George Stiles News

After flying high in Los Angeles for 13-weeks, MARY POPPINS folded her umbrella at the Ahmanson Theatre for the final time on Sunday, February 7. During the premiere engagement, the production played 100 performances, entertained over 188,000 theater patrons, grossed $13.7 million at the box office and achieved the milestone of being Los Angeles' highest grossing theatrical event in 2009.

Mary Poppins playing at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles will close on February 7, 2010.

Before the hit stage musical MARY POPPINS' three-month-long tour stop at Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre comes to an end on February 7, BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos sat down with Bolger for a nice, long chat about his year on tour, his stay in Los Angeles, his video blog stardom, and his future plans after he dances his final super-CALI-fragilistic jig.

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher are pleased to announce that Caroline Sheen will reprise the role of 'Mary Poppins' in the North American Tour of MARY POPPINS, after originating the title role in the critically acclaimed UK Tour. Sheen replaces Ashley Brown, who will play her final performance in Los Angeles at The Ahmanson Theatre on Sunday, February 7. Sheen joins the production in Tempe, AZ where performances begin at ASU Gammage Auditorium on Thursday, February 11 for a limited engagement of 3 weeks through Sunday, February 28, 2010. The opening night is Friday, February 12 at 7:30pm.

Dick Van Dyke delighted theatergoers when he made a surprise cameo in the LA engagement of the MARY POPPINS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR on January 22. Van Dyke, 84, reprised his smaller film role, that of the crotchety bank president Mr. Dawes, in front of an ecstatic, sold out house at the Ahmanson Theater as part of a charity fundraiser.

24-year old Noortje Herlaar has won the role of Mary Poppins after competing on a Dutch television show aimed at finding actor to fill the role. Fans came out in droves to vote for Herlaar, who won the competition.

Dick Van Dyke delighted theatergoers when he made a surprise cameo in the LA engagement of the MARY POPPINS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR.

'Abby and June' Monday, January 11th, 2010; 7:30pm - $12, Wednesday, January 13th, 2010; 7:30pm - $12 The Tank at 354 W. 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

'Abby and June' Monday, January 11th, 2010; 7:30pm - $12, Wednesday, January 13th, 2010; 7:30pm - $12 The Tank at 354 W. 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

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.

Last night, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie brought four of their famous brood to a performance of MARY POPPINS on Broadway. The family is in town while Jolie finishes filming her upcoming film, Salt.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: TRAVELING LIGHT at Brits Off Broadway. Performed by Simon Green with musical arrangement and accompaniment by David Shrubsole, SIMON GREEN TRAVELING LIGHT begins performances on Tuesday, December 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Press opening is Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical, By Josef Weinberger. With music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe Tuesday 1 December 2009 to Sunday 3 January 2010

      A great way to celebrate the holiday season in Los Angeles is to spend it with Mary and Bert in the magical "Mary Poppins," which will have a special two-week holiday schedule including a 6:30 p.m. performance on New Year's Eve, Thursday, December 31, 2009, and 2 p.m. matinees on Wednesday, December 23, Thursday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 30. There will be no performances on Christmas and New Year's Day.  As one of the musical's beloved songs says, it'll be a "Jolly Holiday" at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre.

Last night, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Frankie Jonas attended Mary Poppins on Broadway with their parents, grandparents and 'J.O.N.A.S!' series co-star Chelsea Staub at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

In the sixth week of a thirteen-week premiere engagement at The Ahmanson Theatre, the North American tour of MARY POPPINS has already achieved the milestone of being Los Angeles' highest grossing theatrical event in 2009.

      A great way to celebrate the holiday season in Los Angeles is to spend it with Mary and Bert in the magical "Mary Poppins," which will have a special two-week holiday schedule including a 6:30 p.m. performance on New Year's Eve, Thursday, December 31, 2009, and 2 p.m. matinees on Wednesday, December 23, Thursday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 30. There will be no performances on Christmas and New Year's Day.  As one of the musical's beloved songs says, it'll be a "Jolly Holiday" at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre.

The U.K.'s Daily Mail reports that producing maestro Cameron Mackintosh is developing a new Musical based on the film A Private Affair, renamed Betty Blue Eyes. The musical adaptation has been named in honor of the Queen of England and porker. It will be performed for her upcoming Queen's Diamond Juibilee celebration.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: TRAVELING LIGHT at Brits Off Broadway. Performed by Simon Green with musical arrangement and accompaniment by David Shrubsole, SIMON GREEN TRAVELING LIGHT begins performances on Tuesday, December 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Press opening is Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

Broadway's perfectly magical musical MARY POPPINS is pleased to welcome JONATHAN FREEMAN to the company as Admiral Boom and Bank Chairman on Saturday, December 12 (2pm matinee). Produced by Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh, MARY POPPINS performs at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street).