Mary Poppins: original 'Bert' (Gavin Lee) joins cast

Mary Poppins original 'Bert,' Gavin Lee, re-joins the cast of the Broaday musical on 24 Aug 2010.

Lee originated the role of 'Bert' in the world premiere West End production of Mary Poppins and later marked his Broadway debut when the musical opened on Broadway in October 2006. Lee garnered an Oliver Award nomination in the world premiere production and a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance.

When Gavin Lee walks on the Broadway stage as 'Bert' opposite his original 'Mary' and Oliver Award-winning West End co-star Laura Michelle Kelly, it will be the first time in its 3 ½ year Broadway run that New York audiences will have the opportunity to see Mary Poppins' original stage stars performing the roles they created together

Lee re-joins the Broadway company fresh from the Kennedy Center engagement of the Mary Poppins North American tour, having originated the role of Bert when the tour premiered in Chicago in Mar 2009.

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 2 Jan 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 cast currently features Laura Michelle Kelly (Mary Poppins), Christian Borle (Bert), Karl Kenzler (Mr. Banks), Megan Osterhaus (Mrs. Banks), Valerie Boyle (Mrs. Brill), Ann Arvia (Bird Woman), Mark Price (Robertson Ay), 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 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.