Seven Young Actors Chosen to Play the Von Trapp Kids in The Sound of Music Telecast, Starring Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood—uh, we mean Maria—has found her students! After a nationwide search, seven young actors have been announced to play the Von Trapp children in the forthcoming NBC live broadcast of The Sound of Music on December 5.

The Sound of Music will feature newcomers Ariane Rinehart as Liesl, Michael Nigro as Fredrich, Ella Watts-Gorman as Louisa, Joe West as Kurt, Sophia Caruso as Brigitta, Grace Rundhaug as Marta and Peyton Ella as Gretl. In addition Deadline reports that Michael Campayno will play Rolfe, the messenger boy who falls for Liesl. 

The new stars will join previously announced American Idol winner Underwood as Maria, True Blood's Stephen Moyer as Captain Von Trapp, Audra McDonald as Mother Abbess, Laura Benanti as Elsa Schrader and Christian Borle as Max Dettweiler.

The live holiday telecast is based on the original 1959 Broadway production of The Sound of Music featuring music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Based on Maria Von Trapp’s memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, the musical tells the tale of a young woman who leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the seven children of a naval officer widower.

So long, farewell, until December 5—until then, click below to see the commercial for the big event!