How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the TV series. For the song, see Maria (1959 song).
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? logo
Format Talent show
Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Presented by Graham Norton
Judges Andrew Lloyd Webber
David Ian
John Barrowman
Zoe Tyler
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 8
Production
Producer(s) BBC
Running time 30-90mins
Broadcast
Original channel BBC One
Picture format 16:9
Original run 29 July 2006 –
16 September 2006
Chronology
Followed by Any Dream Will Do
External links
Official website
IMDb profile

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was a multi-award-winning British talent show, shown on Saturday evenings on BBC One, first broadcast on 29 July 2006 until the series finale on 16 September 2006. It documented the search for a 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. It was presented by Graham Norton, and "masterminded" by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The title of the show was derived from a line in the production's song "Maria". 23-year-old Connie Fisher was finally chosen as the new Maria; although Aoife Mulholland was also later asked by Lloyd Webber to play Maria as the 'alternate' on Monday and Wednesday matinee, after Connie became ill.

The show became the first of a series of West End themed talent contests produced by the BBC in collaboration with Lloyd Webber. The second was titled Any Dream Will Do (a search for a lead performer for a production of Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), while the third was called I'd Do Anything (a search for a new lead to play Nancy and three young performers to play Oliver in a production of the musical Oliver!).

Contents

[edit] Format

The first week of the show documented the initial auditions against a regional panel, and later the show's expert panel, in which thousands of hopefuls were to be whittled down to fifty contestants to enter Lloyd Webber's "Maria School", from which ten would be selected to face the public vote. However, 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. A further four, whom the panel had rejected, were contacted by Lloyd Webber himself as he personally believed them to be potential Marias.

In the second week, the fifty-five selected contestants attended "Maria School" where judge Zoe Tyler, along with other tutors, gave the girls singing lessons. On the second day, fifteen were eliminated, leaving only forty. On the third day, another twenty left, leaving only twenty contestants in the competition. The twenty performers were then taken to Andrew Lloyd Webber's house, where they performed live in front of fifty influential people in the theatre business. The best ten were taken through to the finals.

During the finals, each week, the contenders were set various singing and performing tasks and the public got a chance to vote for their favourite Maria. The two Marias with the least votes in a given week 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 10, the top 9 and the top 8. 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 confirmed as Fisher,[1] who subsequently played Maria in the West End until 23 February 2008. Other contestants also went on to have successful musical careers, including Aoife Mulholland landing a limited role as Maria in the West End production, performing on Monday evenings and Wednesday matinees to allow Fisher to rest her voice.

[edit] Finalists

Ten potential made it through the auditions process to perform during the live shows. One contestant, Emilie Alford, pulled out of the competition at this stage deciding it was not for her, to be replaced by eventual finalist, Siobhan Dillon, gaining her the nickname "Second Chance Maria".[2]

Finalist Age From Nickname Status
Laura Sicurello 26 Milton Keynes Police Intelligence Officer Maria Eliminated 1st in week 1
Belinda Evans 28 Somerset Classical Maria Eliminated 2nd in week 2
Meliz Serman 23 London Sexy Maria Eliminated 3rd in week 3
Simona Armstrong 28 Romania Romanian Maria Eliminated 4th in week 4
Leanne Dobinson 20 Colchester Baby Maria Eliminated 5th in week 4
Abi Finley 23 Manchester Tomboy Maria Eliminated 6th in week 5
Aoife Mulholland 28 Salthill Irish Maria Eliminated 7th in week 5
Siobhan Dillon 21 Staffordshire Second Chance Maria/Fashion Student Maria Third place
Helena Blackman 23 Southampton Entertainment Maria/Miracle Maria Second place
Connie Fisher 23 Pembrokeshire Telesales Maria/Intense Maria Winner

[edit] Expert panel

[edit] Live shows

[edit] Week one

Following the first week of competition, Laura was the first Maria to be eliminated from the competition. The show performances were:[3]

  • Group performances:
    • "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" (from The Sound of Music)
    • "I Have Confidence" (from The Sound of Music)
  • Sing-off:
    • Helena and Laura received the least number of viewer votes and were in the sing-off, and performed "No Matter What" from the musical Whistle Down the Wind.
    • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Helena and eliminate Laura.

[edit] Week two

As the mission for this week, the potential Marias performed a scene from the musical with an actor as Captain Von Trapp.[4]

Belinda was the second contestant to be eliminated from the series. The show performances were:[5]

[edit] Week three

During the week, David Ian talked to the girls about fitness and stamina, and Claire Sweeney gave the girls some advice 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.[6] The Marias also attended the premiere of the film You, Me and Dupree in Leicester Square.[7]

The third potential Maria to be elimated was Meliz. The show performances were:[8]

[edit] Week four

Ahead of Saturady night, Andrew Lloyd Webber made a surprise visit to the contestants and worked with each of them to help with their performance.[9]

Simona and Leanne became the fourth and fifth contestants to hear they were not Maria. The show performances were:[10][11]

  • Group performances:
  • First sing-off:
    • Helena and Simona were in the first sing-off, and performed "Memory" from Cats.
    • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Helena and eliminate Simona.

[edit] Week five

This week, the Marias mission was a chemistry test with John Barrowman, which involved Barrowman giving the Marias a surprise kiss.[12]

In the semi-final, the sixth and seventh Marias to be eliminated were Abi and Aoife. The show performances were:[12]

  • Second sing-off:
    • Siobhan and Aoife were in the second sing-off, and performed "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" from Evita.
    • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Siobhan and eliminate Aoife.

[edit] Week six

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 The Sound of Music, including Leopoldskron Palace and Nonnberg Abbey, to give the finalists a chance to understand the real Maria von Trapp.[13]

The grand final saw Connie win the competition, with Helena coming second and Shiobhan coming third. The show performances were:[1]

  • Group performance:
    • Finalists and former Marias: "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" (from The Sound of Music)
  • Following the elimination of Siobhan, who received the lowest number of viewer votes, the final two performed their favourite song from the series and a duet, and the eight eliminated contestants performed together:
    • Helena: "Woman in Love" (Barbra Streisand)
    • Connie: "Shout" (Lulu)
    • Connie and Helena: "The Sound of Music" (from The Sound of Music)
    • Former Marias: "Edelweiss" (from The Sound of Music)

[edit] Controversy

According to the British tabloid newspaper the Sunday Mirror, 23 year old Emma Williams, a professional stage actress, had also been signed to play Maria under a twelve month contract. However, the winner would still get a six month contract and would have performed six of the eight weekly shows.[14][15]. Williams later "withdrew her services" from the musical, leaving Fisher to perform in every show unless indisposed. [16]

According to "a programme insider" reported in the British newspaper the Daily Mail, in the week of the final, Siobhan and Helena felt that in retrospect, Lord Lloyd-Webber and the BBC production team had favoured Connie. Their accusations of special treatment included: incredibly well edited coverage; flattering camera angles; favourable backstage training highlights; given songs to perform that flatter her voice and are perfectly tailored to her abilities; her outfits are more "sparkly" and exciting than the ones they have been given.[17]

[edit] Awards

The series won two major awards, and received a nomination for another:

[edit] International series

On 20 August 2006, it was reported that Lloyd Webber had taken legal action against David Ian. Lloyd Webber reportedly wanted to take the show's format to the United States to cast a Broadway theatre production of Grease. Lloyd Webber discovered that David 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!" (initially named You're The One That We Want) with David Ian and BBC Worldwide, leaving Lord Lloyd-Webber furious. David 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." [21]

A Canadian version of the show, under the same title, will search for a Maria for an upcoming Toronto production of The Sound of Music; this show is initiated by Lloyd-Webber, and will appear on CBC Television in the summer of 2008. The winner will join the production at the Princess of Wales Theatre, under Mirvish Productions. [1] It will be hosted by comedian and actor Gavin Crawford while the judges are John Barrowman, Simon Lee and Elaine Overholt.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Problem solved! The hills are alive for Connie Fisher as Welsh Maria wins role of a lifetime. BBC Press Office (2006-09-16). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  2. ^ How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? finalists. BBC Press Office (2006-08-06). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  3. ^ She's not Maria! WPC Maria says 'So long, Farewell' as the first voted out of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?. BBC Press Office (2006-08-12). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  4. ^ Helena's Diary: Thursday. BBC (2006-08-18). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  5. ^ She's not Maria! Hope of West End fame bites dust as Opera Maria is out of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?. BBC Press Office (2006-08-19). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  6. ^ Meliz's Diary: Wednesday. BBC (2006-08-24). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  7. ^ Meliz's Diary: Tuesday. BBC (2006-08-23). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  8. ^ She's not Maria! Sexy Maria says goodbye as she is voted out of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?. BBC Press Office (2006-08-26). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  9. ^ Helena's Diary: Wednesday. BBC (2006-08-31). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  10. ^ They're not Maria! Romanian Maria and Baby Maria go in double Maria knockout. BBC Press Office (2006-09-02). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  11. ^ Fourth Show Result. BBC (2006-09-02). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  12. ^ a b They're not Maria! But it's Connie, Siobhan and Helena for the final. BBC Press Office (2006-09-09). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  13. ^ The Hills are Alive.... BBC (2006-09-13). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  14. ^ Todd, Ben. Pro Singer Emma lined up for Maria despite hunt. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
  15. ^ The Sound Of Music. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  16. ^ 'Alternate' Maria quits musical. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
  17. ^ The Sound Of Music. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  18. ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (2007-11-20). UK shows dominate International Emmys. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  19. ^ Dame Helen is small screen queen. BBC News (2007-03-14). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  20. ^ British Academy Television Awards 2007 nominations. The Times Online (2007-04-11). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  21. ^ Wenn. David Ian: 'I don't understand Andrew's problem'. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
The Panel
Contestants
Connie • Helena • Siobhan • Aoife • Abi • Leanne • Simona • Belinda
v • d • e
BBC/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical revival search
Series
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? (2006) • Any Dream Will Do (2007) • I'd Do Anything (2008)
Musicals
Winners
Connie Fisher • Lee Mead • Jodie Prenger • Gwion Jones • Harry Stott • Laurence Jeffcoate
Host and judges
Graham Norton (2006-) • Andrew Lloyd Webber (2006-) • John Barrowman (2006-) • Zoe Tyler (2006-2007) • David Ian (2006) • Bill Kenwright (2007) • Denise van Outen (2007-) • Barry Humphries (2008) • Cameron Mackintosh (2008)