How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
Problem Solved! Vancouver's Elicia MacKenzie Wins Coveted Role
A self-proclaimed tom-boy, Elicia was considered the underdog going into the finals. Her lack of professional experience and somewhat shaky voice in the early stages of the competition didn't stop MacKenzie from working hard every week, and showing the audiences and judges what she could do.
She beat out Woodstock resident Janna Polzin, who was considered to be a favourite throughout the competition, and 8 other finalists to win the coveted role of Maria Von Trapp in the Mirvish Production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music, which is slated to begin performances at the Princess Of Wales Theatre in the Fall of 2008.
Rehearsals for the production begin on August 19 in Toronto, and rumours are that Burke Moses, known for his work in the original cast of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and as Brian Stokes Mitchell's replacement as Fred in the recent revival of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate is slated to play Captain Von Trapp. After a long, drawn out search, Moses is sure to bring a wealth of experience and maturity to the role.
Joining Moses and MacKenzie is Blythe Wilson as the Baroness. Wilson is known to Toronto audiences for her roles in The Last Five Years, Mamma Mia!, Oklahoma, and Oliver!. No casting announcement has been officially made, but more details will be available in the coming weeks.
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? premiered in London, as Andrew Lloyd Webber searched for his Maria in the West-End revival of The Sound Of Music, and the show helped launched the theatrical career of Connie Fisher. She is set to open in They're Playing Our Song opposite Alistair MacGowan on August 4th.
Lloyd Webber has sinced used this audition format to cast the role of Joseph in the latest London revival of his musical, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Webber hinted that he would return to Canada to produce the same show sometime in the near future.
On Tuesday, it was reported that Simon Lee, one of the judges with the competition, appeared in a Toronto court on two charges - assault and forceable confinement. Lee did not appear in the final two episodes of the program due to "personal reasons". Lee is accused of pushing a 24 year old man in his hotel room, and not allowing him to leave. The victim climbed out the hotel room window and climbed to another hotel room where he then called police.
Simon Lee is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's favorite music directors, having worked with the composer for over 20 years. His most notable credits include the musical direction on The Phantom Of The Opera film, and the Jesus Christ Superstar film that arrived on DVD in 2000 based on the London and Broadway revival productions.
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