From Tom Zillich of the Surrey Now:

• Maria on her mind
  “Surrey singer/actor Elicia MacKenzie has a one-in-48 chance of becoming a star on stage. The Sullivan Heights Secondary grad has made the cut as one of 48 contestants on a new CBC reality-TV show, one that will select a woman for the leading role of Maria von Trapp in a Toronto stage production of The Sound of Music this fall.” Read more.

The opportunity to land the coveted role of Maria von Trapp in the world’s most beloved musical, The Sound of Music, will unfold on CBC Television when 48 talented young hopefuls sing, dance and try to win the hearts and votes of Canadians on HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA?

Premiering Sunday, June 15, at 8 p.m., the series goes behind the scenes with one of the most vocally gifted group of Canadian women ever assembled. The 48 would-be Marias are all in the running, but only one can win the chance to play the pivotal role in the new theatrical production of The Sound of Music at The Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish. The girls take to the stage to have their fate decided and find out if they have what it takes to be the next Maria or whether it will be “so long, farewell!” The seven-week series airs Sundays at 8 p.m., for one hour, and Mondays at 8 p.m., for a half hour.

Continue reading How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria debuts June 15 →

From a media release:

SOME OF YOUR “FAVOURITE THINGS” ON CBC THIS SUMMER
OLYMPICS, MARIA, OTHELLO, THE HOUR ‘EXCLUSIVES’ AND COMPELLING DOCUMENTARIES

The search to cast Maria von Trapp in How Do You Solve Problem Like Maria?, the television adaptation of Othello, Beijing 2008: The Olympic Games and Test the Nation: Sports are some of the new programs on CBC Television’s exciting summer schedule. Add great movies and documentaries to make this a sizzling season.

Continue reading CBC’s summer shows →

From John Law of the Niagara Falls Review:

• Falls actress goes through reality show wringer
  “Stacey Joy Long went for an audition, and came home with a reality show. When the 23-year-old Niagara Falls actress caught wind of auditions for a Toronto production of The Sound of Music, she thought it was a bit strange they were held at the CBC building.” Read more.