'The Sound of Music' musical casts Karylle and Markki Stroem for its Manila leg
Performer and TV host Karylle Tatlonghari and theater actor Markki Stroem will be stepping into the iconic roles of Baroness Elsa von Schraeder and Rolf, respectively, for The Sound of Music.
The Sound of Music, a musical based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, makes its return to Manila on March 7 to 26, to be staged at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati.
Theatrical producer Marc Routh said that the Broadway International Group and Broadway Asia are "absolutely thrilled" to have Karylle and Markki on board for the Manila season of the Broadway musical.
“Having done many shows in Manila over the years with stars like Lea Salonga in Cinderella, Filipinos are known around the world over for their spectacular talents—so we when the opportunity for us to cast two roles out of the Philippines, how could we say no?” he said.
“...we are so excited to see them both step into these iconic roles. We have so much confidence in their abilities as performers and we are really looking forward for Filipino audiences to come and see them on stage,” he continued.
Markki, who will play the role of a delivery boy named Rolf, said that he teared up when he heard the good news.
“When I found out that I got in, I started tearing up in front of my colleagues at the radio station. Tears of joy!… One of my greatest dreams is manifesting in front of my eyes. I am so excited to learn and grow from the International touring cast”, he shared, adding that his love for musicals actually started because of The Sound of Music.
"It was aspirational, I memorized all of the songs and dreamed of one day being part of this wonderful classic," he said.
Karylle, for her part, felt that she was "transported back to that time when you first fell in love with musicals."
“I guess when a childhood memory becomes a reality, you are transported back to that time when you first fell in love with musicals - this is the moment when my childhood dreams and reality meet… in the most bongga way!”
Karylle and Markki will begin rehearsals in Manila over the next couple of weeks, and will be joined by the rest of the touring company at the end of the month.
They will be joining Touring company members Jill-Christine Wiley as Maria Rainer, Trevor Martin as Captain von Trapp, and Lauren Kidwell as Mother Abbess, and Lauren O’Brien as Liesl. The Von Trapp children starring in the musical will join the company for the first time during the Manila production.
Tickets are available online at ticketworld.com.ph and TicketWorld outlets.