Summer Strallen confirmed as the next 'Maria'

Summer Strallen has been officially confirmed as the next 'Maria' in The Sound of Music, at the London Palladium.

Summer Strallen takes over the part on 26 Feb 2008 to 18 Oct 2008. (Replacing Connie Fisher). She does not perform on Mon Evening & Wed Matinees. (The only exception to this is she will appear on Monday 3 March but not on Tuesday 4 March 2008).

Aoife Mulholland continues to star as Maria on Mon Evenings and Wed Matinees only, to 19 Apr 2008. (The only exception to this is she will not appear on Monday 3 March but will appear on Tuesday 4 March 2008.)

Andrew Lloyd Webber has spent the past five months secretly working on an elaborate plot and blurring fiction with fact by casting Summer Strallen, the actress who plays 'Summer Shaw' in TV soap Hollyoaks, as Maria in the real West End production of The Sound of Music. Hollyoaks fans have watched 'Summer Shaw' stalk Andrew Lloyd Webber, who plays himself, relentlessly in pursuit of her dream for West End stardom.

Summer Strallen's recent London Stage credits include "The Drowsy Chaperone" at the Novello Theatre in 2007; "Dick Whittington and His Cat" at the Barbican in 2006/7 "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Boyfriend" at the Open Air theatre in 2006; "Guys and Dolls" at the Piccadilly in 2005.

The Sound of Music opened to mixed notices from the popular press on 15 Nov 2006, following previews from 3 Nov 2006: PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Adorable revival." NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "The Sound Of Music sadly leaves me unstirred." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Opulent production, handsomely designed by Robert Jones" LISA MARTLAND for THE STAGE says, "Low key staging." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "I found it surprisingly enjoyable."

The Sound of Music has music by Richard Rodgers, lyric Oscar Hammerstein II, Book by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse, suggested by 'The Trapp Family Singers' by Maria Augusta Trapp

Produced by David Ian, The Really Useful Group (Andrew Lloyd Webber) and Live Nation, it is directed by Jeremy Sams, designed by Robert Jones, lighting by Mark Henderson , choreography by Arlene Phillips, sound by Mick Potter and musical supervision by Simon Lee.

The score for The Sound of Music includes My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Edelweiss, Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, The Lonely Goatherd and of course the title song The Sound of Music.