Carrie Underwood To Play Maria Von Trapp In 2013 NBC Live Presentation Of “The Sound Of Music” Musical

By On 11/30/2012 · 95 Comments · In Carrie Underwood

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Wow. Carrie Underwood has been alluding to a special project in 2013 that was outside her “comfort zone.” It’s been revealed, and she wasn’t kidding. Check out the press release.

Five-time Grammy winner Carrie Underwood will star in the coveted role of Maria von Trapp in NBC’s live broadcast of “The Sound of Music,” based on the original Broadway musical, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. The live telecast of “The Sound of Music” will be a three-hour event on a date to be announced near the holidays in 2013.

NBC is partnering with the acclaimed “Smash” producing team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (film versions of the Oscar-winning “Chicago” and “Hairspray”) for “The Sound of Music.” The pair is also producing the upcoming “85th Annual Academy Awards.”

“Speaking for everyone at NBC, we couldn’t be happier to have the gifted Carrie Underwood take up the mantle of the great Maria von Trapp,” said Greenblatt. “She was an iconic woman who will now be played by an iconic artist.”

“We’re thrilled to be presenting the Broadway version of ‘The Sound of Music’ live,” said Zadan and Meron, “and having Carrie Underwood as the star brings it to a new generation who will fall in love with it for the first time as many millions of people already have. It’s a particular joy to us as producers to see this amazing artist stretch into new territory with this classic musical.”

“To have a star like Carrie Underwood perform Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’ – and in such a very special and unique production — is exciting beyond words,” said Ted Chapin, President, Rodgers & Hammerstein. “Part of the magic of Rodgers and Hammerstein is how their work has adapted itself to so many different incarnations, and I am certain the fresh spirit Underwood brings to her own songs will transition into exciting versions of the classic songs we all know and love.”

“The Sound of Music,” set in pre-WWII Austria, is based on the romantic true story of Maria von Trapp, an aspiring nun who leaves the abbey to become a governess for the widower Captain von Trapp’s seven children and finds herself falling in love with her employer and questioning her religious calling. It premiered on Broadway in 1959, where it broke box-office records and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The 1965 film version won the Best Picture Oscar. Today it is an evergreen classic — as popular in opera houses and outdoor amphitheaters as it is in high school auditoriums. “The Sound of Music” features a libretto by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse and a score by Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) that includes “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Edelweiss,” and “So Long, Farewell.”

With more than 15 million albums sold worldwide, 16 #1 singles (seven of which were co-written by Underwood) and five Grammys, Underwood is fueled by a restless creative spirit as she released her most ambitious project yet in her current platinum-selling album “Blown Away.”

She’s won a vast array of awards, including three female vocalist awards from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). In 2010, when Underwood garnered her second win as ACM Entertainer of the Year, she became the first female artist in history to win the award twice. Underwood also received the ACM Triple Crown Award, thanks to her past wins for the categories of Entertainer of the Year, Top Female Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist. Underwood also has won seven American Music Awards, six People’s Choice Awards, nine CMT Music Awards, nine American Country Awards, and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song for “There’s a Place for Us” from “Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” which she both recorded and co-wrote. She became America’s sweetheart in 2005 when she won the fourth season of “American Idol,” a vehicle that transformed her from a shy Oklahoma girl with a great voice to a budding superstar.

Underwood’s 2005 debut, “Some Hearts,” topped Billboard’s Country Albums chart for 27 weeks, has sold over seven million copies, and was voted #1 Country Album of the Decade by Billboard. Her 2007 sophomore album, “Carnival Ride,” 2009’s “Play On,” and her current album, “Blown Away,” debuted atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Over the course of four albums, she’s saturated country radio with such #1 hits as “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats,” “So Small,” “Last Name,” “Cowboy Casanova,” “Good Girl” and “Blown Away.” Underwood is currently headlining “The Blown Away Tour,” performing internationally and in arenas across the U.S. and Canada well into 2013. She was the top-selling country female touring artist of 2008 and 2010, as her headline arena tours have played over 100 shows and to over one million fans each year.

Underwood expanded her resume making her film-acting debut in the 2011 feature “Soul Surfer,” following a guest TV role on “How I Met Your Mother.” She starred in her own holiday variety TV special in 2009, and has co-hosted the CMA Awards for the past five years.

Underwood is managed by XIX Entertainment and repped by CAA.

Via press release

This won’t be the first time Carrie takes on the beloved Sound of Music catalog. Carrie performed “The Sound of Music” for the ‘Movies Rock’ event back in 2007.

This earlier announcement about the NBC presentation emphasized this will be based on the stage musical, not the movie, which means it may include songs in the musical that weren’t in the movie.

Carrie’s Blown Away tour has a 2nd leg that runs through May 2013 (including some UK dates to be announced Monday). She has also scheduled some summer 2013 North American festival dates and will no doubt be invited back to cohost the 2013 CMA Awards in early November with Brad Paisley. But, it looks like she’ll be able to devote most of the summer and fall to prepping for this huge undertaking. No doubt there’ll be some questioning of whether she’ll be able to gain acceptance in a role made iconic by Julie Andrews and Mary Martin, so good luck and go get em, Carrie!

 
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  • Nadine_Bitch

    I like it when someone is so ballsy to try something out of their comfort zone. This is a rare challenging opportunity that she might not have again. I can’t think of anything why she would turn it down and besides she has time to prepare.

    I’m not a fan of Carrie in any stretch but I applaud for her braveness! For every Idols actually who are trying to broaden their skills and experience by trying something out of their usual way.
    As for her acting skill, well, I’ll judge after I watch the performance. She just might make me eat my words.

  • Incipit

    The only part in this show that requires some acting chops is the Mother Abbess, IMO, because she instigates a lot of the plot action. The other characters are often reacting to what she put in motion.

    She’s also the only cast member (Peggy Wood) who received an Academy Award nomination for her movie part, except for Julie Andrews.

    As far as the score is concerned – it doesn’t require classically trained voices to sing the songs that were used on stage, this was/is Musical Theater, a different sort of singing  - and IDK what this production will choose to leave in from the movie version, or omit from the stage version, but I would expect they will go with the more familiar Movie Score…and not even use all of that. It a Long A$$ Show, with no edits.

    This means, probably, no “An Ordinary Couple”, “No Way To Stop it”, “I Have Confidence”, “Something Good”, or “How Can Love Survive” – though they may use that as an instrumental in the “Goodbye Maria Waltz”.

    Carrie’s vocals are fine for “The Sound of Music”, as we have heard in the video – and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” is written in the same vein. There’s the two dramatic pieces from the stage show – and the Mother Abbess sings “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” in that version.

    After that – it’s all music that’s catchy and fun to sing (few are even solos) …Rogers and Hammerstein knew their stuff!

    “My Favorite Things”
    “Do, Re, Mi”
    “The Lonely Goatherd”
    “So Long, Farewell”

    Plus songs sung by other cast members:

    “Maria”
    “Sixteen Going On Seventeen”
    “Eidelweiss”

    See? Not such a challenge musically as it may have seemed to be. Carrie has already shown she can handle the Title song. Whatever she needs to learn about doing Musical Theater, blocking, cues, etc  can be taught – Carrie has proven to be a quick study, ever since her Idol days, IMO. This ought to be fun!

  • Ratna12

    Nobody will be able to replace Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, nobody ! Having said that, I’m excited to see what Carrie can do.

    I hope though, that even the young ones after watching this version, will try to see the original movie.
    I’ve never seen the Broadway play, so I can’t comment on how different it is from the movie.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/PVEFG2TOUIXSROKUSO2O2DOWWE Taylor

    The role of Maria is still a main role. There are still many lines, actions, reactions, blocking and staging, etc. to learn and carry out in a believable manner. This role is going to be about so much more than just singing the songs. That’s the easy part. People who have never done large stage shows have no idea what it takes to get to the point of a Broadway level type performance. That’s why these shows take months, even years to make it to the big stage. Every line and every movement is dissected and analyzed.

    Even though this part of Maria may appear to be an easier type role to play, Carrie still has a lot of work ahead of her just to prepare for something of this
    nature. This is a live stage show, not a TV sitcom or a minor part in a movie.
    No one is going to yell “cut” so you can do a scene over. A live show is a completely different from what type of acting Carrie has done in the past.
    She’s a brave person to attempt it, I hope the experience ends up being a good one for her and everyone involved with this project.

  • Axxxel

    .Have you seen the TV serie Glee lately… young twens singing classics as “Don’t cry for me Argentina”, “America ” (West Side Story) and “favorite things” (Sound of Music)…It is not perfect but at least it rekindled my interest for those musicals. and hopefullly makes the younger generation curious about that ‘weird music”.

    The Sound of Music is such a beautiful movie for me, about music, morals, war etc…. but I am not sure whether Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews will appeal to my 18 year old niece… So I don’t mind the remake of this musical (not movie !!)…..
    And I am sure that they will find a handsome well voiced elder captain (a broadway veteran preferably ) and adorable good singing children to balance off the rough edges of Carrie Underwood’s acting skills.

  • Axxxel

    Best example…. Adam Lambert singing “Mad World” on American Idol Season 8… Lots of people praising him for his rendition that is borrowed from that movie soundtrack (Donnie Darko or so)… but I was a bit bummed because I knew that the original british version was more fast paced (more like a dance song)…. Slowly I learned to appreciate the new versions but it took time…

    Time changes.. audience changes… tastes change…

  • Incipit

     A live show is a completely different from what type of acting Carrie has done in the past.

    She’s a brave person to attempt it, I hope the experience ends up being a good one for her and everyone involved with this project.

    I could easily agree with that last paragraph, Taylor, except for the “completely different” part – Carrie has been doing Live Shows on stage for sold out Arenas that required blocking, staging, costume changes, cues, dialogue, and yes, acting – when she’s putting across the emotion in a song like “Blown Away” or “Two Black Cadillacs”…that’s acting. Every segment of that sort of show is also dissected and analyzed before it is presented to the public…And no one yells “cut” for any mistakes that are made there either.

    The skill sets are not so different, many of them will translate as a basis for stage work, or be related enough to what she already has mastered to be familiar territory…but it still takes guts to step from one genre to another. All credit to her for that, and being ready to do the work –  I’m not downplaying that aspect at all. Good that there is plenty of time to prepare, and rehearse, and become comfortable on this ‘other’ kind of stage. I am no fan of country music, but I can see what she brings to her shows is more than just vocal skills.

    It also doesn’t hurt that the major wrinkles in any stage production of “The Sound of Music” have long ago been ironed out, through years and years of different productions…there are endless stage variations to chose from…or adapt to the venue and the available cast. No need to “Open in New Haven”. A smart producer and a skilled director, along with a cast that fits well – and I think Carrie can bring the goods. 

    JMO. Of Course.

  • http://twitter.com/AmirHazwan Amir Hazwan ?

    Go Carrie! Go blow them all away!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PSHFTD4YV3QOE3INABJUXZSWMU hillstreetblooz

     The UNSTOPPABLE Carrie Underwood! This is a helluva great get for her. The sentimenal softy side of me has loved The Sound of Music since first I saw Julie Andrews in the film version. I’ve no doubt Carrie will bring her own stamp to this role, and blow us all away… again.  Bravo Carrie!

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    When I first heard this news, I thought it would be a running production on Broadway; however, I think Carrie may be able to pull this off.  If they select strong Broadway veterans for the Captain and Mother Superior, the influence could help Carrie.  She has that sweet look and pretty voice, now Carrie just needs to take some acting lessons.

    Mother Superior has the most beautiful song (and the 11 o’clock number) in the show.

    I am anxious to see who will be taking on this role!

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    When I first heard this news, I thought it would be a running production on Broadway; however, I think Carrie may be able to pull this off.  If they select strong Broadway veterans for the Captain and Mother Superior, the influence could help Carrie.  She has that sweet look and pretty voice, now Carrie just needs to take some acting lessons.

    Mother Superior has the most beautiful song (and the 11 o’clock number) in the show.

    I am anxious to see who will be taking on this role!

  • halo9125

    Had the pleasure of seeing Carrie in concert last night- I don’t know if she can act or not- but she completely brought me to tears with “Temporary Home”.

    If she can take that kind of emotion and bring that to this role- it’s a great first step. I wish her luck.

    To think I remember when they said she had no stage presence. What a joke- she had the audience wrapped around her finger for 2 straight hours. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_S3ZGXZCUE2YYOS7QV6QSTKM4SA buffynut2001

    ROTFL!!!!!!!! (For real!)

  • julesb2183

    is this a concert type of performance or a full on production?

  • Incipit

    “We’re thrilled to be presenting the Broadway version of ‘The Sound of Music’ live,” 

    The information in the post says that a full on three hour production is planned, based on the stage musical, not the movie, julesb2183.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    Carrie did a terrific job singing “The Sound of Music” in that video MJ posted. She definitely has the vocal goods for this part, and the only question is whether she can handle the acting parts as well.

  • Truthiness2U

    Because there just aren’t any actresses who can sing well, so of course find someone who can sing well, but can’t act. Brilliant! 

    I like Carrie well enough, but this was a stupid thing for the show to do, and I doubt that Carrie will be able to improve her acting by the time this thing is made. Acting is harder than it looks, actually. It’s weird. One might not think so, but yeah, it is an actual talent. And given what I’ve seen of Carrie in other roles, it isn’t something she naturally posses and yes, I doubt she’ll be able to pick it up. I could be wrong. I’ve seen actors in roles when they were young/just starting out who were pretty darn bad, but who later on did become decent actors.

    But more often singers who try and act are bad, and stay bad. Just saying. 

  • stargazed

    There are so many Broadway Actors who would be wonderful playing the part; actors with glorious voices.  Carrie is neither an actor nor has a glorious voice.  Her voice is wonderful for what she does but she “ain’t no Maria von Trapp”.

    Very disappointed.

  • curly_yenta

    Totally agree.  I always thought Carrie’s voice lacked nuance.  It also lacks the sweetness of a Julie Andrews.  The whole project is unnecessary in my opinion.

  • durbesque

    I think it went like this….Let’s find a vehicle for Carrie Underwood.
    Not….Let’s find a star for “The Sound of Music”.

    Carrie is Box Office, as her Arena tours prove.
    She will bring in the Ratings like no other.
    That’s all that matters.

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