UK Theatre Network

REALITY show winner Connie Fisher will bring the stage of the Sunderland Empire alive with the sound of music as she reprises her role as Maria Von Trapp in the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music.

The theatre will exclusively host the North East leg of the tour in November and tickets will be on sale to the public from next Monday.

Connie Fisher landed the lead role after winning the BBC 1 reality show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? The contest was a ratings triumph and over two million viewers voted in the final of the competition.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production has played at the London Palladium for over two years to huge critical acclaim. Connie Fisher starred as the leading lady for 15 months, before going on to star in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of They’re Playing Our Song alongside Alistair McGowan. She most recently appeared in ITV’s drama Caught In a Trap during the festive season.

This lavish production of The Sound of Music, which will be directed by Jeremy Sams and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing diva Arlene Phillips, tells the uplifting story of the Von Trapp family’s escape from the Nazi’s in wartime Austria. The show boasts an unforgettable score, by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, that includes some of the most memorable songs in the history of musical theatre including Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, My Favourite Things and the title song, The Sound of Music.

The Sound of Music originally premiered on Broadway in 1959, winning six TONY awards including ‘Best Musical.’ It made its debut in London’s West End in 1961 and its last revival was in 1981, both productions enjoyed record-breaking runs. A Hollywood film was made in 1965, starring Julie Andrews, which won five Oscars

Joanne Wilkins, Acting Marketing Manager said: “Sunderland Empire is once again making its mark on the region as The West End of the North East.”

The Sound of Music is at the Sunderland Empire from 17 November to 5 December 2009. Tickets are available from Monday 19 January 2009.