Nigel West to Helm MARY POPPINS at Dunfield Theatre Cambridge

A creative team from London England's West End has been assembled for the Drayton Entertainment production of Disney's and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, which will launch the new Dunfield Theatre Cambridge next March.

Nigel West, one of London's most sought-after directors with three decades of experience in high profile musical theatre productions, will be assuming directorial duties.

His impressive London credits include Associate Director of the Olivier award-winning musical Me and My Girl at the Adelphi Theatre; the Tony and Olivier award-winning Crazy For You at the Prince Edward Theatre; the Olivier award-winning Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the Dominion Theatre; and resident Director of the Tony and Olivier award-winning Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre, which West also directed in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Dusseldorf.

"There is great excitement surrounding our production of Mary Poppins, and the momentum will continue to build with today's announcement," says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment. "Nigel West is truly one of the world's great musical theatre directors. Securing his involvement with the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge is a tremendous coup."

Mustakas' long-time association with the director dates back to 1993, when he hired West for a sold-out run of Me and My Girl at the Drayton Festival Theatre. West directed She Loves Me at the Drayton Festival Theatre in 1996. That production was choreographed by Stephen Mear, who went on to win an Olivier Award and Tony Award nomination for Mary Poppins. West also directed Drayton Entertainment's inaugural production of Me and My Girl at the King's Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene in 1999.

Mustakas is continually amazed by the incredible talent that is attracted to the various stages operated by Drayton Entertainment. "Trust is inherent in all of our longstanding relationships," he says. "I am excited to work closely with Nigel and successfully execute our vision for Mary Poppins. Audiences are going to be blown away by the calibre of this production."

In recent years, West's illustrious career has taken him around the globe. He directed the US National Tour of The Producers for Susan Stroman; a UK production of The Wizard of Oz, which subsequently toured the United States for four years including a season at New York's Madison Square Gardens; the first German speaking production of The Producers in Vienna and Berlin; and Chicago in Australia, Singapore, Korea, Madrid, Barcelona, and London.

West will be joined by a gifted choreographer – and close friend – for Mary Poppins. Leigh Constantine has spent many years in London's West End, starting her career as a performer in such high profile productions as Anything Goes, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, Singin' in the Rain, Fame, Oklahoma!, and The Producers.

For the past six years, she has been the Associate Choreographer of the Tony award-winning The Producers on behalf of Susan Stroman. To date, she has been proud to recreate Stroman's work for 7 productions, including two years of the US National Tour, a season at Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City, London's West End, the UK National Tour, and productions in Vienna and Berlin. In addition to The Producers, Constantine has collaborated with West as choreographer on The Wizard of Oz. She is currently the Resident Director and Choreographer for Rock of Ages in London.

"Mary Poppins is so well known for its song and dance numbers, which are integral to the story," says Mustakas. "I am excited to see Leigh's interpretation."

The lavish stage spectacle centres on the story of the Banks family and how their lives change after the arrival of nanny Mary Poppins at their home at 17 Cherry Tree Lane in London, England. Tickets for Mary Poppins are on sale now exclusively to Members of Drayton Entertainment. Tickets go on sale to the general public December 3rd. To become a Member of the new Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, contact the Box Office toll free at 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).

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