Mary Poppins: Tickets now on sale

Mon 12 Jun Tickets go on sale to the general public today (12 Jun 2006) for the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins is to open on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on the 16 Nov 2006, following previews from the 14 Oct 2006. Mary Poppins is based on the stories by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Walt Disney film. The musical features many of the original songs from the film, with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, who won two Oscar's for the film Mary Poppins. The new stage production features new songs and additional music and lyrics by Olivier Award-winners George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The production has been created in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh. The cast features Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Gavin Lee (Bert), Daniel Jenkins (Mr. Banks), Rebecca Luker (Mrs. Banks), Jane Carr (Mrs. Brill), Mark Price (Robertson Ay), Cass Morgan (Bird Woman), Ruth Gottschall (Miss Andrew), and Michael McCarty (Admiral Boom). Katherine Doherty and Delaney Moro will alternate in the role of Jane Banks. Henry Hodges and Alexander Scheitinger will alternate in the role of Michael Banks. The ensemble includes: Eric B. Anthony, Ann Arvia, Pam Bradley, Kristin Carbone, Brian Collier, Nick Corley, Case Dillard, Nicolas Dromard, James Hindman, Suzanne Hylenski, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Matt Loehr, Michelle Lookadoo, Tony Mansker, Tyler Maynard, Sean McCourt, Vasthy E. Mompoint, Jesse Nager, Kathleen Nanni, Megan Osterhaus, Janelle Anne Robinson, Rommy Sandhu, Phillip Spaeth, Shekitra Starke, Catherine Walker, and Kevin Yee. Director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team assembled for Mary Poppins with co-direction and choreography by Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne. Mary Poppins features a book by Oscar-winner Julian Fellowes, set and costume design is by Tony Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and musical supervision by David Caddick. Mary Poppins continues its record-breaking run at the Prince Edward Theatre in London�s West End where it opened to excellent reviews on the 15 Dec 2004. The Times wrote of the show "Marvellously fresh adaptation.... Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious � or so I�d say." The Daily Telegraph said "The stage version of Mary Poppins is heaps better than the movie - funnier, sharper, more inventive and with a far greater variety of mood." The Independent published "With its magic and chutzpah, it simply blows away the opposition from rival West End musicals, emerging as the year's most joyous, spectacular and heart-tugging show in that genre." Click here to read Alan Bird's review of the London Production of the musical. Mary Poppins creator Pamela Lyndon (P.L.) Travers was born Helen Lyndon Goff in Australia on August 9, 1899. While touring as a theatre actress, Pamela began publishing poems, articles, and stories; which led to a career in journalism. It was in 1934, while living in England, that she wrote the first of six books featuring Mary Poppins. Pamela Travers passed away on April 23, 1996. (For more information click here)