Canada is Alive with the Sound of Music

Following the huge success of other reality TV talent shows, Canadian companies Mirvish Productions and CBC Television have joined forces and followed suit by launching their own version of the BBC's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

CBC's talent search (which has the same name as the BBC's TV show) is currently in week three of its eight week program. The winner will land the role as the flibbertigibbet, Maria von Trapp in the box office smash, The Sound of Music.

The show will premier at the Princess of Wales theatre in Toronto in September 2008 and is desperate to follow in the success of its UK counterpart. Andrew Lloyd Webber, the man behind the UK revival, has also had a large part to play in the Canadian remake of the show. He will be lending his professional opinion to hopeful contestants as he takes the role of judge alongside Musical Supervisor; Simon Lee, Vocal Coach; Elaine Overholt and Acting Coach; John Barrowman.

To make The Sound of Music a success, producers were fully aware that they needed a big star to create enough interest in the resurrected musical. Andrew Lloyd Webber had considered getting Hollywood star, Scarlett Johansson for the lead role, but her busy filming schedule didn't allow it. He then decided to make a star of his own through the medium of reality TV.

David Ian, Webber's producing partner in the UK show stated "We knew we needed a star of some magnitude to revive the show. We hit on the idea of finding her through TV."

Thousands of hopeful contestants auditioned for the show and were soon whittled down to just 200 girls. 50 of these women attended "Maria School" for further training before the TV show began last month. In a now oh-so-familiar-format, ten potential "Marias" will be judged on their singing and acting abilities by the "nurturing" panel of judges and the Canadian TV-watching public.

If the British version of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? is anything to go by, the winner of CBC's talent search is likely to be a huge star. Connie Fisher, the winner of the UK show has enjoyed huge success in the role winning critical acclaim in the form of the London Critics' Award.

Published By: Jon Lane