Casting Announced for Musical Theatre West's Production of MARY POPPINS

Musical Theatre West brings a "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center July 7-23. Practically perfect in every way, it's a high flying fun filled adventure for the young and young at heart.

Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's production features the delectable Sherman Brothers score, including "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Jolly Holiday," "Let's Go Fly a Kite," "Step in Time," and "Chim Chim Cher-ee," as well as new musical additions, by the Olivier winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Tickets are now on sale at www. musical.org, at the MTW Ticket Office, or by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4. Tickets start at $20.

The eight children's books by P.L. Travers, published from 1934 to 1988, first introduced us to the magical nanny who floated into the lives of the Banks family at 17 Cherry Tree Lane. The books were re-envisioned in the classic Walt Disney film in 1964 starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The stage version, reconceived for the stage by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) premiered in London's West End in 2004 where it earned nine Olivier Award nominations. The show made it Broadway in 2006 where it ran for seven years, earning seven Tony Award nominations.

Katharine McDonough stars as the "practically perfect" nanny. Returning to MTW following her triumphant performance as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, her recent credits include MTW's Reiner Staged Reading production of The Boys from Syracuse (Adrianna) and Marian Paroo in Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center production of The Music Man. Also returning to the MTW stage is Robert Pieranunzi (Bert) who appeared in MTW's productions of Guys & Dolls, Never Gonna Dance, Meet Me in St. Louis, and CATS. Most recently Pieranunzi starred as Albert Peterson in Bye, Bye Birdie at Glendale Center Theatre and in the world premiere of I Only Have Eyes for You at the Ricardo Montalban Theater.

Hailed for his performance as the villainous Scar in the Broadway production of The Lion King and his performance in Broadway's Raisin in the Son, Martin Kildare (George Banks) appeared as Professor Higgins MTW's My Fair Lady and in the Reiner Staged Reading production of On the Twentieth Century. Rounding out the cast are Amanda Leigh Jerry as Winifred Banks (Julie Jordan in MTW's Carousel), Olivia Knox as Jane Banks and Travis Burnett-Doering as Michael Banks.

Musical Theatre West's production, directed and choreographed by Daniel Pelzig (MTW's My Fair Lady), promises to be a spectacle, with lavish staging and fun-filled show-stopping dance numbers. Musical Director Ryan O'Connell (Off-Broadway's Earnest Shackelton Loves Me) leads a full orchestra.

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins is made possible by 2016-2017 Season Honorary Producers Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation, Ken & Dottie Reiner, Don & Marlene Temple, Kathy Baker Campbell and KC Wilson; Honorary Producers Joe P. Moore, Jr. & Edna Moore, and the Port of Long Beach; and Associate Producers Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation, the Schulzman-Neri Foundation, Dr. David Federick and Jasmine P. Calzada, Jon & Amanda Hall, and Howard & Elaine Davis. MTW wishes to thank Education and Youth Outreach Sponsors, the Arts Council for Long Beach and the Don Knabe Fund for Artistic Excellence and Youth Performance Underwriters Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation, Edward Parker, Ethel Severson, and Claude Klug. Mary Poppins is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

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