February 22, 2010
- 'The Sound of Music' crosses the Irish Sea to the
Belfast Opera House. Opening Wednesday 24
February, the show runs until Saturday 20 March. Produced by David Ian Productions and Andrew Lloyd Webber's
The Really Useful Group, the musical stars Michael Praed and Connie Fisher in the
lead roles.
Maria, a lively tomboy novice in
an Austrian abbey, isn't fitting into somber convent life.
To give her an opportunity to get away from the abbey to
reconsider her future, the Mother Abbess sends her to the lavish
household of Captain Georg Von Trapp, a widower with seven
children. Maria is to be the governess to his emotionally
neglected children. As Maria reconciles her growing love for the
children's father with her desire to become a nun, the looming Nazi menace in nearby
Germany threatens to overwhelm them all.
When tickets were made available
last August, it caused such a rush that the theatre’s telephone lines jammed and ticket system crashed.
The resulting sales set the record for the most tickets sold in a show's first hour of availability
in the theatre's 114 year history, even with the system failures. Please contact the
Opera House directly
here for remaining tickets. If you would like additional information on the tour venues, please check our
'Sound of Music' reference page
Silverstone Racetrack for Michael's birthday
February 16, 2010
- As most of you are aware, Michael's 50th birthday
is rapidly approaching. It will arrive on Thursday, 1 April.
Michael will be busy performing 'The Sound of Music' in Aberdeen
then, but we have plans that will enable him to celebrate when
it is convenient for him, courtesy of Fanfare.
Many of you know
that Michael loves sports cars, so our gift to Michael will be
a holiday at
Silverstone Racetrack, the home of British Racing.
Professional racecar driver/instructor
Rob Barff will be
coaching Michael one-to-one on techniques to handle a racecar, then
they'll spend an hour on the track with Michael driving. A tour of the
track's facilities and Race Control is also on the schedule.
Fanfare was prepared
to cover the cost of the coaching session, however, when the good
folks at Silverstone heard who was taking part in the event,
they offered to absorb the cost themselves for the publicity photos, if Michael
was willing. This was fine with Michael, so plans are proceeding.
So why do we still have a
donation button here? Because Fanfare will be covering the
accommodations and dining for Michael's adventure. We are
arranging to pay for a gift card to
Whittlebury Hall Hotel, a
four-star hotel renown for it's excellent food and relaxing spa
just 3 miles from Silverstone. We are trying to raise
£260 to cover the cost of a 'Club Room', a lavish dinner and
whatever extras Michael may want to experience.
We'd like to get the money
collected in time to present it on his birthday, so we are
setting a deadline of Thursday, 4 March. This should give
us time to purchase the card and get it to Michael.
Records will be kept so we have
the names of contributors to give to Michael. Please join
us.
Michael's 50th birthday present
More contract hints
February 7, 2010
- Recent comments from Michael confirm that his involvement with
'The Sound of Music' will probably end 21 June. Although he
isn't ruling out all possibility of carrying on, Michael is
making strong hints that he may have other professional commitments
waiting at the conclusion of his appearance in Eastbourne this summer.
At this point, it is safer to assume Michael won't be a
part of the cast later in the year. If we hear differently, we'll
let you know.
Note: Be
aware that Michael's status in the cast at Woking and Birmingham
is doubtful at this point. If you buy tickets after June 21st in
'The Sound of Music', you probably won't see him.
Thanks go to Michael
Praed fans Jayne and Jacci for bringing our attention to this matter.
January 19, 2010
- 'The Sound of Music' moves to the hills of
Edinburgh this week. The famous musical is produced by David Ian Productions and Andrew Lloyd Webber's
The Really Useful Group and stars Michael Praed and Connie Fisher in the starring roles.
The show runs from Tuesday 19 January until Saturday 20 February
at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
Maria, a lively tomboy novice in
an Austrian abbey, isn't fitting into somber convent life.
To give her an opportunity to get away from the abbey to
reconsider her future, the Mother Abbess sends her to the lavish
household of Captain Georg Von Trapp, a widower with seven
children. Maria is to be the governess to his emotionally
neglected children. As Maria reconciles her growing love for the
children's father with her desire to become a nun, the looming Nazi menace in nearby
Germany threatens to overwhelm them all.
As usual for this tour, tickets
have been popular and not many are left. Please contact the theatre directly
here for tickets. If you would like additional information on the tour venues, please check our
'Sound of Music' reference page
December 14, 2009
- Usurping the holiday pantos in Manchester this year
is the family musical 'The Sound of Music'. The hit UK tour
stars Michael Praed as Captain Von Trapp and Connie Fisher as
Maria. Opening night is Tuesday 15 December at the Palace
Theatre. After ringing in the new year, the show runs until Saturday
16 January.
Lively Maria, a novice in
an Austrian abbey, isn't fitting into somber convent life.
To give her an opportunity to get away from the abbey to
think her future through, the Mother Abbess sends her to the lavish
household of Captain Georg Von Trapp, a widower with seven
children. Maria is to be the governess to his emotionally
neglected children.
As Maria reconciles her growing love for the
children's father with her desire to become a nun, the looming Nazi menace in nearby
Germany threatens to overwhelm them all.
The production features
some of the most famous songs in musical history, 'The Sound of
Music' tour is produced by David Ian Productions and Andrew
Lloyd Webber's The Really Useful Group.
Fans in
Manchester report that tickets have been selling briskly.
Not many are left. Please contact the theatre directly
here for tickets. If you would like additional information on the tour venues, please check our
'Sound of Music' reference page
SOM contract hints
December 5, 2009
- Michael has been telling fans his
involvement in the
UK tour with 'The Sound of Music' is contracted up to June 21st,
the conclusion of his appearance in Eastbourne. At that
point, his continued participation is up in the air. It depends on
whether the relevant production companies (David Ian Productions,
Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Really Useful Theatre Group) ask him to stay
and whether Michael has other professional commitments that
would interfere.
Note: Be
aware that Michael's status in the cast at Woking and Birmingham
is up in the air. If you buy tickets after June 21st in
'The Sound of Music', you may not see him.
We'll let you know if we hear any
further news one way or the other.
Thanks go to Michael
Praed fans Jayne and Jacci for bringing our attention to this matter.
November 17, 2009
- The hit UK tour of ‘The Sound of Music’,
starring Connie Fisher as Maria and Michael Praed as Captain Von Trapp,
opens tonight at the Sunderland Empire. The show runs until Saturday 5 December. Featuring some of
the most famous songs in musical history, 'The Sound of Music' tour is produced
by David Ian Productions and Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Really Useful Group.
High-spirited Maria, a novice in
Austria's somber Nonnberg Abbey, is a bit of a misfit. In
order to give her an opportunity to get away from the abbey to
think things through, the Mother Abbess sends her to the lavish
household of Captain Georg Von Trapp, a widower with seven
children. Maria is to be the governess to his emotionally
neglected children.
As Maria reconciles her growing love for the
children's father with her desire to become a nun, the looming Nazi menace in nearby
Germany threatens to overwhelm them all.
For tickets, please contact
the theatre directly
here. Tickets have been selling at a sell-out pace, so please act
quickly
to avoid disappointment. If you would like additional information on the tour venues, please check our
'Sound of Music' reference page
Eastbourne and Woking added to 2010 tour
November 13, 2009
- Two theatres, one in Eastbourne and one in Woking,
have been added to the 2010 'Sound of Music' tour schedule.
The Congress Theatre in Eastbourne will host the musical from 1 June
to 19 June. Michael went to school at Eastbourne for many years.
Woking's venue will be the New Victoria Theatre and the play will be
presented from 22 June to 10 July. Note: Michael's presence is
not guaranteed in Woking at this point. To view performance schedules,
please view the theatre websites directly or go to our
'Sound of Music' reference page.
