was written for the film version. ‡ Replaced by "The Lonely Goatherd" in the 1998 revival. In some productions, "My Favorite Things" follows "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" in the thunderstorm scene, while "The Lonely Goatherd" is shifted to the concert scene. Many stage revivals have also included "I Have Confidence" and "Something Good", which were written by Richard Rodgers for the film version (since the film was made after original lyricist Oscar Hammerstein's death). Although many people believe that "Edelweiss" is a traditional Austrian song, it was written for the musical and did not become known in Austria until after the film's success. The Ländler dance performed by Maria and the Captain during the party is only loosely based on the traditional Austrian dance of the same name. Characters and casts Characters Maria Rainer, a postulant at Nonnberg Abbey Captain Georg von Trapp The Children: Liesl von Trapp, age 16 Friedrich von Trapp, age 14 Louisa von Trapp, age 13 Kurt von Trapp, age 11 Brigitta von Trapp, age 10 Marta von Trapp, age 7 Gretl von Trapp, age 5 The Mother Abbess, the head of Nonnberg Abbey Baroness Elsa Schrader "wealthy and sophisticated" and Captain von Trapp's would-be fiancée Max Detweiler, Captain von Trapp's friend, a music agent and producer Rolf Gruber, the 17-year-old Nazi delivery boy who is in love with Liesl Sister Bertha, the Mistress of Novices Sister Margareta, the Mistress of Postulants Sister Sophia, a sister at the Abbey Franz, Captain von Trapp's butler Frau Schmidt, Captain von Trapp's housekeeper Herr Zeller, the Gauleiter Admiral von Schreiber, a high-ranking member of the German Navy Ensemble includes nuns, high-society neighbors of Captain von Trapp who attend the ball thrown in Elsa's honor, Nazi soldiers and contestants in the festival concert Original casts Notable replacements Broadway (1998–99) Maria Rainer: Laura Benanti Productions Original productions The Sound of Music premiered at New Haven's Shubert Theatre where it played an eight-performance tryout in October and November 1959 before another short tryout in Boston. The musical then opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 16, 1959, moved to the Mark Hellinger Theatre on November 6, 1962, and closed on June 15, 1963, after 1,443 performances. The director was Vincent J. Donehue, and the choreographer was Joe Layton. The original cast included Mary Martin as Maria, Theodore Bikel as Captain Georg von Trapp, Patricia Neway as Mother Abbess, Kurt Kasznar