Mary Poppins: Scarlett Strallen & Adam Fiorentino assume the roles of 'Mary Poppins' and 'Bert,' respectively

As previously announced, Scarlett Strallen and Adam Fiorentino make their Broadway debuts this evening (09 Oct 2008) when they join the cast of the Broadway production of Mary Poppins in the lead roles of 'Mary Poppins' and 'Bert,' respectively.

Strallen and Fiorentino will replace original cast members Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, who played their final performance on 5 Oct 2008. Understudies assumed the roles of 'Mary Poppins' and 'Bert' during the short interregnum.

Strallen played the title role of 'Mary Poppins' in the West End production of the musical in the fall of 2005, and later returned to the part in spring of 2007. Strallen was nominated for a 2006 Laurence Olivier nomination for her role as 'Anne Page' in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of 'Merry Wives of Windsor.'

Fiorentino made his theatrical stage debut in the Australian tour of 'The Boy from Oz' at the age of seventeen. He enjoyed continued success on Australian stages with the shows 'Call Me Madam,' 'Cats,' 'Mamma Mia!,' 'Grease,' 'Footloose,' and 'Leader of The Pack.' Fiorentino originated the starring role of 'Tony Manero' in the Australian Premiere of 'Saturday Night Fever' and reprised the role on London's West End.

Mary Poppins 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 12 Apr 2009.

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 The cast also features Daniel Jenkins (Mr. Banks), Rebecca Luker (Mrs. Banks), Ann Arvia (Bird Woman), Mark Price (Robertson Ay), Ruth Gottschall (Miss Andrew), Jeff Steitzer (Admiral Boom) and Jane Carr (Mrs. Brill). Alexandra Berro, Kelsey Fowler and Cassady Leonard alternate in the role of 'Jane Banks.' Neil McCaffrey, Zach Rand and Matthew Gumley 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.