By Amy Somensky Apr 26, 2007, 3:42 GMT
London: Margaret Preece will assume the role of Mother Abbess in the West End production of The Sound of Music on April 30th. She replaces Lesley Garrett in the role. Preece currently stars as Sister Sophia and as the alternate for the role of Mother Abbess.
Besides her time with the English National Opera, Scottish Opera, and Opera North, Preece has been seen in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera as Carlotta. She also sang the role of Carlotta in the film version of Phantom, which was dubbed for Minnie Driver.
The musical opened November 15, 2006 at the London Palladium. Leading the production six performances a week is How do you Solve a Problem Like Maria winner Connie Fisher. Fisher's competitor from the program, Aoife Mulholland, plays the Monday evening and Wednesday matinee performances. Also starring is Alexander Hanson as Captain von Trapp, Lesley Garrett as Mother Abbess, Lauren Ward as The Baroness, Ian Gelder as Max, Sophie Bould as Liesel, and Neil McDermott as Rolf.
The ensemble features Christopher Blades, Anthony Cable, Ian Caddick, Vivien Care, Tanya Caridia, Christopher Connah, Kate Coysten, Deborah Crowe, Christopher Dickens, Katie Fabel, Susie Fenwick, John Griffiths, Amanda Hall, Paul Kemble, Emma Lindars, Ian Male, Claire Massie, Nicholas Maude, Gavin Mitford, Jo Napthine, Verity Quade, Katie Ray, Simon Schofield, Nicola Sloane, Alan Vicary, Helen Walsh, Elen Mon Wayne, Jane Webster, Kerry Winter, and Vanessa Woodfine.
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 creative team features direction by Jeremy Sams, choreography by Arlene Phillips, design by Robert Jones, sound by Mick Potter, and lighting by Mark Henderson.
The musical 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.
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