Show guide
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a beloved Golden Age classic that blends soaring melodies with the true story of a family finding courage and unity in the shadow of history.
- Broadway premiere
- 1959
- Music by
- Richard Rodgers
- Genre
- Golden Age
- Setting
- 1930s
The Sound of Music: quick answers
What is The Sound of Music about?
- The Sound of Music follows Maria, a free-spirited postulant sent to be governess to the seven children of widowed naval captain Georg von Trapp, whose family she fills with music and whose heart she wins as the Nazis prepare to annex Austria.
When did The Sound of Music open on Broadway?
- The Sound of Music opened on Broadway on November 16, 1959, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, starring Mary Martin, and ran until June 15, 1963, for 1,443 performances. It tied with Fiorello! for the Tony Award for Best Musical.
Is The Sound of Music a Golden Age musical?
- Yes. The Sound of Music opened in 1959, late in Broadway's Golden Age, and was the final musical Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote together, a classic book musical with a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.
Where and when is The Sound of Music set?
- The Sound of Music is set in and around Salzburg, Austria, in 1938, on the eve of the Anschluss.
Has The Sound of Music played in London's West End?
- The Sound of Music opened in the West End at the Palace Theatre on May 18, 1961. A 2006 London Palladium revival starred Connie Fisher, chosen through the BBC talent show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?.
Is there a The Sound of Music movie?
- The 1965 film directed by Robert Wise, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, won five Oscars including Best Picture. NBC aired a live TV version in 2013 starring Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer.
The story of The Sound of Music
Set in Austria in the 1930s, the musical follows Maria, a spirited postulant sent from her convent to serve as governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer. Her warmth and love of music slowly transform the strict household, and her growing bond with the family deepens as political tensions rise around them.
The show is grounded in real history, drawing on events surrounding the family's life as Austria falls increasingly under the shadow of the encroaching Nazi regime. That historical backdrop gives emotional weight to what might otherwise be a simple, heartwarming story, turning it into a tale of love, family, and quiet resistance.
The music and the makers
Richard Rodgers composed the music, marking the final collaboration between Rodgers and his longtime partner Oscar Hammerstein II, whose lyrics brought the same warmth and craftsmanship that defined their earlier work together. The book was written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, and the partnership of Rodgers and Hammerstein, which had already shaped the sound of Golden Age Broadway, closed its chapter on a soaring, deeply personal note.
The score is full of bright, singable melodies and tender character songs that have become deeply embedded in popular culture, ranging from playful children's numbers to stirring anthems of hope and love.
The Sound of Music on Broadway
The Sound of Music opened on Broadway in 1959, arriving as one of the last great works of the Golden Age and a fitting capstone to Rodgers and Hammerstein's influential partnership. Its combination of heartfelt storytelling and glorious melody made it an instant favorite.
Its enduring popularity has made it one of the most beloved musicals of all time, cherished across generations for its uplifting music, its moving family story, and its ability to find warmth and hope within a genuinely difficult historical moment.
The Sound of Music: frequently asked questions
When did The Sound of Music open on Broadway?
The Sound of Music opened on Broadway in 1959.
Who composed The Sound of Music?
Richard Rodgers composed the music, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II in their final collaboration together and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.
What is The Sound of Music about?
It follows Maria, a governess who brings music and warmth to a widowed naval officer's family in 1930s Austria as political tensions rise around them.
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