BBC How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
Abi - Aoife - Belinda - Connie - Helena - Laura - Leanne - Meliz - Simona - Siobhan
'Irish Maria' Aoife Mulholland is scheduled to play the role of 'Maria' in the West End production of The Sound of Music at The London Palladium on Monday evenings and Wednesday matinees up to 10 October 2007, except on Monday 17 September evening and Wednesday 19 September when Aoife will be on holiday. Also, while Connie Fisher is on holiday from 16 to 28 July 2007, Aoife will play the role of 'Maria' on Tuesday to Saturday evenings and Saturday matinees (and an understudy will play the role on Monday evenings and Wednesday matinees).
Aoife Mulholland was dubbed 'Irish Maria' when she was a finalist on the BBC programme How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?. She got through to the final five before been knocked out. Following this she joined the West End production of Chicago the Musical at The Adelphi Theatre in the major role of 'Roxie' from 18 December 2006. She was originally only going to play the role over the holiday period, but the producers of the show extended her contract up to the end of March 2007.
Aoife Mulholland is 28 years old and is currently studying for an MA in Acting and Musical Theatre at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London having previously studied for a Music Degree from University College Dublin.
The first musical Aoife appeared in was a amateur production of The Sound Of Music where she played Brigitta. Shortly before starting her course at the Central School of Speech and Drama she moved to London and successfully auditioned for a professional in the dance show Dance of Desire with which she spent four months. Aoife has plently of experience dealing with kids as on most weekends she teaches singing with Stagecoach for 6 to 16 year olds.
Regarding her similarities with Maria from The Sound of Music Aoife says she is "playful - I try not to take myself too seriously. I speak my mind but know when to hold back. I also handle big things in my life in my stride but the little things get me into a right tizzy!" adding that "until the age of 17 I was surrounded by nuns at school so I really know how they think. No, seriously!"
12 August 2006: For the first of the BBC How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? 'knock-out' shows Aoife sung The Corrs song 'Runaway' - she obtained enough public phone votes to go through to the next round next week...
19 August 2006: On the second of the BBC How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? 'knock-out' shows Aoife sung the song 'If My Friends Could See Me Now' from Sweet Charity - she obtained enough public phone votes to go through to the next round next week...
26 August 2006: On the third BBC How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? 'knock-out' show Aoife sung The Pussycat Dolls' 'Sway' - she obtained enough public phone votes to go through to the next round next week...
2 September 2006: On the fourth BBC How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? 'knock-out' show Aoife sung You'll Never Walk Alone from the musical Carousel - she obtained enough public phone votes in both rounds of public telephone voting to go through to next week...
9 September 2006: On the fifth BBC How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? 'knock-out' show Aoife sung 'Footloose' from the musical Footloose - in the public phone vote Aoife came second from the bottom so she had to sing again with Abi (who came bottom). They then sung the Andrew Lloyd Webber song 'Any Dream Will Do' from the musical Joseph and his Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat. Afterwards Andrew Lloyd Webber said that we wanted to keep Aoife, so Abi had to say 'good-bye'. In the second public phone vote of the evening Aoife came bottom and so had to have another 'sing-off', this time with Siobhan who come second from bottom. They sung a joint rendition of the song 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita. Aftwerwards Andrew Lloyd Webber said that he wanted to keep Siobhan, so Aoife Mulholland had to say 'good-bye'.