The Sound of Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 27, 2026) – Ensemble Arts Philly and The Shubert Organization present the return of The Sound of Music, back in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music from March 31–April 5, 2026. Produced by Concord Theatricals and NETworks Presentations, this critically acclaimed North American tour honors the 65th anniversary of the musical’s original stage debut. 

Directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien, the smash-hit musical classic will transport the next generation of theatergoers to the hills of Austria, captivating audiences with its universal themes of love, resilience and the power of music.  

“As the region’s preeminent presenter of blockbuster, Tony Award-winning Broadway shows, Ensemble Arts is excited to bring The Sound of Music back to Philadelphia for the first time in eight years,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. “One of the most celebrated stage and movie musicals of all time, this production pays tribute to the long-running classic that continues to capture the hearts of fans of all ages.” 

The spirited, romantic, and beloved story of Maria and the von Trapp family features an unforgettable Tony, GRAMMY® and Academy Award®-winning Best Score, including legendary favorites “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss,” and “The Sound of Music.” 

Tony Award nominee Christiane Noll as the Mother Abbess will join rising star Cayleigh Capaldi as Maria Rainer and Broadway veteran Kevin Earley as Captain Georg von Trapp. 

Nicholas Rodriguez will play the charismatic impresario Max Detweiler, and Kate Loprest brings elegance and ambition to Elsa Schraeder. Ariana Ferch portrays Liesl von Trapp, the eldest daughter full of spirit and first love, and Ian Coursey plays Rolf Gruber, a boy striving to prove himself in uncertain times. 

The Sound of Music features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. The 60th anniversary of the Oscar®-winning film, which continues to be one of the most successful movie musicals of all time, was celebrated in 2025. 

This production is directed by Jack O’Brien (2024 recipient of Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), and choreographed by Danny Mefford (Broadway’s Kimberly Akimbo, Dear Evan Hansen, Fun Home). The design and production team is comprised of Douglas Schmidt, Set Design (Tony Award nominee: The Front Page, Into the Woods); Jane Greenwood, Costume Design (2014 recipient of Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), Natasha Katz, Lighting Design (Eight-time Tony Award winner: Sweeney Todd, MJ The Musical, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, An American in Paris); Kai Harada, Sound Design (Dead Outlaw, A Wonderful World, Merrily We Roll Along); Andy Einhorn, Musical Supervisor (Gypsy, Carousel, Hello, Dolly!); Tom Watson, Hair/Wig Design (Spamalot, Harmony, Parade); and Casting by The Telsey Office – Rachel Hoffman, CSA, Rashad Naylor, CSA. 

According to director Jack O’Brien, “A few years ago, I was part of a group of collaborative artists who, almost inadvertently, stumbled on original conceptions for the stage mounting of The Sound of Music that had never found their way into production. We felt as if we were awakening Sleeping Beauty herself, and the results exposed a version of this classic virtually unknown before, and yet more dramatic, more detailed, more rapturous and more touching than any we had experienced. 

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THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION 
The Shubert Organization is America’s oldest professional theatre company and the largest theatre owner on Broadway. Since the dawn of the 20th century, Shubert has operated hundreds of theatres and produced hundreds of plays and musicals both in New York City and throughout the United States. Shubert currently owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres, six off-Broadway venues, and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Under the leadership of Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO, The Shubert Organization continues to be a leader in the theatre industry. Shubert delivers innovative ticketing solutions via its Telecharge interface, API distribution, and private-label technology, offering unparalleled distribution and marketing to the theatre industry and beyond. Its consumer-facing brands—Telecharge for retail ticket sales and Broadway Inbound for group buyers, tour operators, and the travel industry—sell millions of tickets each year. The Shubert Foundation, sole shareholder of The Shubert Organization, Inc., is dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts in the United States. The Foundation provides general operating support to not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. Foundation grants in 2023 totaled $37.9 million to 635 grantees. For more information, visit www.shubert.nyc. 

ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY      
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.        

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For photography, please visit https://ensembleartsphilly.smugmug.com. 

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