Gilfry, Criswell and More Hear The Sound of Music in Paris Beginning Dec. 6

By Adam Hetrick
06 Dec 2009

The Sound of Music, starring Grammy-nominated baritone Rod Gilfry, begins performances at Paris' Théâtre du Châtelet Dec. 6.

Gilfry is currently on leave from the U.S. national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, where he plays Emile de Becque. He stars as Captain Von Trapp opposite a rotating trio of actresses in the role of Maria Rainer, including Sylvia Schwartz, Julie Fuchs and Christine Arand.

The event is a family affair: Gilfry's daughter, Carin Gilfry, portrays Liesl Von Trapp. Emilio Sagi stages the production that runs through Jan. 3, 2010.

The Sound of Music principal cast also features Kim Criswell as Mother Abbess, with Maria alternate Arand cast as Elsa Schraeder, Laurent Alvaro as Max Detweiler, and James McOran-Campbell as Rolf Gruber.

Kevin Farrell serves as musical director with choreography by Sarah Miles, costumes by Jesús Ruiz and scenic design by Daniel Bianco.

According to Gilfry's official website, he will return to South Pacific when the tour arrives in Melbourne, FL, on Jan. 18, 2010.

The Sound of Music, the 1960 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, with a book penned by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The 1965 film adaptation earned five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Songs from the stage production include "My Favorite Things," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "Do-Re-Mi," "So Long, Farewell," "The Lonely Goatherd," "Edelweiss," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" and the title song.

Théâtre du Châtelet is also poised to present A Little Night Music in early 2010 with Kristin Scott Thomas and Leslie Caron.

Visit Chatelet-Theatre.