Mary Poppins announces Ashley Brown & Gavin Lee to play Mary Poppins & Bert on Broadway

President of Disney Theatrical Productions Thomas Schumacher and producer Cameron Mackintosh have announced that Ashley Brown is to star in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins, with Gavin Lee to play opposite her as 'Bert,'

Ashley Brown is the current Belle in Walt Disney's Broadway production of Beauty and The Beast, and Gavin Lee will make his Broadway debut in the role of 'Bert' - the role he originated when Mary Poppins opened in London's Prince Edward Theatre in Dec 2004.

Mary Poppins is to open on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on the 16 Nov 2006, following previews from the 14 Oct 2006.

�After the phenomenal success of Mary Poppins in London, we were excited to cast the roles of Mary and Bert for Broadway� Mackintosh and Schumacher said in a joint statement. �The moment Ashley Brown auditioned for us and members of our creative team, we knew we had found our Mary Poppins. Gavin Lee, who continues to amaze audiences at the Prince Edward Theatre in London, has embodied Bert with such irrepressible charm and warmth that we knew he must perform the role on Broadway. We are delighted that Ashley and Gavin will bring these two legendary characters to life at the New Amsterdam Theatre.�

Ashley Brown said, �Playing Mary Poppins on Broadway is a dream come true. As a little girl in Florida, I always imagined creating a role in a Broadway show. Now to have Cameron and Tom entrust me with this role is such an honor. I can hardly wait to start.�

Mary Poppins is based on the stories by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Walt Disney film.

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.

Disney's The Lion King will move in its entirety, including all 52-cast members and the entire 24-member orchestra, from the New Amsterdam Theatre on the 4 Jun 2006 and begin performances nine days later at its new home the Minskoff Theatre on the 13 Jun 2006.

Mary Poppins 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.

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 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.

Additional casting and additional information for Mary Poppins on Broadway will be announced at a future date.