Audra McDonald News

A new family-focused promo for this week's hotly anticipated live TV presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC starring Carrie Underwood is now available to view, featuring comments from the country music superstar herself.

The hills are alive- or they will be by tomorrow night when NBC airs its live television special of The Sound of Music (8 PM ET). Theatre fans everywhere are counting down the hours until the event, and to hold you over, BroadwayWorld brings you exclusive photos from the cast's dress rehearsal. Get a first look at the cast in action below!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Universal TV production of NBC's THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE will air at least one additional time prior to Christmas Day. The original broadcast will take place live tomorrow, Thursday December 5th at 8 pm.

Point Park alumnus and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford will direct the classic musical, The Sound of Music, live on NBC at 8 p.m. Eastern, Thursday, Dec. 5.

Mary Birdsong (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, "Reno 911") will join the cast of DISASTER!, the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street) on Monday, December 9th. Ms. Birdsong will take over the role of lounge singer "Jackie," played by Michele Ragusa, whose final performance will be on Friday, December 6th.

After reviewing a host of submissions, this morning NBC's TODAY show revealed the winning SOUND OF MUSIC family, The Willis family from Ashland City, TN. The clan will now perform live on the TODAY show plaza this Friday!

NBC will celebrate the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree with a live broadcast from Rockefeller Center in New York City tonight, Dec. 4 (8-9 p.m. ET). The star-studded holiday special is hosted by 'Today' anchors Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales, and will feature performances from Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande, Jewel, Leona Lewis, Audra McDonald and The Rockettes.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC: MUSIC FROM THE NBC TELEVISION EVENT will be released on December 3, two days prior to the live broadcast itself, while the DVD edition, THE SOUND OF MUSIC: LIVE! will be released on December 17. Check out an audio preview of the album below!

The kindness continues on December 5th when XL Nightclub, Cabaret and Lounge will host a screening of NBC's THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! starring Carrie Underwood, Audra McDonald, Stephen Moyer, Christian Borle and Laura Benanti. Doors will open at 6pm at XL (512 42nd ST between 10th and 11th Avenues). The screening will be shown on HD TVs throughout the space at 8pm. Door prizes will include autographed posters and cast albums of THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! and CINDERELLA. For advance reservations please visit www.soundofmusicforOMB.eventbrite.com

Can't wait for the upcoming broadcast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC on NBC? Have we got a treat for you! Enter to win a poster for Live event signed by stars Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer! All you need to do is tweet, '#MyFavoriteThings are The @SoundofMusic @CarrieUnderwood and StephenMoyer. Enter me to win a signed poster! I'm watching #SoundofMusic 12/5' and you will be entered to win!

The soundtrack to the highly anticipated NBC live TV broadcast of Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic family-friendly musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC starring country music superstar and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood is now available to order.

Directed by Tony Award-winner and frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, SIX BY SONDHEIM is a highly personal profile of a great American artist as revealed through the creation and performance of six of his iconic songs. Told primarily in Sondheim's own words, this feature documentary weaves together dozens of interviews with the composer, rarely seen archival material spanning more than half a century (including newly discoveRed Footage of Ethel Merman performing 'Gypsy') and re-stagings of three songs produced especially for the film. Executive produced by James Lapine and Frank Rich, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts MONDAY, DEC. 9 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT). Click below to check out a preview of the documentary.

The special will feature performances from Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande, Jewel, Leona Lewis, Audra McDonald and The Rockettes.

In an interview with Parade, True Blood star Stephen Moyer talked about preparing for NBC's upcoming live SOUND OF MUSIC broadcast, in which he stars as Capt. Georg von Trapp opposite Carrie Underwood as Maria.

'The Making of The Sound of Music Live!' premiered on NBC on, November 27 at 8pm. The special, produced by NBC News' Peacock Productions, provides an exclusive, behind the scenes look at the three month countdown to 'The Sound of Music Live!,' a three-hour live event, premiering on Thursday, December 5 at 8/7C. Today, NBC released the special online - watch it in full below!

DISASTER! -- the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street) - is getting into the holiday spirit by adding a performance to this week's schedule - and by offering a discount for those who come with canned goods (to be donated to charity). Those who come to the St. Luke's Theatre today, November 29th with 2 canned goods will be eligible to purchase $25 tickets to that afternoon's special matinee performance at 1:30 PM. All collected canned goods will be donated to charity. The St. Luke's Box Office will open at on Friday, 12/29 at Noon ($25 tickets are available IN-PERSON ONLY on a first-come, first-served basis while supply lasts).

We're counting down the minutes, literally and figuratively until NBC's airing of THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! on Thursday, Dec. 5 (8 PM ET)...and so is NBC. Check out a just released new promo, featuring Carrie Underwood and the cast, which aired during today's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Is it December 5 yet?

Can't wait for the upcoming broadcast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC on NBC? Have we got a treat for you! Enter to win a poster for Live event signed by stars Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer! All you need to do is tweet, '#MyFavoriteThings at The @SoundofMusic @CarrieUnderwood and StephenMoyer. Enter me to win a signed poster! I'm watching #SoundofMusic 12/5' and you will be entered to win!

Today we are continuing our Flash Special series by focusing a spotlight on another star of the new NBC live TV presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Audra McDonald.