THE SOUND OF MUSIC
The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world's most
beloved musical. When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched
to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with
the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern
Captain, and they marry. Upon returning from their honeymoon, they discover that Austria has
been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the Captain's immediate service in their navy. The
family's narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one
of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in the theatre. The motion picture
version remains the most popular movie musical of all time.
Cast Requirements:
PRINCIPALS
3 Women
5 Girls (ages 5, 7, 9, 13 and 16)
2 Men
2 Boys (ages 11 and 14)
FEATURED
4 Women
2 Men
ENSEMBLE
Neighbours of Captain von Trapp,
nuns,
novices,
postulants, and
contestants at the Festival Concert
CHARACTERS
Maria Rainer - a Postulant at Nonnberg Abbey, Lead. 21-32yo. Soprano
The Mother Abbess Supporting. 40-70yo. Soprano
Sister Berthe - Mistress of Novices. Cameo. 40-70yo. Mezzo
Sister Margaretta - Mistress of Postulants. Cameo. 40-65yo. Mezzo
Sister Sophia Cameo. 40-65yo. Mezzo
Captain Georg von Trapp Lead. 40-60yo. Baritone
Franz - the butler Cameo. 30-65yo. Speaking only
Frau Schmidt - the housekeeper Cameo. 30-45yo. Speaking Only
Liesl von Trapp – Supporting. 15-18yo. Mezzo
Friedrich von Trapp – Supporting 13-15yo Soprano
Louisa von Trapp – Supporting 12-14yo. Mezzo
Kurt von Trapp – Supporting. 8-12yo. Soprano
Brigitta von Trapp – Supporting 8-10yo. Mezzo
Marta von Trapp – Supporting 6-9yo. Mezzo
Gretl von Trapp - the youngest Supporting. 4-7yo. mezzo
Rolf Gruber – Supporting. 16-20yo. Baritone
Elsa Schraeder Supporting. 30-40yo. Alto
Max Detweiler Supporting 30-55yo. Baritone
Herr Zeller Cameo 20=50yo
Admiral von Schreiber Cameo 40-60yo
Neighbours of Captain von Trapp, nuns, novices, postulants, and contestants at the
Festival Concert
Set Requirements: THE SOUND OF MUSIC takes place in Austria, early in 1938.
SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
Nonnberg Abbey
Mountainside near the Abbey
The Office of the Mother Abbess
A Corridor in the Abbey
The Living Room of the Trapp Villa
Outside the Trapp Villa
Maria's Bedroom
The Terrace of the Trapp Villa
A Hallway in the Trapp Villa
A Cloister Overlooking the Chapel
The Concert Hall The Garden of Nonnberg
Alley
Genre / Style: Musical Drama
Rehearsal / Orchestral Material: Rehearsal Set - 20 Libretto-Vocal Books, 2 PIANO VOCAL
SCORE. Orchestra Package (25 Books) 1 PIANO VOCAL SCORE, 1 FLUTE I, 1 FLUTE II
(Doubling Piccolo), 1 OBOE (Doubling English Horn), 1 CLARINET I, 1 CLARINET II, 1
BASSOON, 1 HORN I, 1 HORN II, 1 HORN III, 1 TRUMPET I, 1 TRUMPET II, 1 TRUMPET III, 1
TROMBONE I, 1 TROMBONE II, 1 TUBA, 1 PERCUSSION, 1 GUITAR (Doubling Mandolin), 1
HARP, 1 OPTIONAL PIANO, 1 VIOLIN I (Divisi), 1 VIOLIN II (Divisi), 1 VIOLA (Divisi), 1 CELLO
(Divisi), 1 BASS. Optional material: Additional Songs: “I Have Confidence” and “Something Good”
from the movie. Two-Piano Arrangement Act 1 & Act 2. Partitur (Full Score for Conductor).
Synthesizer String Book
Musical Numbers:
The Sound of Music,
Maria,
My Favourite Things,
The Lonely Goatherd,
Do-Re-Mi,
Climb Ev'ry Mountain,
Edelweiss,
Sixteen Going on Seventeen,
So Long Farewell.
Maria Von Trapp
Here is a breakdown of the character 'Maria von Trapp' from
'The Sound of Music'.
Occupation - Maria is a nun at Nonnberg Abbey, Salzburg
(Austria) but is sent to become the governess at the Von Trapp
Villa. She works for Captain Von Trapp and looks after his 7
children.
Marriage - She marries Captain Georg Von Trapp and
become Maria Von Trapp.
Appearance - Maria arrives at the Von Trapp Villa with one
dress, a hat and her guitar stating that 'all her worldly clothes
were given to the poor' but 'the poor didn't want this one'. The
Captain arranges for her to be given material to make herself
more dresses.
Hobbies - Maria loves to sing and this often got her in trouble
in the Abbey, however becomes very useful with the children. She teaches them to sing ( Do-ReMi ) and they eventually end up performing in the Salzburg Music Festival.
Personal Traits - Maria has a huge and exciting imagination and is very adventurous. Throughout
the movie you see her make 'play clothes' for the 7 Von Trapp Children from the curtains which
previously hung in her room, as well as taking them tree climbing and boating on the lake. She is a
very 'fun' character and believes the children should have more fun so attempts to introduce this
into their lives.
Austria early 1938
ACT ONE
Scene 1: Nonnberg Abbey.
Nuns
Black habit, scapular, wimple, collar, veil, rope-tie
Novices
Same as Nuns, only white veils
Postulants
Calf length black dress, black short cape, veil with
white band
Scene 2: Mountainside near the Abbey.
Maria
Dressed as a postulant
Bertha, Sophia, Margaretta
Nun’s habits
Scene 3: Office of Mother Abbess, the next morning.
Mother Abbess
Habit
Scene 4: A corridor in the Abbey.
All
Repeat
Scene 5: Living Room of the Trapp villa, that afternoon.
Captain Von Trapp
Casual blazer coat, trousers
Franz
Daytime butler’s livery, apron, vest, trousers
Frau Schmidt
Housekeeper’s dress, apron
Maria
Dated unattractive dress, hat, large old-time bag
Gretl age 6, Marta age 7, Brigitta age 9
Louisa age 13, Liesl age 16
Blue sailor dresses , Blue hose
Kurt age 11, Friedrich age 14
Blue sailor suits, short pants style
Scene 6: Outside the Trapp villa, that night.
Liesl
Repeat
Rolf
Tyrolean pants, shirt, hat, stutzen and tie
Scene 7: Maria's bedroom, later that evening.
Maria
Robe over nightgown
Girls
Identical nightgowns
Boys
Identical pyjamas
Frau Schmidt
Repeat
Liesl
Optional change to smudged duplicate of dress
from Act1, Scene 6
Scene 8: A hallway in the Trapp villa.
All
Repeat
Scene 9: Terrace of the Villa, six weeks later.
Franz
Same, remove apron
Elsa
Styled morning dress, can be skirt and blouse
Captain Von Trapp
Daytime change, possibly to tyrolean flavour
Ursula
Tyrolean maid’s uniform
Max
Dapper sporty attire
Rolf
Repeat
Girls
Outfits made from curtains in Act 1, Scene 7; back
to sailor costumes
Maria
Attractive peasant costume with skirt, blouse,
bodice, apron
Scene 10: A hallway in the villa, one week later.
Female guests.
Ball-gowns, gloves, headpieces
Male guests
Tail suits, Bavarian uniforms or tyrolean dress
costume
Capt. Von Trapp, Baron Everfeld, Max
All tail suits, Max addition of top coat
Franz
Formal butler livery
Maria
Another peasant dress
Elsa
Elegant ball-gown, gloves, hair piece
Girls
Party dresses
Boys
Blue suits
Scene 11: The living room, the same evening.
Nuns
Repeat
New postulant
Nice suit or dress
Scene 12: A corridor in abbey.
Nuns, Maria
All repeat
Scene 13: Office of the Mother Abbess, three days later.
ACT TWO
Scene 1: The terrace, same day.
Max
Another dapper suit
Girls
Peasant costume
Boys
Tyrolean trousers, shirt
Captain Von Trapp
Dapper suit or sport clothes
Elsa
Another afternoon dress
Maria
Wears postulant dress of Act1, Scene 11
Franz
Repeat
Scene 2: A corridor in Abbey, two weeks later.
Postulants, Nuns
Repeat
Mother Abbess
Add ceremonial cape
Scene 3: Office of Mother Abbess, immediately following.
Maria
Wedding dress
Scene 4: A cloister overlooking the chapel.
Girls
Dressed as flower girls, flower head pieces and
flowers for hands
Boys
Repeat party suits
Captain
Full dress admiral’s uniform and hat, sword
Nuns
Repeat
Scene 5: The living room, a month later.
Girls
Peasant costume
Boys,
Tyrolean costume
Herr Zeller
Black suit with Nazi emblem on sleeve
Frau Schmidt
Repeat, or optional change
Max, Franz, Rolf
Repeat
Captain
Conservative suit
Maria
Travel suit, change to peasant dress if time permits
Von Schreiber
German Admiral’s uniform
Scene 6: The concert hall, three days later.
Captain
Change coat only by adding tyrolean coat.
Maria
Add apron, cap to peasant costume
Girls
Repeat, add same style apron as Maria's and cap
Boys
Add tyrolean coats and hats
Max
Repeat tail suit
Female Trio
Peasant costumes
Fraulein Schweiger
Very garish evening gown, head plume
SS Men
German SS uniforms
Rolf
German uniform
Scene 7: The garden of Nonnberg Abbey, that night.
Maria
Add cape
Captain and Children
All add capes
Rolf
Repeat Act 2,-Scene 6
All others
Repeat
Please Note: This wardrobe plot indicates our interpretation of the costume needs of the
production. It is intended to provide you with required costume changes and a feeling of the
costume styles.
PUPPETEERS- Great opportunity for Big Dance Number
Act I
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 6
Scene 7
Scene 8
Scene 9
Scene 10
Scene 11
Scene 12
Scene 13
The Nonnberg Abbey
A Mountainside
The Office of the Mother Abbess
A Corridor in the Abbey
The Von Trapp Living Room
Outside the Villa
Maria’s Bedroom
A Hallway in the Villa
Terrace of the Villa
A Hallway in the Villa
The Von Trapp Living Room
A Corridor in the Abbey
The Office of the Mother Abbess
No set props.
No set props.
Desk Possibly one or two small chairs.
No set props.
Stairs small table
Bench
Window with curtains on wagon. Bed
No set props.
Small table. Possibly some chairs.
Nothing
Balcony, stairs.
Nothing
Desk (optional – same as before)
Act II
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 6
Scene 7
Terrace of the Villa
A Corridor in the Abbey
The Office of the Mother Abbess
Cloister overlooking the chapel
The Von Trapp Living Room
Concert Hall
Garden of the Abbey
No set props.
More likely: Somewhere inside the abbey.
No set props.
Same as before.
Nazi Flags are released.
Large gravestone on wagon.