First performed on Broadway in 1959, The Sound of Music was inspired by the real-life story of the Trapp Family Singers, who fled from Nazi-occupied Austria before the outbreak of the Second World War. This classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical celebrates the eternal triumph of freedom and romance.

The long-running show features songs that have become pop repertoire standards. From the open-hearted innocence of the title tune to the uplift of "Climb Every Mountain" to the folk simplicity of "Edelweiss" to the charm of "Do-Re-Mi" and "My Favourite Things," the Rodgers score is tuneful and memorable.

The show is the final collaboration between composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist OscarHammerstein II who passed away nine months after the opening. The story is based on Maria Von Trapp's autobiography The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Originally, the musical was to contain only actual music that had been sung by the Trapps in their concerts, plus one original song by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The talented songwriting duo balked at this, however, and eventually they were allowed to contribute the entire score.

The play is set in Austria in 1938. Maria Rainer, a free-spirited nun-in-training at Nonnburg Abbey, is having trouble adjusting to convent life. The sisters at the abbey doubt that she is truly suited to a religious vocation. In the first of many fine Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes, the nuns wonder, "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" They send Maria to be a temporary governess to the seven children of widower Captain Von Trapp of the Austrian navy.

The captain treats his children like a troop of regimented sailors: "The Von Trapp children don't play," the housekeeper tells Maria, "they march." Maria's love of music, and of life, soon endears her to the children. She teaches them, all dressed alike in play clothes she has made for them, songs such as "Do-Re-Mi".

When Maria finds herself falling in love with her employer, who is already engaged to wealthy socialite Elsa Schraeder, she runs back to the abbey but is made to return to her duties at the Von Trapp household. Soon, even the strict Captain begins to admire Maria. He breaks off his engagement to the haughty Baroness. The Captain and Maria fall in love and are married. Their happiness is quickly shattered by the Nazi invasion which forces the family to flee over the Alps to Switzerland.

Maria Rainer —A courageous, sweet, joyful postulant at the Abbey who always has good intentions but is obviously not suited for the obedience needed to remain in the Abbey. She eventually falls in love with the Captain.

Sister Berthe —The strict Mistress of the Novices.

Sister Sophia

Sister Margaretta —The kind Mistress of Postulants.

Mother Abbess —The firm but understanding Mother of Nonnberg Abbey.

Liesl —The Captain's starry-eyed eldest daughter who is sixteen. She is also Rolf's girlfriend.

Herr Zeller — The village bully

Gretl —The Captain's youngest child who is five years of age.

Marta — The Captain's seven-year-old daughter.

Brigitta — The Captain's nine-year-old daughter.

Kurt —The Captain's ten-year-old son.

Louisa —The Captain's thirteen-year-old daughter.

Rolf Gruber — Liesl's seventeen-year-old boyfriend who eventually fights for the Nazis.

Max Detweiler —A manipulative, penniless impresario who is friends with the Captain.

Elsa Schrader —The Captain's attractive and wealthy fiancée.

Captain Georg von Trapp — A retired naval officer and strict father who eventually falls in love with Maria.

Admiral von Shreiber — A Nazi admiral who tries to convince Captain von Trapp to join the Nazi army.

Nuns, Nazis, neighbors, and friends of Captain von Trapp