Christina DeCicco & Danny Gardner Lead MARY POPPINS, Beginning Tonight at TUTS

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) presents Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS. The story of the beloved nanny flies to the stage tonight, March 8, through March 20, 2016 in Sarofim Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Based on the book by P. L. Travers, the musical will have audiences singing along with all the songs they know from the film - while learning a few new ones. Watch as life changes for the Banks family when Mary Poppins glides in on the east wind. Directed and choreographed by Linda Goodrich, Mary Poppins is sure to entertain the whole family in the most delightful way.

PRINCIPAL CAST BIOGRAPHIES:

Christina Decicco (Mary Poppins) Broadway: Eva Peron, Evita (2012 Revival starring Ricky Martin); Arachne, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark; Mary Robert, Sister Act, the Musical (U/S). Off-Broadway: Cindy Lou Huffington, The Marvelous Wonderettes (West Side Theatre); Elmire, Tartuffe (Dog Run Repertory). National Tour: Glinda,Wicked (1st National). Regional: Maggie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Triad Stage); Gabriella, Boeing Boeing (Gulfshore Playhouse); Betty Schafer, Sunset Boulevard(Ogunquit Playhouse); Eponine, LES MISERABLES - Barrymore Award Winner (Walnut Street Theatre). BA, Wagner College.

Danny Gardner (Bert) - is excited to be returning to TUTS for a third time! (White Christmas and Annie). Broadway: Lucky in Dames at Sea. Encores!: Dick Trevor in Lady, Be Good! starring Tommy Tune. National tours: White Christmas, Here To Stay - The Gershwin Experience and 42nd Street. Regional: Frank in Show Boat at Goodspeed Opera House, Chuck in Promises, Promises! and Frank in Neurosis at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival.

Drew McVety (Mr. Banks) Broadway: The Last Ship, Cyrano De Bergerac, Billy Elliot, Sunday in the Park with George, Spamalot, Frozen, Big River, Titanic, The Heidi Chronicles. First national tour: Cabaret, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Off-Broadway: Songbird, Charles Ives Take Me Home, Lone Star Love, Corpus Christi, This Lime Tree Bower, The Substance of Fire. Regional: Yale Rep, Long Wharf, Portland Stage, Pittsburgh Public. Television: The Good Wife, Black Box, Blue Bloods, Royal Pains,Unforgettable, Law & Order franchise, Molly Dodd Film: The Strange Case of Wilheim Reich, Henry's Crime.

Courtney Markowitz (Mrs. Banks) is thrilled to return to the TUTS stage. Previously at TUTS: Bonnie and Clyde (Blanche Barrow), Lizzie, The Musical (Alice), Sweet Potato Queens staged reading (Too Much Tammy). Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde (Emma u/s). National Tours: Spring Awakening (Ilse), Jekyll & Hyde (Emma u/s). Other regional: Legally Blonde (Vivienne), All Shook Up (Sandra), The Producers (Ulla), The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet).

Kelly Lomonte (Jane) a freshman at The Village School and third year TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre student is thrilled to be a part of Mary Poppins. Kelly's credits include: A Christmas Story (Mary Beth/featured dancer), The Music Man, Hairspray (Amber von Tussle), Bring It On and iTheatrics Broadway Jr. Choreography DVDs.

Sean Graul (Michael) is overjoyed and blessed to be performing in his second main stage TUTS production. Favorite past roles performed locally include: A Christmas Story (Randy), Shrek (Pinocchio), and The Little Mermaid (Sebastian).

Barbara Marineau (Bird Woman / Mrs. Brill) Broadway: Gentleman's Guide To Love & Murder, The Women, Beauty and The Beast, King David, Christmas Carol, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Shenandoah. National tours: Trevor Nunn's My Fair Lady, Pippin, Falsettos, Grand Hotel, Into The Woods, Robber Bridegroom. Lincoln Center's Man of No Importance. Awards: Connecticut Critic's Circle - "Mrs. Lovett" Sweeney Todd, Michigan's Wilde Award - "Aggie" Catered Affair, Florida's Carbonell - "Rosamund" Robber Bridegroom. A Western Michigan University Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, she shares a Musical Theatre Scholarship, in her name, with Marin Mazzie.

Marco Camacho (Robertson Ay) TUTS: A Christmas Story, Bonnie and Clyde, James and the Giant Peach; Music Box: Avenue Q (Princeton/Rod), Next to Normal(Henry), Spelling Bee (Chip Tolentino), Godspell, Assassins; MST: Into the Woods (Jack/ Steward). Film/TV: Nickelodeon's Victorious and Horrible Turn (Prequel to Dr. Horrible w/ Neil Patrick Harris).

Brian Mathis (Chairman / Admiral) is very happy to be making his TUTS debut! He appeared on the national equity tours of Seussical The Musical and Jesus Christ Superstar. Also with Casa manana, Dallas Theater Center, Kansas City starlight , Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Tennessee Rep, and the Bushnell Center. All time favorite role, Sweeney Todd! His Voice has been heard on dozens of commercials and anime voice overs.

Jane Blass (Miss Andrew) Broadway: Annie "Mrs. Greer/Miss Hannigan u/s". Broadway Tours: "Prudy/Female Authority Figure" - Hairspray; "Margaret/Violet u/s" - 9 to 5. Other favorite credits: "Mazeppa" - Gypsy with Patti LuPone Ravinia (Chicago); "Widow Corney" Oliver!, Engeman Theater. Tours: "Wicked Witch" Wizard of Oz; Scrooge with Richard Chamberlain; Side By Side By Sondheim, the Middle-East; "Baker's Wife" Into the Woods. You may have killed her in Grand Theft Auto 4. Founding member of the Sweat Girls.

TUTS will offer several special events in conjunction with the production for:

- MARY POPPINS Screening at Sundance Cinemas: Join us for a FREE screening of the classic film starring Julie Andrews on Monday, February 29th at Sundance Cinemas! Seating is first come, first serve. Parking is free in the Theatre District Parking Garage via validation or reimbursement.

- OUT@TUTS: Houston's LGBT social theatre group hosts a cabaret-style evening at Artista, with complimentary bites, happy hour drink specials -mingle with cast members and other musical theatre enthusiasts on Thursday, March 10th.

- MARY POPPINS Jolly Holiday: Start your journey to Cherry Tree Lane on Sunday, March 13th with a visit to MARY POPPINS' Jolly Holiday. This pre-show jubilee includes a photo opportunity with MARY POPPINS, high tea and pudding (British evening meal and dessert), and a special gift! This event begins at 6 p.m. and occurs prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance.

For more event information, visit TUTS.com/events. Tickets (from $30) are available online at TUTS.com; by phone at (713) 558-TUTS (8887), or (888) 558-3882 or in person at Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002), Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Special offers for groups of 10 or more are available at (713) 558-8888 or groupsales@tuts.com.

A non-profit based in Houston, Texas, TUTS offers a world-class musical theatre experience that ranges from full-scale Broadway productions to educational initiatives that extend beyond the stage and into the community -- for actors and aficionados of all ages and abilities. TUTS performs annually in Sarofim Hall and Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center and at Miller Outdoor Theatre. TUTS began performing at Miller Outdoor Theatre in 1968, and is the only arts organization to perform at Miller every year since then. Founded by Frank M. Young and currently under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge and Artistic Director Bruce Lumpkin, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres. Through its membership in the Independent Presenters Network, TUTS regularly helps mount shows on Broadway which eventually show locally to Houston audiences.

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