How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? - from Saturday 29 July 2006, 6.50pm, 91Èȱ¬ ONE
Introduction
91Èȱ¬ ONE is shining the spotlight on the world of musical theatre with a nationwide search for a new West End Star – but with a twist.
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the role is for real
- the show is for real
- absolutely anyone can try for the part
but this time the public is the casting director.
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Graham Norton is the master of ceremonies in a brand new live Saturday night show that is giving one plucky wannabe the chance of a lifetime – to win a professional lead role in a West End musical.
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Legendary composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber and prolific theatre producer David
Ian are bringing The Sound of Music - one of the most loved and known musicals of the past 50 years - back to the West End Stage and they are looking for a new 'Maria von Trapp'.
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The role, made famous and iconic by Julie Andrews in the
1965 movie, will be a coveted one but this time the lord of the theatre
and a panel of experts in the fields of music and theatre have relinquished
their powers and given the decision to the viewing nation.
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Who could take on such a famous role and make it their own?
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Who would be the modern day choice for Maria?
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Who can win over the public and show a spark of something
special?
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Who has the drive, guts and sheer determination to cut the
mustard and win a six month standard leading role contract on the West
End stage?
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Thousands of potential Marias will be whittled down to just ten finalists who will then perform live each week for Andrew Lloyd Webber and a panel of three expert critics – including David Ian, one of the biggest theatre producers in the UK, John
Barrowman, leading man and musical theatre stalwart, and Zoe
Tyler, a tough vocal coach.
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But most importantly they will perform in front of the nation,
and it is the viewers who will vote each week for the person they want
to see play Maria.
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This time the professionals don't get the casting vote - only the viewers can decide.
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Nun shall sing
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Over the past few months - through open auditions, intense coaching, callbacks, and live performances - thousands of girls have battled it out to prove they have the talent and drive to be a new West End star and, more importantly, a new Maria von Trapp.
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The open auditions
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Totally open auditions were held across the UK in Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff and London.
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Whether trained actors, drama school students, or untrained
raw talents – any one over the age of 17 could come and show what
they could do - and they did!
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Mums, students, actors, teachers, van drivers,
checkout girls, singers, dancers (and even some men) tried their
luck, gave it their all and sang for their supper.
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Their nerves were out
in abundance and the tension in the air was sliceable. There were
tears of joy and disappointment as some went through to the next round
and others did not make the grade.
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The callbacks
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Only 200 made it to the London callbacks where our expert panel held court while the plucky West End wannabes auditioned in front of their fellow potential 'Marias' to be the best and win a place at 'Maria School'.
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Maria School
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Only 52 made it through - and over an intensive four days of hard work they
were given the opportunity to get exclusive vocal and drama coaching, put
their voices through their paces... and were cruelly whittled
down to just 20.
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Performing for a Lord
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Andrew Lloyd Webber invited the final 20 hopefuls to perform at his country home at Sydmonton where he held a garden party for friends and family.
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Converted from a church into a small theatre, the setting
of the performance had previously housed rehearsals for many of Andrew's
shows and West End stars from Sarah Brightman and Jason Donovan to Michael
Crawford had trodden the boards there.
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The final 20 - some of whom
had never sung to an audience before - had to show what they could
do in front of the prestigious crowd which included a wealth of famous
faces from stage and screen.
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Then came the hard part - Andrew and our
panel agonised over who deserved to be the ten finalists who would
go through to the live show to be judged by the nation.
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The final cut...
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Now the ten final Marias will perform live every week, singing a range of themed songs in front of Andrew Lloyd Webber, the panel and the viewers to show that they have the voice, the skill and the guts to tread the boards for real.
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Then the voting begins and the nation will decide who will
go home and who could go on to the role of a lifetime.
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