The Sound of Music at Kennedy Center Opera House

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music

Are you ready to “Climb Every Mountain” and “Do-Re-Mi” your night away? This smash-hit musical classic turns 65 and still shows no sign of slowing down, it clearly has been one of our “favorite things,” with its moving story and absolutely fantastic score. This is Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical, The Sound of Music, packed full of themes of love, resilience, and the power of music. The tale of a nun, Maria, who wants to live life differently, and the von Trapp family that joins her in an incredible journey through lifes challenges like “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and together they learn how to climb every mountain!

The Sound of Music 2025 tour features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. A book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse that is based on Maria Augusta Trapp’s memoir, The Trapp Family Singers. The show includes all your favorite tracks, “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss,” and, naturally, the title track, “The Sound of Music.” The 1959 Broadway production took home an incredible five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and its cast recording earned a Grammy Award.

Directed by 3-time Tony winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), and with Choreography by Danny Mefford who also worked on the 2015-2016 tour, the two aim to create a bigger, “more dramatic, more detailed, more rapturous” production, than the previous 2015 tour, with O’Brien specifically emphasizing the collaborative nature of the creative team, aiming to honor the original authors while refreshing the show for modern audiences.

The show runs for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission, is perfectly suited to theater goers of all ages, and you definitely need to bring the whole family!

‘The Sound of Music’ Review by Bob Verini

Rest easy, though: The story’s bones and cozy, iconic tunes are intact. In-and-out-of-convent postulant Maria once again finds love with gruff widower Georg von Trapp (Ben Davis) while turning his seven sullen, ignored kids into the Partridge Family and escaping the Nazi takeover of Austria.

The central romance also develops charmingly over time, with Davis a warm and likeable paterfamilias and Anderson — discovered while still an undergrad — possessing a born Pied Piper’s natural glow (though she, like Underwood, seems to have no control over her hands). As campy counterpoint, antagonists Elsa (Teri Hansen) and Max (Merwin Foard) suggest Thurston and Lovey Howell visiting from “Gilligan’s Island,” which isn’t as much of a knock as it may sound. They’re just a little off, that’s all, which actually seems right.

Also right is the lovely, understated physical production, from Douglas W. Schmidt’s huge, spare setpieces to the brilliant period feel and palette of Jane Greenwood’s costumes. Natasha Katz’s lighting wizardry sets off the religioso atmosphere with excitement and taste.

Kennedy Center Opera House

The Kennedy Center, located at 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC, is the home of the Opera House. This huge venue is the premiere DC venue for Broadway musicals and is the home of the Washington National Opera, hosting well over 2000 guests in an exceptionally luxurious setting, complete with red velvet walls and Japanese red and gold silk curtains. Plus, renovations back in 2003 improved on everything, but particular care was taken with the seating and entrances.

The Kennedy Center offers accessible performances and amenities, with more details available on their website and from the box office, do be sure to contact them well ahead of any travel to make arrangements. With easy access from the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station, and direct Metro Bus D10 stopping at the center, plus an on-site taxi dispatcher you’ll have no trouble getting to or from the center. Parking is available on-site with access on 25th Street for all south entrances and via New Hampshire Avenue and F Street, as well as Rock Creek Parkway northbound for all north entrances. All parking is first-come, first-serve but may be pre-booked 1 day in advance.

Tickets

Tickets to the classic musical Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music are available today! Just scroll up and choose a date that fits in with the whole family’s plans, because this is one musical everyone deserves to see at least once! Hitting the ‘Buy Tickets’ button takes you direct to our ticket marcketplace, Ticket Squeeze, where you can find your perfect seat, plus you can search through a plethora of musicals, conserts and sporting events for more things to do on those boring weekends!