Mary Poppins celebrates five years on Broadway

Mary Poppins celebrates five years on Broadway The Broadway production of Mary Poppins celebrates its fifth anniversary on Broadway. The musical opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on the 16 Nov 2006, following previews from the 14 Oct 2006, and is currently selling tickets through to 1 Jul 2012. 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. Mary Poppins is the third Disney Theatrical Productions show (following 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'The Lion King') and the fifth Cameron Mackintosh show (joining 'Cats,' 'Les Misérables,' 'The Phantom of the Opera' and 'Miss Saigon') to play five or more years on Broadway. The Broadway company currently features Steffanie Leigh (Mary Poppins), Gavin Lee (Bert), Karl Kenzler (Mr. Banks), Megan Osterhaus (Mrs. Banks), Valerie Boyle (Mrs. Brill), Ann Arvia (Bird Woman), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Robertson Ay), Ruth Gottschall (Miss Andrew) and Jonathan Freeman (Admiral Boom). Brigid Harrington, Kara Oate and Rozi Baker alternate in the role of 'Jane Banks.' Anthony Scarpone-Lambert, David Gabriel Lerner and Lewis Grosso alternate in the role of 'Michael Banks.' 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.