PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 30 October
Pitlochry Festival Theatre presents
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
Directed by Elizabeth Newman
- The first production of The Sound of Music staged at Pitlochry Festival Theatre
- Directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman
- Production to run from 15 November to 22 December 2024
- Press performances: Wednesday 20 November at 7pm and Thursday 21 November at 2pm 2024
- Tickets go on general sale on Monday 13 November 2023
The hills of Pitlochry are alive with The Sound of Music
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is thrilled to announce that in 2024 it will be staging, for the first time, an exciting new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s beloved musical The Sound of Music.
Directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman, The Sound of Music is set to enchant audiences from 15 November to 22 December 2024.
Inspired by the book The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp, The Sound of
Music is set in Austria, 1938, and tells the story of the irrepressible Maria as she begins to doubt her vocation, leaving her convent to become governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp, a widower and retired naval officer. She soon turns the Captain’s orderly life upside down and instils a love of music in his, as well as in each of his children’s hearts. But as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, Maria and the entire von Trapp family must make a difficult decision that will change their lives forever.
Featuring a treasure trove of cherished songs, including Climb Ev’ry Mountain, The Sound of Music, My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi, and Sixteen Going on Seventeen, The Sound of Music won the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars in the much-loved 1965 film version featuring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
Director and Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre Elizabeth Newman said:
“I have wanted to direct Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music for a very long time. It was a family favourite growing up; we’d sit down every Christmas to watch it together. Even now my sister and I will sing the songs to each other!
I was thrilled to finally secure the rights to produce a new production in Pitlochry next year. It’s such a powerful story – incredibly moving and inspiring – it celebrates love, childhood, and family, whilst simultaneously exploring how people survive in a world where dictatorships and political turmoil threaten their liberty. Now feels like exactly the right moment to tell this story and to bring our very own hills alive with the sound of music. And I cannot wait to begin the search for the Von Trapp children as well as Maria and the rest of the Ensemble.”
Casting and the creative team for The Sound of Music will be announced in 2024.
Besides the thrilling news about The Sound of Music, next year will also see an exciting lineup of productions at Pitlochry Festival Theatre for all the family. As previously announced, from May to October the Theatre will be hosting a feast of not to be missed productions, including the musicals Footloose and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, the world première of Frances Poet’s beautiful new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and the return of the Theatre’s award-winning production of Shirley Valentine. The season will also include the première of two exciting new plays, Firebrand Theatre Company’s Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed and Harry Mould’s debut play The Brenda Line.
The Theatre will also see, in its outside performance space, the return of Elizabeth Newman’s sold-out adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale The Secret Garden and a new Gaelic and Scots Language version of Purcell’s baroque masterpiece tale of doomed love, Dido and Aeneas.
The Sound of Music runs at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 15 November to 22 December 2024.
Tickets for The Sound of Music and the 2024 season go on sale to Pitlochry Festival Theatre priority members from Monday 30 October and on general sale from Monday 13 November. For further information contact the box office on 01796 484626 or online at www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
-Ends-
For all press queries please contact:
Duncan Clarke PR: 07880893750 or duncanclarkepr@gmail.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Sound of Music press performances:
Wednesday 20 November at 7pm and Thursday 21 November at 2pm 2024
Auditorium, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
CREATIVE TEAM
Pitlochry Festival Theatre presents
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
Directed by Elizabeth Newman
The Sound of Music is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organisation concordtheatricals.co.uk
LISTINGS
Sound of Music
15 November – 22 December 2024
Eve perf at 7pm: November: 15-16, 20-24, 27-30 / December 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22
Mat perf at 2pm: November: 20-24, 27-30 / December 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22
Ticket prices: From £15
Box Office and group bookings: 01796 484626
email boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Website: pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
2024 DATES
Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed –24 May- 6 July- Studio
Footloose – 31 May-26 September– Main Auditorium
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical– 7 June-28 September– Main Auditorium
Sense and Sensibility– 21 Jun-27 September – Main Auditorium
Shirley Valentine – 4 July- 28 September – Main Auditorium
The Secret Garden–12 July-22 August – Amphitheatre
The Brenda Line – 15 August– 18 September– Studio
Dido and Aeneas – 31 August – 15 September – Amphitheatre
The Sound of Music – 15 November – 22 December
PRESS PERFORMANCES 2024
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical– 12 June at 2pm– Main Auditorium
Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed – 12 June at 8pm – Studio
Footloose – 14 June at 7pm– Main Auditorium
Sense and Sensibility – 26 June at 2pm – Main Auditorium
Shirley Valentine – 10 July at 2pm Main Auditorium
The Secret Garden – 13/18 July at 2pm Amphitheatre
The Brenda Line –21 August at 2.30pm– Studio
Dido and Aeneas – 31 August at 5pm – Amphitheatre
The Sound of Music – 20 November at 7pm and Thursday 21 November at 2pm – Main Auditorium