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Mary Poppins (musical)

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Mary Poppins, in addition to being a series of children's books and a film, has also been adapted for the stage by Disney Theatrical.

Mary Poppins
File:Mary Poppins 2.jpg
Theatre poster
MusicRobert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman; George Stiles and Anthony Drew
LyricsRobert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman; George Stiles and Anthony Drew
BookP.L. Travers
For the 1964 Academy Award winning motion picture, see Mary Poppins (film).

London Production

On 15th December 2004 Cameron Mackintosh's stage adaptation of the Disney film adaptation opened at Prince Edward Theatre, London (having previously premiered at the Bristol Hippodrome) to enthusiastic critical acclaim. The part of Mary was taken by Laura Michelle Kelly, who subsequently won the 2005 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the role.

Original Music & Lyrics are by the Academy Award winning Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Tigger Movie) with some additional music and lyrics by George Stiles & Anthony Drewe, composers of the Olivier award-winning Honk, and the book was written by Julian Fellowes. It was directed by former National Theatre artistic director Richard Eyre and co-directed by Matthew Bourne, who also acted as co-choreographer with Stephen Mear.

Some elements from the books that had been omitted from the film — the walking statue, the ladders rising to the stars — were restored. Others were removed, such as the scene in which Uncle Albert gets caught on the ceiling, laughing.

A studio recording featuring the original London cast was released in April 2005. The album contains most of the songs from the stage show, but omits a few including Precision and Order, Cherry Tree Lane Part 3 and many of the Chim Chim Cher-ee interludes.

London Original Cast 2004 - 2005

Ensemble: Jye Frasca, Lewis Greenslade, Howard Jones, Sarah Keeton, Matthew Malthouse, Stephen McGlynn, Tamara McKoy Patterson, Jo Morris (replaced Lisa in July 2005), Zak Nemorin, Lisa O'Hare (till July 2005), Savannah Stevenson and Agnes Vandrepote

Swings: Sarah Bayliss, Ashley Day, Pippa Raine, Philip Michael Thomas, Emma Woods and Andrew Wright

Principal Understudies:

  • Mary Poppins - Poppy Tierney, Lisa O’Hare (till July 2005), Savannah Stevenson
  • Bert - Stephen McGlynn, Howard Jones
  • George Banks - Alan Vicary, Tim Morgan
  • Winifred Banks - Sarah Keeton, Savannah Stevenson
  • Miss Andrew - Claire Machin, Louisa Shaw
  • Mrs Brill - Claire Machin, Sarah Keeton

London Cast 2005-2006

  • Ensemble - Matthew Boulton, Chloe Campbell, Tom Dwyer, David McMullan, Scott Owen, Lucy Potter, Annalisa Rossi, Barnaby Thompson, Kate Tydman
  • Swings - Vanessa Barmby, Paul Farrell, Rebecca Louis, Tanya Robb, Stuart Rogers

Current London Cast 2006-2007

  • Katie Nanna - Louise Davidson
  • Policeman - Mark Faith
  • Miss Lark - Claire Machin
  • Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman - Paul Bentley
  • Neleus - Jethro Marles
  • Von Hussler - Neil Ditt
  • Northbrook - Michael Cantwell
  • Valentine - Stephen Kirwan
  • Mrs Corry - Clare Bonsu
  • Annie/Doll - Cara Elston
  • Fannie - Jaime Farr
  • William - Romeo Salazar
  • Ensemble - Charlie Bull, Sarah Cortez, David McMullan, Jane McCurtrie, Grant Murphy, Craig Turner, Samuel Tyler, Stuart Winter, Hannah Wooley
  • Swings - Lewis Butler, Paul Farrell, Nicola Filshie, Rebecca Louis, Claire Rickard, Philip Michael Thomas (Dance Captain)

Cast changes

Since 31st October 2005, the role of Mary Poppins has been played by Scarlett Strallen. Aden Gillet joined the cast to play George Banks. Meanwhile, Eliza Lumley took on the role of Winifred Banks, Sarah Flind plays Mrs Brill, Ray C Davis appears as Park Keeper and Andrew Pepper as Robertson Ay. Rosemary Ashe continued as Miss Andrew/Miss Smythe and Julia Sutton as Bird Woman. Gavin Lee continues as Bert.

In April 2006, Louise Gold took over the roles of 'Miss Andrew/Miss Smythe' & Diane Langton 'Bird Woman'.

On 26th July 2006 Gavin Creel took over the role of 'Bert', replacing Gavin Lee, who is set to play the same role, when the show opens on Broadway later this year.

Songs

 
ORIGINAL LONDON CAST - "JANES & MICHAELS". Left to right (FRONT): Poppy Lee Friar, Jack Montgomery, Perry Millward, Harry Stott, Ben Watton, Jake Catterall, Nicola, Bowman. Left to right (BACK): Charlotte Spencer, Faye Spittlehouse, Carrie Fletcher, and songwriter, Robert B. Sherman. (Photo Date: 19 July 2004)

Broadway production

File:Mary Poppins (musical).jpg
A recent poster for the musical Mary Poppins.

On October 14th 2006, a Broadway version of the musical debuted at the New Amsterdam Theatre. The only difference that's noticeable is Jolly Holiday, being staged in technicolor instead of the gray tones of the London show, according to Gavin Lee

Broadway Original Cast 2006

  • Mary Poppins - Ashley Brown
  • Bert - Gavin Lee
  • George Banks - Daniel Jenkins
  • Winifred Banks - Rebecca Luker
  • Miss Andrew/Miss Smythe - Ruth Gottschall
  • Mrs. Brill - Jane Carr
  • Bird Woman - Cass Morgan
  • Robertson Ay - Mark Price
  • Jane Banks - Katherine Doherty, Delaney Moro, Kathryn Faughnan
  • Michael Banks - Henry Hodges, Matthew Gumley, Alexander Scheitinger
  • Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman - Michael McCarty

Ensemble: Eric B. Anthony, Ann Arvia, Pam Bradley, Kristin Carbone, Brian Collier, Nick Corley, Case Dillard, Nicolas Dromard, James Hindman, Suzanne Hylenski, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Matt Loehr, Michelle Lookadoo, Tony Mansker, Tyler Maynard, Sean McCourt, Vasthy E. Mompoint, Jesse Nager, Kathleen Nanni, Megan Osterhaus, Janelle Anne Robinson, Rommy Sandhu, Phillip Spaeth, Shekitra Starke, Catherine Walker, Kevin Yee.

Trivia

Stephen Sondheim wrote an adaptation of Mary Poppins as an assignment during his 'apprenticeship' under Oscar Hammerstein II. The adaptation has never been performed, because the rights holders for the book did not grant permission for the show to go into production. The musical remains unfinished.

See also

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