Cast images are from the official 'SOM' tour website.

Belfast abuzz with 'Music'

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.

Cast images are from the official 'SOM' tour website.

 Edinburgh's hills are alive

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