‘The Sound Of Music Live!’: When And Where To Watch ‘Making Of’ With Carrie Underwood And Cast

On Dec. 5, 2013, Carrie Underwood will reprise Julie Andrews' role as Maria in a live TV version of the classic 1965 musical "The Sound Of Music." The six-time Grammy Award winner Underwood will be joined by "True Blood" star Stephen Moyer as Capt. Georg von Trapp, and 5-time Tony-Award winner Audra McDonald as Mother Abbess to bring back this loved Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical. "Carrie is Maria," Music producer Neil Meron told EW, adding she was his first choice for the role. Even Julie Andrews, now 78, also commented on the former American Idol star taking on her beloved part.

"Fifty years later, it's time somebody had another crack at it," she told Zap2It. "I had the best time of my life doing it, and it did wonderful things for me. I think it's great that it's being done again, but doing it live must be so daunting ... I do hope it works for Carrie, because she's lovely and I'm a fan. I wish her well." Although Carrie is a multi-platinum country music star, many people have had their reservations with the casting choice because she has never had a major acting role before, but producer Meron stands by his choice because Carrie has an advantage that no one in the new cast has: she knows live TV and its pressures and is comfortable performing in that scenario, since she took home the title of American Idol in 2005.

"But this time, there's no chance of me being voted out," she laughs. "I'm here to stay." Carrie's version will be slightly different from the original. "I know they're not doing the movie, though," Julie Andrews said. "They're doing the Broadway show - that's what they have the rights to - and I don't know whether it will resonate similarly." But Meron is confident in his work. "Everybody knows 'The Sound of Music,' or thinks they do from the 1965 film nearly everyone has seen," he told AP. "But relatively few fans are acquainted with the stage original. Drawing from it, 'The Sound of Music Live!' is meant to feel familiar, yet at the same time come across as new and different."

And now you can catch a glimpse of the "Making Of The Sound Of Music Live!" premiering tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. on NBC. 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. In "The Making of the Sound of Music Live!," viewers will see what goes into creating the live version of "The Sound of Music." From the nationwide casting call to discover the seven von Trapp children, to the creation of the sets, and the 40 piece orchestra recording the soundtrack, the documentary provides a front row seat as the musical numbers and cast come together for a one-night-only event.

The iconic story centers on a young woman who leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the seven children of a naval officer widower. Also co-starring are Tony Award winners Laura Benanti (Elsa Schrader) and Christian Borle (Max Dettweiler). The young cast set to play the von Trapp children are Ariane Rinehart (Liesl), Michael Nigro (Fredrich), Ella Watts-Gorman (Louisa), Joe West (Kurt), Sophia Anne Caruso (Brigitta), Grace Rundhaug (Marta) and Peyton Ella as young Gretl. Don't forget to tune in tonight at 8 p.m. only on NBC to watch this exclusive special ahead of the "The Sound Of Music Live!" premiere.