Mary Poppins to open on Broadway in Nov 2006.

Sun 13 Nov 2005 President of Disney Theatrical Productions Thomas Schumacher and producer Cameron Mackintosh are pleased to announce that their London production of Mary Poppins, based on the stories by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Walt Disney film will open on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on the 16 Nov 2006, following previews from the 14 Oct. Mary Poppins will continue its record-breaking run at the Prince Edward Theatre in London�s West End where it opened to excellent reviews on the 15 Dec 2005 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 a review of the London production by our sister site, www.londontheatre.co.uk. 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. �We are delighted to be able to bring Mary Poppins to Broadway and continue our successful partnership with Cameron Mackintosh. After the enormous success of the show in London, I�m looking forward to these two great production companies working together for years to come,� Thomas Schumacher said. �I�m happy that the New Amsterdam will be the venue where Broadway will be introduced to the residents of 17 Cherry Tree Lane, and I am eager to see The Lion King play its first performance at its new home: the Minskoff Theatre. The refurbishing that is being planned by the Nederlander Organization will wonderfully complement Julie Taymor�s (Lion King Director) work and will make an ideal home for the production.� �My first introduction to Mary Poppins was over 40 years ago when I first saw Walt Disney�s magical film and with this announcement, I am delighted to continue my hugely pleasurable collaboration with Tom Schumacher,� Cameron Mackintosh said. �Putting Pamela Travers� stories on stage has been the most terrific and exhilarating time and I�m looking forward to bringing this glorious production to America. Just as the musical opened in London at my newly restored Prince Edward Theater, it is serendipitous that the show will open on Broadway at Disney�s stunning New Amsterdam Theatre. 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. Casting and additional information for Mary Poppins on Broadway will be announced at a future date. (For more information click here)