The Sound of Music: Cinnamon Life brings Broadway to Sri Lanka

Julie Andrews bursting into song on the hills of Salzburg, a chorus of nuns trying to solve a problem like Maria and the seven singing children of Captain von Trapp! For nearly 60 years, one motion picture has managed to capture the hearts of children, parents and grandparents alike, who binge-watch the Sound of Music like it’s going out of fashion. But that’s the thing about a timeless classic; it never loses its appeal.  

What began as a Rogers and Hammerstein stage musical in 1959, based on the memoires of the real Maria von Trapp, was eventually released as a film in 1965, starring Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews. The film of course went on to become a resounding success, not only as the highest grossing film of the year, but surpassing colossal hits like Gone with The Wind at the box office and winning five academy awards. Today, the original manifestation of the von Trapp story as a theatrical production continues; the Sound of Music is still performed on the stages of Broadway and the West End, re-imagined by musical theatre maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber himself who went on to bag six Tony Awards for the production. Soon, this extraordinary experience will be available for audiences in Colombo too.

In a few short weeks, the original Broadway production of the Sound of Music will be performed live in Sri Lanka at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in Colombo. This fabulous experience has been made possible by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts whose partnership with Broadway Asia International will now enable fans of the film and music to enjoy the Sound of Music in an up-close and personal way. For families with kids and for the child in everyone, this world-class production is not to be missed. The Sound of Music as a play has been critically acclaimed, being known as iconic production which belonging to one of the world’s leading entertainment and live touring bodies who have worked together with the newest Cinnamon venture, Cinnamon Life to give Sri Lankan audiences a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

Cinnamon Life is an integrated development by the John Keells Group. This city within a city will consist of an 800-roomed luxury “Cinnamon” hotel, an array of entertainment facilities, premium residential apartments, retail and entertainment mall, office spaces, and many other attractions to set stage as the entertainment hotspot in the Indian Subcontinent. The development’s iconic design by Cecil Balmond will span across 4.5 million square feet, and is envisioned to be the epicentre of modern South Asia

With a surge in tourist arrivals and a growing economy, Sri Lanka is set to rise as a key destination in South Asia. In turn, Colombo is gearing up to be the region’s new golden city by becoming a hub for entertainment and contemporary urban experiences. Visitors in the city too are constantly on the look-out for evening entertainment, making the up-coming series of performances a doubly important element in the city’s 2018 calendar for locals and tourists alike.  What’s more, having an original Broadway production performed here, is a first for Sri Lanka. 

Happening from 14 to 18 February, this family themed masterpiece will be the first of many such events to happen courtesy of the Cinnamon brand. Tickets for the show can already be booked on 011 2161161 or through www.cinnamonboxoffice.com.

Cinnamon Life presents Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian, the Really Useful Group production of The Sound of Music – in Association with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, powered by Nations Trust Bank American Express and Mercedez Benz from DIMO, Airline partner SriLankan Airlines, Skills Development Partner British Council. Banking Partner Nations Trust Bank Private Banking, Inbound Travel partner Walkers Tours, Print Media and Web partners Sunday Times, Daily Mirror, Daily FT, Life online, Daily Mirror.lk, Hi Magazine and HI TV, Radio Partner YES FM and Legends 96.6, Creative partner JWT, Print partner Anim8, Outdoor Media partner Emerging Media Tea Partner Dilmah Tea, Telecommunication Partner Dialog Pay TV partner Dialog TV, Cinema Partner Scope Cinema and Official Photographer Sagara Lakmal Photography.