Dana Hammett

The “Sound of Music” has taken the world’s stages by storm ever since its Broadway premiere in New York City in 1959. Then in 1964, that Broadway smash by Robert Wise was turned into a movie starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. It opened in movie theatres in 1965. And in the decades since, it has won the hearts of entire generations and found fans all over the world.

Dana Hammet’s first experience with the film was when her mom rented it as a VHS video from the local public library. Dana says that she “immediately fell in love with it. I used to watch all the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals as a little girl. I still love it because the music is timeless, the story is lovely and the kitschy-ness is heartwarming,” Dana raves. Inspired by the stirring saga of the von Trapp family, the cultural diversity in Salzburg and the grandeur of the surrounding landscape, she decided to move to the birthplace of the story. “Friends were studying in Salzburg so I decided to start here. I loved it and decided to stay!”

Since 2014, the California-born performer has regularly starred in a variety of productions based on the story. Her performances delight audiences and critics alike. Ever since her acclaimed debut as Maria in Salzburg’s popular stage show, the name Dana Hammett has become inextricably linked with authentic and virtuoso performances. Blessed with exceptional acting talent, she embodies the role of Maria with brilliance and warmth. She conveys her love for the stage to her audience and transports listeners into the world of the Trapp family.

Dana feels at home singing in musicals, operas and operettas. She began studying voice at the Chicago College of Performing Arts and later continued her training with the renowned American soprano Barbara Bonney at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. Dana further refined her vocal and dramatic skills by attending masterclasses in Rome and at the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar.

Dana Hammett is now fulfilling one of her personal childhood dreams by lending her many talents to the Private Sound of Maria Tour. Thanks to this tour, the beloved songs from the iconic Hollywood blockbuster are once again performed at the very same filming locations where they were originally brought to life.

Together with her stage partner Dmitry Iogman, Dana will whisk you away for a day filled with music, storytelling and emotion. Dana and Dmitry perform audience favourites like “Edelweiss,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Do-Re-Mi,” all at their original scenic locations. As part of their delightful show, the two entertainers share charming behind-the-scenes tales, anecdotes from the film set and fascinating insights into the Trapp family.