Burke will begin performances at the London Palladium Sept. 24 when he replaces Alexander Hanson in the end-of-contract cast change. Onstage Burke will perform with Connie Fisher, the winner of the reality TV show "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" Runner-up Aoife Mulholland plays the role of Maria twice a week.

Burke's stage credits include The Phantom of the Opera and A Little Night Music in London, while in Australia his many roles include Billy Flynn in Chicago and Billy Crocker in Anything Goes.

The current London cast of Music includes Margaret Preece (who plays Mother Abness), Lauren Ward (the Baroness), Ian Gelder (Max), Sophie Bould (Liesl) and Neil McDermott (Rolf).

The Sound of Music originally premiered on Broadway in 1959, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The 1965 Hollywood film, which starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, won five Oscars, including Best Picture.

Jeremy Sams' London production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical officially opened Nov. 15, 2006, following previews from Nov. 3. The show is currently booking until March 29, 2008.

For more on The Sound of Music, which is co-produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian, call (0)870 890 1108 or log on to www.soundofmusiclondon.com.