“Show About a Singing Family Arrives.”

That is what The New York Times said about a musical that opened on Broadway on Nov. 16, 1959. It was hardly just a “singing family,” though: It was the debut of “The Sound of Music,” which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this month, and went on to become an Oscar-winning blockbuster that starred Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp.

The musical, about a plucky novice-turned-governess who fled Austria to escape the Nazis, remains a cultural touchstone. “7 Rings,” Ariana Grande’s recent ode to conspicuous consumption, was inspired by “My Favorite Things,” a song from the show. The original cast recording was recently re-released for the anniversary. And the musical continues to thrive onstage, with scores of performances this holiday season planned in theaters from Sarasota, Fla., to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Now, too, Ms. Andrews is back, this time promoting her new book, “Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years,” which has renewed interest in the 1965 movie. She recently told Graham Norton that one of the young actors almost died filming a boat scene because the girl couldn’t swim. (“I had to swim like mad to get to her,” Ms. Andrews said.) It’s no surprise too that “The Sound of Music,” a holiday favorite, is being promoted in ads for Disney Plus, the entertainment giant’s new streaming service.