The Cruise Family Takes in MARY POPPINS

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes treated daughter Suri Cruise to evening out at the Ahmanson Theatre to see the LA engagement of the beloved stage musical, MARY POPPINS. This is the second time Suri has seen the world's most famous nanny on stage. Katie brought her to see the smash hit Broadway production in August 2008 during NY rehearsals for her own Broadway debut in Arthur Miller's All My Sons. BroadwayWorld brings you the backstage photo of the famous family with MARY POPPINS stars Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee below!

As previously reported, famous friends David Beckham and sons Brooklyn, Cruz and Romeo recently caught a performance of the show in LA, while Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie saw the Sunday Jan. 3 matinee with their four oldest children. Stars Amy Adams, The Jonas Brothers, Jude Law and Cate Blanchett also brought family and friends to the Broadway production over the holidays.

The West Coast premiere of "Mary Poppins" opened Sunday, November 15, 2009 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre for a limited engagement through February 7, 2010 as part of the MARY POPPINS National Tour.

The entire creative team has reunited to bring this magical story of the world's most famous nanny to audiences across North America. Original Broadway stars, Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively.

Joining Brown and Lee are Karl Kenzler as George Banks, Megan Osterhaus as Winifred Banks, Valerie Boyle as Mrs. Brill, Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Robertson Ay, Ellen Harvey as Miss Andrew, Mary VanArsdel as The Bird Woman, and Mike O'Carroll as Admiral Boom. Performances in the role of Jane Banks will be alternated between Katie Balen and Bailey Grey. Performances in the role of Michael Banks are alternated between Bryce Baldwin and Carter Thomas.

Rounding out the cast are Tia Altinay, Carol Angeli, Gail Bennett, Kiara Bennett, Brandon Bieber, Troy Edward Bowles, Elizabeth Broadhurst, Michael Gerhart, Geoffrey Goldberg, Emily Harvey, Tiffany Howard, Kelly Jacobs, Wendy James, Justin Keyes, Sam Kiernan, Brian Letendre, Laird Mackintosh, Vanessa McMahan, Koh Mochizuki, Shua Potter, Dominic Roberts, Nick Sanchez, Q. Smith, Jesse Swimm and Tom Souhrada.

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.

Consistently among the top-grossing shows on Broadway, "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 theatregoers.

The Los Angeles engagement of "Mary Poppins" is by arrangement with Center Theatre Group and is part of CTG's 2009-2010 season at the Ahmanson Theatre, located at the Los Angeles Music Center.

Tickets for MARY POPPINS are available for the Los Angeles Engagement by calling Center Theatre Group Audience Services at (213) 972-4400, in person at the Center Theatre Group box office located the Ahmanson Theatre or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

Ticket prices for "Mary Poppins" range from $20 to $92. VIP/Premium Ticket Packages are also available at select performances for $135 and $150, and include premium seating and a complimentary souvenir program. Hot-Tix, priced at $20, are available and can be purchased in advance, or subject to availability, on the day of performance at the CTG box office (no checks). For the deaf community, call TDD (213) 680-4017 for tickets and information. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling (213) 972-7231.

For more information on all things MARY POPPINS, visit www.MaryPoppinsTour.com.

Mary Poppins photo courtesy of Fran Curry/Disney Theatrical Productions.

  
Tom Cruise, Suri Cruise, Ashley Brown, Katie Holmes, and Gavin Lee Backstage at the Ahmanson Theatre, LA.