The Sound of Music to be performed for first time in South Asia

• Musical to take place early February 2018 
• Aim is to make Colombo a hub of entertainment: 
• Dilip Mudadeniya
• To be performed by the original cast themselves
• Auditions opened for children to play the Von Trapp children

By Shannon Jayawardena

Cinnamon Life presents the 1965 American musical ‘The Sound of Music’ to Sri Lanka not just for the first time in the country but for the first time in South Asia as well. The event is to take place from 14-18 February 2018 at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre.

With the aim of transforming Colombo into an entertainment hub Cinnamon Life has partnered with Broadway Asia International and will mark the inaugural project of the two organisations. Broadway Asia International is one of the biggest productions, management, distribution, licensing and touring companies of live entertainment in the Asia Pacific Region. 

John Keells group Vice President and Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Brand Marketing Head Dilip Mudadeniya said, “The whole reason for this event is to make Colombo a hub of entertainment. Today many locals travel to foreign countries such Singapore, Malaysia and so on whereas this show will turn Colombo into a site of attraction like Sri Lanka has never seen before.”

The production will be done by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian’s The Really Useful Group. The musical based on the memoir of Maria Von Trapp will be featuring the original cast starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein. 

My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Every Mountain, Edelweiss, The Lonely Goatherd, Sixteen going on Seventeen and The Sound of Music are few of the songs that will be performed by the crew on stage. This theatrical piece that has already marked its place on several grand international stages such as the West End and Broadway will enable the local audience to experience Broadway like never before.

Shows will take place from 7:30-10 p.m. on 14-18 February 2018 with a reiterating show from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be available for purchase only after 28 December 2017. 

Tickets will be sold under four categories, Rs. 20,000 under the first, Rs. 15,000 under the second, Rs. 10,000 under the third and Rs. 7,500 under the fourth category and can be purchased on Cinnamon Life’s online website ‘www.cinnamonboxoffice.com’.

Cinnamon Life at present has opened auditions for children between the ages six-fifteen who are interested in playing the Von Trapp Children for the event that is to take place early next year. Auditions will be closed on 21 December.

The Sound of Music will enhance the Broadway platform in Sri Lanka and will give youngsters with the partiality for the field the opportunity to pursue their aspirations. The event will further enable the Lankan audience to experience and witness a world class, award winning musical in the country itself.

The event is sponsored by Nations Trust Bank and American Express while the Destination partner is the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Airline partner is SriLankan Airlines, Skills Development Partner is British Council, Banking Partner is Nations Trust Bank Private Banking, Inbound Travel partner is Walkers Tours, Print Media and Web partners are Daily FT, Sunday Times, Daily Mirror, Life online, Daily Mirror.lk, Hi Magazine and HI TV, Creative partner is JWT, Digital Print partners are Anim8 and Outdoor and the Media partner is Emerging Media.