MARY POPPINS Celebrates 5 Years on Broadway Tonight

MARY POPPINS continues to fly high, celebrating five magical years on Broadway tonight (previews began October 14, 2006 at the New Amsterdam Theatre). MARY POPPINS is the third Disney Theatrical Productions show (following Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King) and the fifth Cameron Mackintosh show (joining Cats, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon) to play five or more years on Broadway.

With six productions produced on three continents, MARY POPPINS is one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London or New York in recent years. Worldwide to date, the show has grossed over $644 million and welcomed 9.3 million guests.

The success of the Broadway production is particularly striking; since it opened, no Broadway show has achieved its financial success or spawned nearly the global franchise as that of MARY POPPINS. With attendance of over 3 million theatergoers in five years, it has been seen by more people in that period than any Broadway show except Wicked and The Lion King. With a gross of over $246 million to date, only five mega-hits in Broadway history (The Lion King; The Producers; Mamma Mia!; Jersey Boys and Wicked) have grossed more by their fifth anniversary.

In celebration of the fifth anniversary of MARY POPPINS on Broadway, Mary Poppins will "flip the switch" and light the world-famous Empire State Building's tower lights with the signature color of the production. The landmark spire will shine blue in honor of Mary's 5th anniversary on Broadway Tuesday, November 15.

MARY POPPINS stars Steffanie Leigh in her Broadway debut as the title role, and the West End and Broadway's original Bert, Tony Award nominee Gavin Lee. The Broadway cast also features Karl Kenzler as George Banks, Megan Osterhaus as Winifred Banks, Rachel Izen as Mrs. Brill, Ruth Gottschall as Miss Andrew, Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Robertson Ay, Ann Arvia as Bird Woman and Jonathan Freeman as Admiral Boom. Alternating in the role of Jane banks are Rozi Baker, Brigid Harrington and Kara Oates; alternating in the role of Michael Banks are Lewis Grosso, David Gabriel Lerner and Anthony Scarpone-Lambert.

A co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, this stage production is based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film and includes the film's Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. MARY POPPINS was created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who wrote the book; Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre; and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.

MARY POPPINS received its worldwide premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End in December 2004. Following its successful three-year London run, the production launched an acclaimed U.K. tour.

The Broadway production of MARY POPPINS officially opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 16, 2006, recouping its initial Broadway investment within 52 weeks of its premiere in 2006. MARY POPPINS is the only show from the 2006-2007 theatrical season still running.

The MARY POPPINS North American tour has also garnered continuous critical praise and achieved box office success since its launch in Chicago in March 2009, playing 33 cities and grossing $124 million to date.

The musical is the winner of 44 major theatre awards around the globe, including Tony®, Olivier, Helpmann and Evening Standard awards.

In addition to Broadway and the North American tour, MARY POPPINS can also be seen in Sydney, Australia (at the Capitol Theatre). Productions of MARY POPPINS have also been mounted in Finland, Netherlands, Denmark and the Czech Republic. Demonstrating the breadth of the show's appeal, the next production is scheduled to open in Estonia.

For tickets, show information and performance schedule, call Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717 or visit MaryPoppins.com

More Articles by This Author...