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Wednesday, 6 February 2008

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Andrew Lloyd Webber plants new Maria in Hollyoaks

Theatre mogul attempts to attract younger audience

Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed that the new star of The Sound Of Music was planted in Hollyoaks to attract a younger audience to the theatre.

Summer Strallen - who plays Summer Shaw - is set to become the next Maria Von Trapp in the West End on 26 February.

The actress, 23, joined the cast of Hollyoaks for a 3-month stint and will replace Connie Fisher at the London Palladium.

In the teen soap, her character stalks Andrew, 59 - who plays himself in a cameo role - until he lets her audition for him, after which he gives her the part of Maria.

This mix of fact and fiction is finely dovetailed with the character setting off to take up her big role on the same day that Summer takes to the stage in real life.

See our Hollyoaks picture gallery of Summer Shaw auditioning for the music impresario>>