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Gavin Crawford is likely best known for his stand-up comedy and his role on This Hour Has 22 Minutes; what his fans might not be familiar with is the comedian's love of musical theatre.

That's why when he heard that the BBC smash hit How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, the brainchild of legendary composer and impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber, was coming to the CBC, Crawford lobbied to be its host. Turns out, the CBC already had him in mind.

"I was a big fan of the British show," Crawford told insidetoronto.com on May 5 in his backyard garden in the Bloor and Keele streets area. "I've always liked musical theatre - I asked for the soundtrack for Evita when I was 12."

The seven-week reality show provides young women with the opportunity to land the coveted role of Maria von Trapp in Webber's beloved musical The Sound of Music, which will make its North American premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre in October.

In 2006, its British counterpart was an instant hit and turned a virtual unknown, Connie Fisher, into an overnight sensation. The CBC's version aims to do the same for one Canadian singer/actress. Forty-eight women will vie for the part. Their fate ultimately decided by viewers.

The series debuts Sunday, June 15 at 8 p.m. and airs Sundays and Mondays.

The first and second episodes, said Crawford, have already been filmed. The one-hour premiere episode features the girls, ages 17 to 30, as they attend 'Maria School,' A thousand from across the country lined up to audition. The group is whittled down by expert coaches and panelists and the top 20 move on to the next level of competition in London.

The second episode, a half-hour, shows the girls performing a private concert at the London Palladium in front of Webber and his guests. Webber selecting the 10 Maria finalists - the success of his Toronto production depends on his choices.

At first Crawford was a little star struck upon meeting the legendary Webber.

'You're Andrew Lloyd Webber of Joseph and the Multicolour Dreamcoat and Phantom of the Opera fame,' he thought.

"You'd think he'd be a stodgy British Lord," Crawford said. "He's funnier than I thought. He's got a really good sense of humour. He's stumbled upon a way of finding new talent - he enjoys singers and singing. You can see it in his eyes."

In episode three, the top 10 perform live at the CBC. The competition is handed over to viewers, who'll vote each week for their favourite Maria.

Crawford is really looking forward to seeing the girls perform. They're a talented group, he said.

"There is something inherently funny about this show," said Crawford. "They've retained a sense of fun with the proceedings."

Crawford has never been involved in anything like Maria. He went to theatre school at the University of British Columbia. After university, he performed in a production of King Arthur and remembers looking around at his fellow actors.

"They were so jazzed, but I wanted to do something more entertaining. I've always had a knack for doing voices, for imitating people," he said. "I did monologues in comedy clubs because there wasn't any other venue for it. People liked it. I just like to try and do new things."

As host of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, "It's just me being me," Crawford said. "If I wasn't into musical theatre, it'd be a different story."

Visit www.cbc.ca for further details.