CBC hunts for next 'Maria'

'Sound of Music' reality show hits Canada

By GORDON COX

Following in the footsteps of the BBC reality series that spawned a hit London revival of “The Sound of Music,” CBC Television will scour Canada to find its own novice nun torn between the Captain and the convent in “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?”

Starting Jan. 25, the casting series will conduct a seven-city cross-country audition tour to be followed by eight shows during which contestants will be eliminated by audience vote before the successful newcomer is chosen to play Maria von Trapp. The series is scheduled to air on CBC next summer, with the musical set to open in October at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theater.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian, who also backed the Brit stage show, will produce with David Mirvish. The TV skein will be produced by Temple Street Prods., in association with CBC. Exec producers are Sheila Hockin, David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg.

Directed by Jeremy Sams, the West End “Sound of Music” opened in November 2006 at the London Palladium to strong reviews and buoyant box office, with a cast led by reality show recruit Connie Fisher.