PRESS RELEASE

CONNIE COMES HOME TO THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Connie Fisher will return to star as 'Maria' in the National UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and The Really Useful Group's smash hit production of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music opening at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on 26 July 2009, where it will play until 29 August 2009 (Box Office: 08700 40 2000).

The show will then visit the Bradford Alhambra from 2 - 26 September (Box Office: 01274 432 0000) and Southampton Mayflower from 29 September -24 October (Box Office: 02380 711 811). Further venues to be announced.

Connie Fisher won BBC 1's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and played the role at the London Palladium for 15 months to critical acclaim. She most recently starred in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of They’re Playing Our Song and will be seen in ITV's drama Caught in a Trap this Christmas.

This lavish production tells the story of the Von Trapp family’s flight across the mountains with its unforgettable score that includes some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage including 'My Favourite Things', 'Do-Re-Mi', 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', 'The Lonely Goatherd' and the title song 'The Sound of Music'.

The Sound of Music has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by 'The Trapp Family Singers' by Maria Augusta Trapp.

The Sound of Music will be directed by Jeremy Sams, with choreography by Arlene Phillips, design by Robert Jones, sound by Mick Potter and lighting by Mark Henderson.

This record-breaking run of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical opened to rave reviews and sell-out business at the London Palladium in November 2006 where it will close on 21 February 2009 after 954 performances. The production has now been seen by nearly 2 million people. The Sound of Music originally premiered on Broadway in 1959, when it won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show first opened in London in 1961 and its last London revival was in 1981, both productions having record-breaking runs. The 1965 Hollywood film, which starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, won five Oscars, including Best Picture.

25th November 2008