A Broadway Flop
Before the 1965 film, it was a Broadway play. It opened for the first time at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 16, 1959. The highly anticipated event was met with some serious disappointment, as most major New York critics hated it. According to many, it was far too sentimental and saccharine for their liking.
Unfortunately, the producers had already invested around $2 million in order to advance ticket sales. Looks like the film version had better luck.
It Almost Went to The Producer's Wife
Richard Halliday originally perceived the production as completely different. The Broadway producer who worked on the production initially thought the role of Maria would have been perfect for his Richard, Mary Martin.
Just as well it ultimately went to Julie Andrews, because she certainly made the role ever so memorable.
A Final Song
As Hammerstein died just nine months after the release of the film, so the last song he wrote happened to be the ever famous "Edelweiss". This amazing song, which as you now know is actually not actually a traditional Austrian song, will forever be Sound of Music's most iconic song.
The song was supposedly sang by Christopher Plummer, but more on that later.
It Was Almost Never Called The Sound of Music
Long before the play and film got the title The Sound of Music, it was actually going to be named something completely different. That's right, according to Broadway.com, the classic story almost got the name, The Singing Heart.
The title that we all know and love certainly has a great ring to it.
Hammerstein's Last Work
The legendary musical that was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein sadly turned out be the last time their last collaborative work. Just nine months after the first Broadway premiere, Hammerstein died of stomach cancer.
It would be amazing if Hammerstein saw him stage hit succeed as much as it did on screen.