How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?

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How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria%3F logo.png
Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Gigi Eligoloff
Presented by Graham Norton
Judges Andrew Lloyd Webber
David Ian
John Barrowman
Zoe Tyler
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8
Production
Producer BBC
Running time30–90mins
Original release
Network BBC One
Release29 July (2006-07-29) –
16 September 2006 (2006-09-16)
Related
Any Dream Will Do (2007)

How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? is a British reality television talent show that documented the search for an undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2006 Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian stage production of The Sound of Music . [1]

Contents

The series was originally devised by the then in-house development team at BBC Entertainment Events and was announced by the BBC in April 2006. BBC One broadcast the programme, which was hosted by Graham Norton, on Saturday evenings from 29 July through 16 September 2006.

The title derives from the refrain of "Maria", a song from the first act of The Sound of Music.

Connie Fisher won the final public vote, and with it a six-month contract to play Maria in the West End production.

Format

Creation

The lead role of Maria von Trapp in the new West End production of The Sound of Music , to be staged by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian, was to be played by American actress Scarlett Johansson. Negotiations fell through, [2] and after a four-year search for an actress to fill the role, it was revealed in November 2005 that Lloyd Webber had approached the BBC to allow the public to cast the role through a Popstars -style talent search, the first time that such a format had been used. [3] [4]

This was the first programme to allow the public to cast a leading role in a West End show, and it was initially criticised. However, it won International Emmy and Royal Television Society awards and became the first of a series of collaborations between the BBC and Lloyd Webber, including Any Dream Will Do , I'd Do Anything , and Over the Rainbow . The series also led to versions and similar series abroad.

Expert panel

Andrew Lloyd Webber led the search for the musical theatre performer. AndrewLloydWebber3.png
Andrew Lloyd Webber led the search for the musical theatre performer.

To assess and train the potential Marias and judge them during the live shows, an expert panel was chosen. The panel comprised:

Lloyd Webber also asked Denise van Outen to participate in the series, but she turned him down, saying that she "felt uncomfortable about being on the panel and giving my criticism". She later became a judge on follow-up series, Any Dream Will Do . [5]

Auditions

Open auditions were held around the UK in April and May 2006, open to both professionals and amateurs over the age of 17. The top 200 made it through to the London callbacks where they performed for Ian, Barrowman and Tyler to secure one of 50 places at Lloyd Webber's "Maria School", where over four days they would receive vocal and drama training from the expert panel. [1] [6]

Several additional performers were selected over this fifty contestant limit; one being Briony, who had been rejected initially due to nerves hampering her performance, but who returned for a second chance and was allowed in by Ian. A further four, whom the panel had rejected, were contacted by Lloyd Webber himself as he personally believed them to be potential Marias. [7]

During "Maria School", contestants were eliminated to leave twenty, who were then taken to Lloyd Webber's house, where they performed for fifty people from the entertainment business. Ten finalists were then chosen by the panel and taken through to the live studio finals. [6]

The series started on Saturday 29 July 2006, and the first two programmes followed the audition stages of the competition before revealing the final ten at the end of the second programme. [7]

Live finals

The final ten contestants then competed in the live studio finals held on Saturday nights over six weeks. Each week the contestants sang and performed during the live show, receiving comments from the judges following their performance. The public then got a chance to vote for their favourite Maria, and the two contestants with the fewest votes performed a sing-off in front of Lloyd Webber, who then decided which Maria to keep in the contest. This was repeated with the top ten, the top nine and the top eight. With the top seven and top five, two were voted off in the program, and there were two different sing-offs.

Lloyd Webber had no say in the final casting decision, when in the concluding edition of the series it was left to the public to choose who should play Maria out of the final two contenders, Connie Fisher and Helena Blackman. After more than 2 million votes were cast, the winning entrant was revealed as Fisher, who won a six-month contract to play Maria in the West End production, performing six out of the eight weekly shows. [8]

The profits from the telephone votes went to a bursary for young performers. [9] Lloyd Webber also donated his fee to the bursary. [2]

Finalists

Ten potential Marias were selected as finalists who would appear on the live shows. Abi Finley and Aoife Mulholland auditioned together having known each other from college, and both made it to the finals. One of the original 10 finalists, Emilie Alford, withdrew from the competition after deciding it was not for her. She was replaced by Siobhan Dillon, who lost a place in the final ten following a sing-off against Alford and Laura Sicurello in front of Lloyd Webber. This earned her the nickname "Second Chance Maria". [10]

Finalists
FinalistAge*FromDress colourStatus
Laura Sicurello [11] 26 Milton Keynes YellowEliminated 1st in Week 1
Belinda Evans [12] 28 Somerset Dark blueEliminated 2nd in Week 2
Meliz Serman [13] 23 Chingford GoldEliminated 3rd in Week 3
Simona Armstrong [14] 28 Greenford PurpleEliminated 4th in Week 4
Leanne Dobinson [15] 20 Colchester LilacEliminated 5th in Week 4
Abigail "Abi" Finley [16] 23 Prestwich Light blueEliminated 6th in Week 5
Aoife Mulholland [17] 28 Salthill GreenEliminated 7th in Week 5
Siobhan Dillon [18] 21 Staffordshire RedThird place (Eliminated in Week 6)
Helena Blackman [19] 23 Southampton PinkRunner-up
Connie Fisher [20] 23 Haverfordwest OrangeWinner

*As of start of series

Results summary

Colour key
  –Contestant was in the bottom two and who was saved after the sing off
  –Contestant was eliminated after the sing off
  –Contestant who received the most public votes
  –Contestant who received the most public votes and won the competition
Weekly results per contestant
ContestantWeek 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Final
Part 1Part 2Part 1Part 2Part 1Part 2
Connie Fisher 1stSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeWinner
(week 6)
Helena Blackman10thSafe7th6th6thSafeSafeSafeRunner-up
(week 6)
Siobhan DillonSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe3rdThird PlaceEliminated
(week 6)
Aoife MulhollandSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe4th4thEliminated
(week 5)
Abi FinleySafeSafeSafeSafeSafe5thEliminated
(week 5)
Leanne DobinsonSafeSafeSafeSafe5thEliminated
(week 4)
Simona ArmstrongSafeSafeSafe7thEliminated
(week 4)
Meliz SermanSafe9th8thEliminated
(week 3)
Belinda EvansSafe8thEliminated
(week 2)
Laura Sicurello9thEliminated
(week 1)

Live shows

The live shows saw the finalists eliminated one by one following both individual and group performances. Once eliminated, the leaving contestant ended the programme by leading a performance of "So Long, Farewell" from The Sound of Music with the remaining contestants.

Week 1

Following the first week of competition. The show performances were: [21]

Contestants' performances on the first live show
ActPerformance PairOrderSongResult
Leanne DobinsonPair 11"It's Oh So Quiet" (Björk)Safe
Laura Sicurello2"Torn" (Natalie Imbruglia)Bottom two
Aoife MulhollandPair 23"Runaway" (The Corrs)Safe
Abi Finley4"Nobody Does It Better" (Carly Simon)Safe
Siobhan DillonPair 35"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" (Shania Twain)Safe
Connie Fisher6"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin)Safe (Highest votes)
Simona ArmstrongPair 47"Over the Rainbow" (Eva Cassidy)Safe
Belinda Evans8"Over the Rainbow" (Judy Garland)Safe
Helena BlackmanPair 59"Crazy Chick" (Charlotte Church)Bottom 2 (Lowest Votes)
Meliz Serman10"Son of a Preacher Man" (Dusty Springfield)Safe

Sing-Off

ActSing Off SongResults
Laura Sicurello"No Matter What" from Whistle Down the Wind Eliminated
Helena BlackmanSaved by Lloyd Webber

Week 2

As the mission for this week, the potential Marias performed a scene from the musical with an actor as Captain Von Trapp. [22]

The show performances were: [23]

Contestants' performances on the second live show
ActPerformance PairOrderSongResult
Belinda EvansPair 11"Fever" (Peggy Lee)Bottom two
Abi Finley2"The Closest Thing to Crazy" (Katie Melua)Safe
Simona ArmstrongPair 23"Material Girl" (Madonna)Safe
Meliz Serman4"The Voice Within" (Christina Aguilera)Bottom 2 (Lowest Votes)
Helena BlackmanSolo Performance5"Woman in Love" (Barbra Streisand)Safe
Connie FisherPair 36"Shout" (The Isley Brothers)Safe
Leanne Dobinson7"See the Day" (Dee C. Lee)Safe
Siobhan DillonPair 48"Chains" (Tina Arena)Safe
Aoife Mulholland9"If My Friends Could See Me Now" (from Sweet Charity )Safe

Sing-Off

ActSing Off SongResults
Belinda Evans"Another Suitcase in Another Hall" from Evita Eliminated
Meliz SermanSaved by Lloyd Webber

Week 3

During the week, David Ian talked to the girls about fitness and stamina, and Claire Sweeney advised the singers on looking after themselves and their voices. The mission was a fitness test, with Olympic athlete Iwan Thomas, requiring the Marias to complete an assault course. [24] The Marias also attended the première of the film You, Me and Dupree in Leicester Square. [25]

The show performances were: [26]

Contestants' performances on the third live show
ActPerformance PairOrderSongResult
Siobhan DillonPair 11"Jump (for My Love)" (The Pointer Sisters)Safe
Leanne Dobinson2"9 to 5" (Dolly Parton)Safe
Helena BlackmanPair 23"Flashdance... What a Feeling" (Irene Cara)Bottom 2
Aoife Mulholland4"Sway" (Dean Martin)Safe
Meliz SermanPair 35"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (Cyndi Lauper)Bottom 2 (Lowest Votes)
Abi Finley6"Big Spender" (from Sweet Charity )Safe
Connie FisherPair 47"My Baby Just Cares for Me" (Nina Simone)Safe
Simona Armstrong8"I Only Want to Be with You" (Dusty Springfield)Safe

Sing-Off

ActSing Off SongResults
Helena Blackman"Take That Look Off Your Face" from Tell Me on a Sunday Saved by Lloyd Webber
Meliz SermanEliminated

Week 4

Ahead of Saturday night, Lloyd Webber made a surprise visit to the contestants and worked with each to improve their performance. Lloyd Webber also watched them on how well they interact with kids. [27]

The show performances were: [28] [29]

Contestants' performances on the fourth live show
ActOrderSongResults Part 1Results Part 2
Helena Blackman1"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Elton John)Bottom 2Bottom 2 (Lowest Votes)
Connie Fisher2"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" (from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes )SafeSafe
Abi Finley3"Summertime" (from Porgy and Bess )SafeSafe
Leanne Dobinson4"Hopelessly Devoted to You" (Olivia Newton-John)SafeBottom 2
Aoife Mulholland5"You'll Never Walk Alone" (from Carousel )SafeSafe
Simona Armstrong6"It's My Turn" (Diana Ross)Bottom 2 (Lowest Votes)N/A
Siobhan Dillon7"Songbird" (Fleetwood Mac)SafeSafe

First sing-off:

ActSing Off SongResults
Helena Blackman"Memory" from Cats Saved by Lloyd Webber
Simona ArmstrongEliminated

Second sing-off:

ActSing Off SongResults
Helena Blackman"I Don't Know How to Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar Saved by Lloyd Webber
Leanne DobinsonEliminated

Week 5

This week, the mission was a chemistry test with John Barrowman, which involved his giving the Marias a surprise kiss. [30]

The show performances were: [30]

Contestants' performances on the fifth live show
ActOrderSongResults Part 1Results Part 2
Connie Fisher1"If I Can't Have You" (Yvonne Elliman)SafeSafe
Siobhan Dillon2"All That Jazz" (from Chicago )SafeBottom 2
Helena Blackman3"My Heart Will Go On" (Celine Dion)SafeSafe
Abi Finley4"Maybe This Time" (Liza Minnelli)Bottom 2 (Lowest Votes)N/A
Aoife Mulholland5"Footloose" (from Footloose )Bottom 2Bottom 2 (Lowest Votes)

First sing-off:

ActSing Off SongResults
Abi Finley"Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Eliminated
Aoife MulhollandSaved by Lloyd Webber

Second sing Off

ActSing Off SongResults
Siobhan Dillon"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from Evita Saved by Lloyd Webber
Aoife MulhollandEliminated

Week 6

Lloyd Webber and the three finalists visited Nonnberg Abbey during a trip to Salzburg ahead of the final 2208 - Salzburg - Stift Nonnberg.JPG
Lloyd Webber and the three finalists visited Nonnberg Abbey during a trip to Salzburg ahead of the final

In the run-up to the final, the three finalists and Lloyd Webber visited Salzburg to visit some of the locations made famous by The Sound of Music, including Leopoldskron Palace and Nonnberg Abbey, to give the finalists a chance to understand the real Maria von Trapp. [31]

Contestants' performances on the sixth live show
ActOrderSongOrderThe Sound of Music songOrderSong of the SeriesResult
Siobhan Dillon1"Anyone Who Had a Heart" (Cilla Black)4"My Favorite Things"N/AN/A (already eliminated)3rd Place (Eliminated)
Helena Blackman2"Cabaret" (from Cabaret )5"Do-Re-Mi"7"Woman in Love"Runner-up
Connie Fisher3"As Long as He Needs Me" (from Oliver! )6 "The Lonely Goatherd"8"Shout"Winner

Winner

Following a public telephone vote, 23-year-old Connie Fisher was chosen as Maria and performed the role in the West End from November 2006 to February 2008. The series also helped the careers of the other finalists, some of whom later took leading roles in West End shows. Semi-finalist Aoife Mulholland also took up the role of Maria in April 2007 for two shows a week, after Fisher was advised to reduce her performances to six per week.

After the series

Following the final, Lloyd Webber was criticised after it was revealed that actress Emma Williams had been hired to perform the two performances per week that Fisher would not. [32] [33] Prior to The Sound of Music opening Williams "withdrew her services", reportedly because her role had been downgraded from four shows per week to two, leaving Fisher to perform all eight shows unless indisposed. [34] [35]

The £4 million production opened at the London Palladium on 15 November 2006 to positive reviews, [36] leading to a £1.1 million increase in ticket sales in one day. [34] In January 2007, Fisher was chosen by the London Critics' Circle to win their award for best newcomer, sharing the prize with Andrew Garfield. [37] Reducing her performances to six per week in March 2007 following an order to rest her voice, [38] her run in the show was extended until 23 February 2008, when actress Summer Strallen took over the role following a tie-in with the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks . [39] Fisher has also made numerous appearances on stage and on television, released two albums, and performed the lead role in the ITV1 drama Caught in a Trap on 26 December 2008. [40] She reprised her role as Maria in a UK tour of the production in July 2009. [41]

Several of the other final ten contestants have taken on leading roles in musicals following the series. Aoife Mulholland was cast in December 2006 as Roxie Hart in the West End musical Chicago , [42] and took on the role of Maria in the West End production for two shows per week in April 2007 after Fisher's reduction in performances. [38] In July 2007 Siobhan Dillon started in the role of Patty Simcox in the musical Grease and later went on to play the lead role of Sandy in January 2010. [43] Fellow finalist Helena Blackman played Nellie Forbush in a UK tour of South Pacific . [44] Mulholland originated the role of Brooke Wyndham in the West End production of Legally Blonde , [45] and Dillon took over the role of Vivienne Kensington in October 2010. [46] In June 2008, Leanne Dobinson took over in the role of Cosette in the West End cast of Les Misérables at the Queens Theatre. [47]

A follow-up programme How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? – Connie's Story aired on 27 December 2006 and followed Fisher during rehearsals for her new role up to and including the opening night. [48] Fisher and several other finalists appeared in a special programme on 24 December 2007 with the winner and finalists from Any Dream Will Do titled When Joseph Met Maria . [49]

Reception

Lloyd Webber and the BBC were criticised by the actors union Equity. They stated that they believed their members would find the series "demeaning to their profession" and that it was not a "proper way" to choose a performer. [50]

The series opened to mostly negative reviews from the press. [51] [52] In response to the criticism, Lloyd Webber told The Times :

This programme is providing a platform for musical theatre that it has never had before. The only people upset with Maria are a few precious luvvies who think things should be done a certain way. [52]

Lloyd Webber and the BBC were also criticised for giving the production "11 hours of free publicity on prime-time television" [53] and that the series could be "considered commercial advertising". The BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee disagreed, saying that the corporation retained "editorial control of the programme" and avoided "disproportionate prominence for Lloyd Webber and the production". [54]

The first programme attracted 5.1 million viewers with a 32% audience share, [55] with 4.9 million viewers (30% share) watching the first of the live finals, and 4.7 million (23% share) viewing the results programme. [56] The series dropped to a low of 4.4 million viewers (24% share) against the third series of The X Factor on ITV1, which started the week before. [57] The X Factor continued to gain higher viewing figures as the weeks progressed, with the final of Maria? attracting 5.5 million viewers (28% share) for the main show and 7.7 million (35% share) for the results show. [58]

Following the conclusion of the series on a ratings high and positive reviews for Fisher following her opening night, the series was followed by a number of similar series from both the BBC and other broadcasters in the UK and abroad. It was credited with helping London theatres reach record ticket sales and attendances in 2007 and, according to The Independent , for "persuading a new, younger audience to see the shows in the flesh". [59]

The series was shown on BBC America in the United States from June 2009. It was described as being "refreshing in its simplicity" in a "landscape that lately seems dominated by audition-heavy musical competitions" by Los Angeles Times critic Mary McNamara, [60] but Brian Lowry of Variety did not feel that it would be successful in the U.S. [61]

Awards

The series won three awards, and received nominations for another two:

Ratings

EpisodeAirdateViewers
(millions)		BBC One weekly rankingShare
Auditions 129 July 20065.151432.0% [67]
Auditions 25 August 20064.691831.0% [68]
Results5.201327.0% [68]
Live Show 112 August 20065.071430.0% [69]
Results 14.801523.0% [69]
Live Show 219 August 20064.471823.0% [70]
Results 25.3515—
Live Show 326 August 20064.451823.7% [71]
Results 35.671127.8% [71]
Live Show 42 September 20065.361324.0% [72]
Results 45.921026.0% [72]
Live Show 59 September 20064.761724.4% [73]
Results 56.401030.0% [73]
Live Final16 September 20065.821228.3% [74]
Final Results8.20435.0% [74]
Average5.42—27.5%

Follow-up and international series

The success of the series led to its becoming the first in a series of West End themed talent contests produced by the BBC in collaboration with Lloyd Webber. 2007 saw Any Dream Will Do search for a new male lead to play Joseph for a production of Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . This was followed in 2008 by I'd Do Anything , which sought a lead to play Nancy and three young performers to play the lead in a production of the musical Oliver! . In 2010, Over the Rainbow cast Dorothy and a dog to play Toto in the forthcoming stage production of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz . The BBC also collaborated with Lloyd Webber to find a performer for Britain's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 through Eurovision: Your Country Needs You .

On 20 August 2006, it was reported that Lloyd Webber had taken legal action against David Ian. Lloyd Webber reportedly wanted to take the format to the United States to cast a Broadway theatre production of Grease . Lloyd Webber discovered that Ian had already brought the idea to NBC, who announced they will look for unknowns to play Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko, via reality TV show Grease: You're the One that I Want! with Ian and BBC Worldwide, leaving Lloyd Webber furious. Ian said "I don't understand the problem. Andrew has no connection with the stage show Grease, which I have successfully produced in the UK. There is a new production of Grease on Broadway in the spring of 2007, that's why I've been asked to judge on You're The One That We Want." [75] This was followed in the UK with the ITV1 series Grease Is the Word , with Ian as a judge. It aired against Any Dream Will Do in 2007.

Op zoek naar Evita (Looking for Evita) was produced in The Netherlands in 2007, followed by Op zoek naar Joseph (Looking for Joseph) in 2008, Op zoek naar Mary Poppins (Looking for Mary Poppins) in 2009, Op zoek naar Zorro (Looking for Zorro) in 2011, Op zoek naar Annie(Looking for Annie) in 2012 and most recently Op zoek naar Maria (Looking for Maria) in 2021 and Op zoek naar Danny & Sandy (Looking for Danny & Sandy) in 2022.

In 2008 a Canadian version of the show with the same title, searched for a Maria for an upcoming Toronto production of The Sound of Music; this show was initiated by Lloyd Webber, and was aired on CBC Television. John Barrowman was part of the judging panel along with Simon Lee and Canadian vocal coach Elaine Overholt. Lloyd Webber filled in for Lee in the final weeks of the series. This was followed by Over the Rainbow in 2012, with Lloyd Webber serving as a judge.

In 2009 Vtm aired a Flemish version titled Op zoek naar Maria (Looking for Maria). A Dutch version of Op zoek naar Maria came out in 2021.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Sound of Music</i> Musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, premiered in 1959

The Sound of Music is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, the musical tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun. She falls in love with the children, and eventually their widowed father, Captain von Trapp. He is ordered to accept a commission in the German Navy, but he opposes the Nazis. He and Maria decide on a plan to flee Austria with the children. Many songs from the musical have become standards, including "Do-Re-Mi", "My Favorite Things", "Edelweiss", "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", and the title song "The Sound of Music".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Barrowman</span> Scottish-American actor, author, and singer (born 1967)

John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American actor, author, presenter, singer and comic book writer. He is known for his roles as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood (2006–11), and as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrowverse (2012–19).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Strallen</span> British actress (b. 1985)

Summer Peta Vaigncourt-Strallen is an English actress who has performed various roles on stage and screen. Her most notable theatre credits include Meg Giry in the West End production of Love Never Dies and Maria von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium.

David Ian is a British theatre producer and former actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siobhan Dillon</span> English actress and singer (born 1984)

Siobhan Patricia Dillon is an English actress and singer, who rose to fame when she performed in the British talent show-themed television series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? on BBC One in 2006. Since then, Dillon has performed in the West End, playing the roles of Sandy in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Molly in Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre, Ellen in Miss Saigon, and Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard with the English National Opera. Siobhan reprised this role at the Palace Theatre in New York City.

Connie Fisher is a British actress, singer and TV presenter, who won the BBC One talent contest How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aoife Mulholland</span> Irish actress

Aoife Mulholland is an Irish actress and musical theatre performer from Salthill, Galway. Aoife is a successful leading lady in London's West End. She has starred as Roxie Hart (twice) in Chicago, at the Cambridge Theatre and for 18 months as Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music at the London Palladium; and as Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre. She has also appeared in concerts, films and several popular TV series.

<i>Any Dream Will Do</i> (TV series) British television series

Any Dream Will Do, is a 2007 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom. It searched for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Abigail "Abi" Finley is an actress and musical theatre performer from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, England, the daughter of a prominent local Jewish performer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helena Blackman</span> British musical theatre actress (born 1982)

Helena Blackman is a British musical theatre actress, best known for being the runner-up in the hit BBC1 Reality TV programme How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?.

Benjamin James Ellis is an English stage and script actor who starred in the role of Link Larkin in the West End production of the musical Hairspray from its opening in October 2007 until July 2009.

"Maria", sometimes known as "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?", is a show tune from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music (1959).

<i>Id Do Anything</i> (2008 TV series) British television series

I'd Do Anything is a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom and broadcast on BBC One. It premièred on 15 March 2008. The show centred on a search for a new, unknown lead to play Nancy and three young performers who would play Oliver Twist in the 2009 West End revival of the British musical Oliver!.

<i>How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?</i> (Canadian TV series) 2008 Canadian TV series or program

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was a 2008 Canadian reality competition television series derived from a 2006 series of the same name broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. The Canadian version aired on CBC Television between June 15, 2008, and July 28, 2008.

Sarah Lark is a Welsh singer and actress who rose to fame when she competed as one of the finalists in the BBC talent show-themed television series I'd Do Anything in 2008.

Francesca Jackson is a musical theatre actress. She took part in the Reality television show I'd Do Anything and lost out the role of Nancy to Jodie Prenger.

<i>Op zoek naar Maria</i> Belgian talent competition TV show

Op zoek naar Maria is a talent competition program that aired in Belgium on VTM. It premiered on 25 March 2009. The premise of the series was to find a musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2009 Albert Verlinde and Roel Vente revival of The Sound of Music at the Efteling Theatre. The show is hosted by Koen Wauters and featured Frank Van Laecke, Linda Lepomme, and Peter de Smet as the judges for the show.

Op zoek naar Evita was a 2007 talent show-themed television series produced by the AVRO in the Netherlands. It documented the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Eva Peron in the 2008 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita.

<i>Over the Rainbow</i> (2010 TV series) 2010 British TV series or programme

Over the Rainbow is a British television talent series that aired on BBC One from 26 March to 22 May 2010. It documented the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Dorothy Gale in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2011 stage production of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and a dog to play Toto for a one-off performance.

When Joseph Met Maria was a television Christmas special featuring several 'Maria' and 'Joseph' finalists from Andrew Lloyd Webber's BBC talent searches How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (2006) and Any Dream Will Do (2007), including winners Connie Fisher and Lee Mead. It was aired on BBC One on 24 December 2007 and was presented by Graham Norton.

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