'Mary Poppins' to Land at Ahmanson

Disney's Broadway musical Mary Poppins will play the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles beginning November 2009, according to Center Theatre Group's Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, marking an early announcement for the 2009-2010 season.

"CTG is honored to have been selected by two of the world's leading theatrical producers – Cameron Mackintosh and Tom Schumacher – to present this superb work in Los Angeles," said Michael Ritchie. "It is unusual for us to announce a production this early, a full year before tickets will go on sale, but there has been so much excitement around this production that we just couldn't keep the news to ourselves. We at CTG are very proud to present this truly magical and highly theatrical musical. This is happy news for everyone in Los Angeles."

Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, Mary Poppins 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 Richard Eyre directs with co-direction and choreography by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Matthew Bourne.  Mary Poppins features set and costume design by Tony 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.

Tickets for Mary Poppins will be made available to subscribers of CTG's 2009-2010 season before going on sale to the general public in mid-2009.  For more information about Mary Poppins visit www.DisneyonBroadway.com or www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

Photo by Joan Marcus.  (1) Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins in Broadway production.