ITV is continuing to add to the cast of The Sound Of Music Live!
Maria Friedman (The Woman in White, Chicago) and Mel Giedroyc (Sadie J, The Great British Bake Off) have landed co-starring roles opposite lead Kara Tointon in ITV’s live production based on the original musical, which is set to air this Christmas.
The Sound Of Music Live! will retell the timeless and true story of Maria, as played by Mr Selfridge alum Kara Toniton, and the von Trapp family and is based on the original stage musical. The production will feature the songs from the classic score by Rodgers and Hammerstein, including How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, Edelweiss, Do-Re-Mi, My Favorite Things, Climb Ev’ry Mountain and the title song.
Maria Friedman will play Mother Abbess, while Mel Giedroyc has been cast as Frau Schmidt. Further cast additions include Evelyn Hoskins (Carrie: The Musical, Misfits) as Liesl von Trapp, Jon Tarcy, (Lucky Man) as Rolf Gruber, Paul Copley (Downton Abbey) as Franz, David Bamber (Rome) as Herr Zeller, Claire Oberman (Patriot Games) as Frau Zeller, Paul Jesson (The Normal Heart) as Admiral von Schreiber, Peter Vollerbregt (Silent Witness) as the Lieutenant, James Lailey (Romeo & Juliet) as Baron Elberfeld and Jane How (Easy Virtue) as Baroness Elberfeld.
They are the latest additions to the cast, which is being led by Kara Tointon as Maria von Trapp. As TVWise previously reported, other cast members include Downton Abbey’s Julian Ovenden as Captain Georg von Trapp, Katherine Kelly (Mr Selfridge, She Stoops To Conquer) as Baroness Elsa Schraeder and Alexander Armstrong (Pointless, Danger Mouse) as Max Detweiler.
ITV’s sister studio ITV Studios is producing The Sound Of Music Live!, with André Ptaszynski, Lee Connolly and Fiona Clark executive producing. BAFTA nominated director Coky Giedroyc (Penny Dreadful) is the Creative Director; Tony award winner Martin Koch (Mamma Mia!) is the Musical Director; while Richard Valentine will serve as the Live Television Director. Rehearsals for the live production are now underway. The two and half hour musical drama will be produced on the soundstages at London’s Three Mills Studios.
