boys Blue suits

Scene 11: The living room, the same evening.Nuns Repeat

New postulant Nice suit or dress

Scene 12: A corridor in abbey.Nuns, Maria All repeat

Scene 13: Office of the Mother Abbess, three days later.ACT TWO

Scene 1: The terrace, same day.Max Another dapper suit

Girls Peasant costume

Boys Tyrolean trousers, shirt

Captain Von Trapp Dapper suit or sport clothes

Elsa Another afternoon dress

Maria Wears postulant dress of Act1, Scene 11

Franz Repeat

Scene 2: A corridor in Abbey, two weeks later.Postulants, Nuns Repeat

Mother Abbess Add ceremonial cape

Scene 3: Office of Mother Abbess, immediately following.Maria Wedding dress

Scene 4: A   cloister overlooking the chapel. Girls Dressed as flower girls, flower head pieces and

flowers for hands

Boys Repeat party suits

Captain Full dress admiral’s uniform and hat, sword

Nuns Repeat

Scene 5: The living room, a month later.Girls Peasant costume

Boys, Tyrolean costume

Herr Zeller Black suit with Nazi emblem on sleeve

Frau Schmidt Repeat, or optional change

Max, Franz, Rolf Repeat

Captain Conservative suit

Maria Travel suit, change to peasant dress if time permits

Von Schreiber German Admiral’s uniform

Scene 6: The concert hall, three days later.Captain Change coat only by adding tyrolean coat.

Maria Add apron, cap to peasant costume

Girls Repeat, add same style apron as Maria's and cap

Boys Add tyrolean coats and hats

Max Repeat tail suit

Female Trio Peasant costumes

Fraulein Schweiger Very garish evening gown, head plume

SS Men German SS uniforms

Rolf German uniform

Scene 7: The garden of Nonnberg Abbey, that night.Maria Add cape

Captain and Children All add capes

Rolf Repeat Act 2,-Scene 6

All others Repeat

Please Note: This wardrobe plot indicates our interpretation of the costume needs of the production. It is intended to provide you with required costume changes and a feeling of the costume styles.

PUPPETEERS- Great opportunity for Big Dance Number

Act IScene1 The Nonnberg Abbey No set props.Scene2 A Mountainside No set props.Scene3 The Office of the Mother Abbess Desk Possibly one or two small chairs.Scene4 A Corridor in the Abbey No set props.Scene5 The Von Trapp Living Room Stairs small table Scene6 Outside the Villa BenchScene7 Maria’s Bedroom Window with curtains on wagon. Bed Scene8 A Hallway in the Villa No set props.Scene9 Terrace of the Villa Small table. Possibly some chairs.Scene10 A Hallway in the Villa NothingScene11 The Von Trapp Living Room Balcony, stairs.Scene12 A Corridor in the Abbey NothingScene13 The Office of the Mother Abbess Desk (optional – same as before)

Act IIScene1 Terrace of the VillaScene2 A Corridor in the Abbey No set props.Scene3 The Office of the Mother Abbess More likely: Somewhere inside the abbey.Scene4 Cloister overlooking the chapel No set props.Scene5 The Von Trapp Living Room Same as before.Scene6 Concert Hall Nazi Flags are released.Scene7 Garden of the Abbey Large gravestone on wagon.