First Family Takes in MARY POPPINS in DC

First Lady Michelle Obama, with daughters Sasha and Malia, attended the first Washington, DC performance of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's hit musical MARY POPPINS at The Kennedy Center Thursday evening July 1st. The North American tour of MARY POPPINS plays at the Opera House in the renowned arts complex through Sunday, August 22nd.

President Obama and the First Lady had seen a number from MARY POPPINS performed at last month's taping of "America Celebrates July 4th at Ford's Theatre." That performance airs nationally on ABC tomorrow night July 2nd at 9:00-10:00 eastern.

MARY POPPINS is one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London or New York in recent years. Worldwide to date, the show has grossed over $400 million and welcomed over 5 million guests. Three productions of the show are currently playing with a fourth opening in Melbourne Australia July 29th. Additionally, during 2010 MARY POPPINS opens in Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Hungary, with plans already underway for future productions in Israel, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Korea, Canada and Japan.

Now in its fourth smash year, the Broadway production officially opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 16, 2006 and has been seen by over two million theatergoers and grossed nearly $190 million to date. According to figures just released by The Broadway League, MARY POPPINS placed on the Top Ten lists for both highest-grossing and best-attended shows of the 2009-10 Broadway season, an indicator of its remarkable success.

The MARY POPPINS North American tour has garnered continuous critical praise and achieved box office success since its launch in March 2009. Following Washington, the tour will play engagements in Charlotte, NC; Indianapolis, IN; Buffalo, NY; East Lansing, MI; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI.

For tickets and information on all companies of the show, visit www.MaryPoppins.com.