Hobby Center Will Host The Sound of Music This September
The classic musical begins its run in Houston on September 29, 2026, featuring a 15-piece live orchestra.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Classical
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The Hobby Center in Houston will present the stage musical The Sound of Music from September 29, 2026, through October 4, 2026. This production aims to restore songs and scenes from the original Broadway script that were cut from the film adaptation.
Why it matters
By including musical numbers absent from the film, this production offers audiences a chance to experience the original Broadway version of the 1938-set story. The inclusion of a 15-piece orchestra serves to highlight the musical compositions intended for the stage.
The production features a 15-piece orchestra to perform the score. This version of the show restores content from the original Broadway production set in 1938 Austria that did not appear in the 1965 film.
The players
Nicholas Rodriguez
An actor who portrays Max Detweiler and previously earned a Grammy nomination in 2024 for his musical contributions.
Jack O'Brien
The director who cast the production and oversees the artistic vision for this staging of the musical.
Hobby Center
The Houston venue serving as the host for the upcoming musical theater production.
The details
Director Jack O'Brien has cast Nicholas Rodriguez in the role of Max Detweiler. Rodriguez, who earned a Grammy nomination in 2024 for his work on the third volume of the Sondheim Unplugged series, performs songs in this production that are exclusive to the stage version.
Timeline
The story is set in 1938 Austria.
Performances at the Hobby Center begin on September 29, 2026.
The production concludes its Houston run on October 4, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This production capitalizes on the trend of Broadway touring shows returning to original scripts to differentiate themselves from iconic film adaptations. It highlights a shift where theaters prioritize the inclusion of complete, lesser-known song catalogs to attract dedicated musical theater audiences.
Fans of the musical can experience a 15-piece live orchestra and songs rarely heard in the film version at the Hobby Center. The production offers a limited six-day engagement for local theatergoers to view the stage-authentic performance.
The takeaway
This production offers a unique opportunity to witness the musical as it was originally written for the Broadway stage. Audiences should prepare for a version that features additional character songs not found in the familiar cinematic adaptation.
Further reading
Learn more about the local stage scene in the Classical section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Broadway World.
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