The Sound of Music
From Muppet Wiki
"That does not sound like music!"
The Sound of Music is a Broadway musical written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II that was based on the biography of Maria Von Trapp, which had previously inspired a German film in 1956. The musical opened in 1959 and ran continuously until 1963, with Mary Martin in the lead. The Academy Award-winning film version was released in 1965, starring Julie Andrews and featuring a puppetry sequence by Bil Baird.
References
- "Do-Re-Mi" was performed by Judy Collins and Rowlf the Dog on episode 205 of The Muppet Show, and again by Kermit, and a chorus of Muppets on episode 310. Miss Piggy and Michelle Pfeiffer also performed the song as the closing number on the first episode of Muppets Tonight, as the pair vied for the starring role of Maria. Andy and Randy Pig and Lew Zealand were amongst the Trapp children in this sketch.
- When Julie Andrews appeared on The Muppet Show in episode 217, Rowlf makes reference to one of her most famous roles as Maria in the 1965 film. In a sketch with Andrews which evokes similar imagery to that of the film, he mentions that he's "seen the movie twice." The Muppets sing "The Lonely Goatherd" with Julie in the same episode.
- In episode 319, following one sketch Statler comments that the hills are alive, leading Waldorf and Statler's Grandson to sing a verse from "The Sound of Music".
- Gonzo makes a reference to "My Favorite Things" on episode 512 of The Muppet Show.
- On episode 515 of The Muppet Show, Carol Burnett references the episode in which her friend Julie Andrews appeared and mockingly sings, "The hills are alive, with the sound of music!"
- On Sesame Street, the "Monsterpiece Theater" version of The Sound of Music involved Grover, dressed in a German outfit on a hill, listening for the sound of music. Once he finally hears it, the hill literally becomes alive.
- Muppet Magazine issue 9 featured a spoof.
- In the "Monster Telethon" episode of The Jim Henson Hour, Gonzo tries to convince Kermit to endorse his new act, which he claims is the definitive roller-poultry version of The Sound of Music and includes an organ version of the music from the film.
- Episode 101 of Muppets Tonight closed with a medley of songs from The Sound of Music (including "Do-Re-Mi" and "My Favorite Things"), as performed by Miss Piggy and Michelle Pfeiffer.
- In the Elmo's World installment "Families," Dorothy imagines an Elmo Goatherd Family. The scene alludes to The Sound of Music through costuming, concept, and especially Father Elmo, whose first line is "The hills are alive with the sounds of music!" (with a swaying hill in the background).
Connections
- Petula Clark played Maria in the 1981 London West End revival.
- Nicholas Hammond played Friedrich von Trapp in the film version.
- Florence Henderson played Maria in the original National Broadway tour.
- Jon Voight was a replacement for Rolf during the original Broadway run.
