Houston Critics Praise MARY POPPINS At The Hobby Center

The North American tour of MARY POPPINS opened in Houston on Friday, October 23 at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts to a rave review from Houston's top theatrical critic. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher, MARY POPPINS features original Broadway stars Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Gavin Lee (Bert) reprising their roles as the world's most famous nanny and chimney sweep.

Following is a sampling of what Everett Evans from the Houston Chronicle had to say about MARY POPPINS:

"Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee - she a delectable Mary, he an irrepressible Bert - re-create their original Broadway roles heading the strong touring cast that opened Friday at Hobby Center. Marvelous performances, magical music, ingenious staging, invigorating dancing and spectacular production design enhance the alternately whimsical and poignant tale of a magical nanny healing a fractured family."

"Brown brings a crystalline voice and ideal personality to the title role. Lee proves a knockout song-and-dance talent as Bert, even more crucial than in the movie, as he's now the constant narrator."

MARY POPPINS, a co-production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened on Broadway on November 16, 2006. Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS the stage play features the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.

Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team, with co-direction and choreography by Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne. MARY POPPINS features set and costume design by TonyÒ Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick. The tour's creative team includes Tour Director Anthony Lyn, Associate Choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Music Director James Dodgson.

MARY POPPINS continues in its 3rd smash year at the New Amsterdam Theatre and recently celebrated its 1000th performance - a milestone reached by only a rare few number of shows in Broadway history. The Broadway production has grossed over $ 152 million to date and been seen by over 1.8 million theatergoers.

Simultaneously, the show's popularity grows around the globe. Following a successful three year run (December 2004 - January 2008) at the Prince Edward Theatre on London's West End, a U.K. tour of MARY POPPINS commenced in summer 2008 and concluded its acclaimed run in Cardiff in April 2009. The Australian production of MARY POPPINS will premiere in July 2010 at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne.

In April 2010, an open-ended run of MARY POPPINS will take residence at the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Holland, outside of Amsterdam (following TARZAN'S record setting run there). MARY POPPINS will be produced in Holland by Stage Entertainment in association with Disney and Cameron Mackintosh.

TOUR VENUE AND TICKET INFORMATION

In Houston, MARY POPPINS will play Tuesday - Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $25.50 to $81. Special VIP Ticket Packages are available for $134 at select performances, and include premium seating and a complimentary souvenir program. Tickets are available at the Hobby Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 800-982-ARTS (2787) or online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. Orders for groups of twenty (20) or more may be placed by calling (888) 451-5986 or e-mail Houston.groups@broadwayacrossamerica.com.

The Houston engagement of MARY POPPINS is presented by arrangement with Broadway Across America and is a subscription offering of the Houston Series.

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