Nicolas Dromard to Return to MARY POPPINS as 'Bert' 1/9

After playing the role of Bert for over two years on the North American tour of Mary Poppins, with a stint on Broadway in Summer 2010, Nicolas DromarD will return to the New Amsterdam Theatre, beginning performances on Wednesday, January 9. Tony Award nominee Gavin Lee played his final performance before taking a leave of absence on Friday, January 4, 2013. He departs to join the West End production of Top Hat through Summer 2013.

Nicolas Dromard was last seen as Bert at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles last year. Broadway: Mary Poppins, The Boy From Oz, Oklahoma. National Tours: Mary Poppins, Wicked, Hairspray, Mamma Mia! Regional: White Christmas, Dancing in the Dark, Gypsy, West Side Story, Dracula, Crazy For You. My parents are amazing, Bisous to Gabrielle WCHIA. Proud Equity member. www.nicolasdromard.com.

He joins a cast that also features Steffanie Leigh as Mary Poppins, Karl Kenzler as George Banks, Megan Osterhaus as Winifred Banks, Valerie Boyle as Mrs. Brill, Janet MacEwen as Bird Woman, Dennis Moench as Robertson Ay, Q. Smith as Miss Andrew and Jonathan Freeman as Admiral Boom. Alternating in the role of Jane Banks are Carly Paige Baron, Maya Jade Frank and Elizabeth Teeter; alternating in the role of Michael Banks are Aidan Gemme, Anthony Pierini and Hayden Signoretti.

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. The stage production 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.

With seven 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 $812 million and welcomed more than 11 million guests.

The Broadway production of Mary Poppins officially opened on November 16, 2006, recouping its initial Broadway investment within 52 weeks of its premiere. 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.

The Australian production of Mary Poppins opened to critical acclaim in Melbourne in July 2010 where it achieved an unprecedented 100% of Gross Box Office. For its seasons in Perth and Brisbane the advance sales smashed all previous theatrical records.