By Andrew Gans
26 Jul 2004

"The Trapp Family Singers," Maria von Trapp's 1949 book that inspired the musical The Sound of Music, was based on the musical family who fled the Nazi rule prior to World War II.

Werner von Trapp and his siblings spent years traveling the world and singing. Though now retired, his grandchildren will take up the family trade in August for a worldwide tour that will bring The von Trapp Children to Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States.

The New York Times reports that the new singing group will feature Sofia, age 15; Melanie, age 14; Amanda, age 12; and Justin, age 9. The youngsters will offer German folk songs as well as tunes from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Sound of Music.

The Sound of Music originally opened at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Nov. 1959. Mary Martin headed a cast that also included Theodore Bikel and Patricia Neway. Julie Andrews starred in the award-winning film, and the most recent Broadway revival featured Rebecca Luker as the beloved Maria von Trapp. The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein score boasts such tunes as "Do Re Mi," "My Favorite Things," "The Sound of Music" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain."