Mary Poppins: Andrew Keenan-Bolger joins cast

Andrew Keenan-bolger joins the cast of the Broadway musical Mary Poppins on 12 Oct 2010 as 'Robertson Ay.' He assumes the role from original Broadway cast member Mark Price.

Keenan-Bolger's recent Broadway credits include 'Seussical,' Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'A Christmas Carol.' First national touring credits: 'Leaf Coneybear' in 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,' 'Young Max' in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' and 'Ragtime.' Television credits include "Naked Brothers Band," "One Life to Live," "Friday Night MTV," "The Battery's Down" and the feature film "Marci X."

The Broadway production of Mary Poppins currently stars Laura Michelle Kelly as 'Mary Poppins' and Gavin Lee as 'Bert' - the two stars originated the roles when the musical had its world premiere in London in 2004.

The cast also features Karl Kenzler (Mr. Banks), Megan Osterhaus (Mrs. Banks), Valerie Boyle (Mrs. Brill), Ann Arvia (Bird Woman), Ruth Gottschall (Miss Andrew) and Jonathan Freeman (Admiral Boom). Catherine Missal, Rachel Resheff and Rozi Baker alternate in the role of 'Jane Banks.' Christopher Flaim, David Gabriel Lerner and Ethan Haberfield alternate in the role of 'Michael Banks.'

The Broadway production of Mary Poppins opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on the 16 Nov 2005, following previews from the 14 Oct. The show is currently booking through to 13 Mar 2011.

Growing up in London in 1910, the Banks children, Jane and Michael need a nanny, and they write an advertisement to put in The Times stipulating that she must 'have a cheery disposition. Rosy cheeks, no warts. Play games, all sorts.' Of course when she arrives, the games Mary Poppins has in mind are not at all what the children expected, but are nonetheless 'extremely diverting.'

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 musical opened to mostly good reviews: "A roof-raising, toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza" (New York Daily News); "Was fine as a Disney movie and is even better as this Broadway musical" (New York Post); "A real Broadway musical - the kind we haven't seen in a long time." (Journal News); "Most children, however, really don't know the difference between great and mediocre performances, and they will love the show." (newyorktheatreguide).

However, not all the reviews were so favourable: "Handsome, homily-packed and rather tedious show." (New York Times); "Resembles a vast, elaborate clockwork toy of yesteryear." (Star-Ledger); "A wee bit of a letdown." (Washington Post).

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 Steve Canyon Kennedy, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and musical supervision by David Caddick.

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.