Jan. 16, St. Louis rings with "The Sound of Music" - and the sound of the cash raised for the city's AIDS Foundation. That British sensation "The Sing-a-long Sound of Music" arrives in Missouri for a week-long run at the Fox Theatre by kicking off with a charity fundraiser.

The $35 ticket price includes pictures with Maria, a visit from the Divine Divas, St. Louis' own singing nuns, a gander at the Captain's wedding cakes and a costume contest (always the highlight of "Sing-a-long Sound of Music").

Prizes will be given for Best Overall, Best Group and Most Creative. Charmain Carr, the original Liesl, will judge the contest. Any costume is welcome, and in past sing-a-longs, they have ranged from the usual (the Von Trapp children in their curtains) to the bizarre (goats — with and without Lonely Goatherds — to a young man in a gold lycra catsuit.....give up? He's Ray, a Drop of Golden Sun)).

A sell-out success at London's Prince Charles Cinema and in a tour throughout Britain, this special "Sound of Music" gives audiences the chance to do what they've always wanted to do during the syrupy flick: dress up as nuns, wave edelweiss and sing along with the Rogers and Hammerstein tunes to the rhythm of the bouncing ball.

The doors open at 5:30 PM; the movie begins at 6:30 PM. For reservations, call (314) 534-1111 or visit http://www.metrotix.com. "The Sing-a-long Sound of Music" runs through Jan. 21 at the Fox. — By Christine Ehren