Sherman and Stiles Featured on 'Broadway's Biggest Hits'

Mary Poppins composers Richard M. Sherman and George Stiles and the music from their hit musical will be featured on "Broadway's Biggest Hits," the syndicated radio show devoted to "The Best of Broadway," throughout the upcoming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 26-27. Host Bud Wilkinson will devote a full hour to Sherman and Stiles, who will discuss the creation of the music for the original film Mary Poppins and the process of adapting those songs and writing new music for the stage version.

"Broadway's Biggest Hits" airs on two-dozen stations across North America, including Seattle's KIXI (AM 880) at 6 p.m. Sunday, Phoenix's KOY (AM 1230) at 9 a.m. Sunday, Denver's KEZW (AM 1430) at noon Sunday and Toronto's CHWO (AM 740) at 3 p.m. Saturday. Regionally, "Broadway's Biggest Hits" can be heard in the Hudson Valley on Poughkeepsie's WKIP (AM 1450) and Ellenville's WELG (AM 1370) at 1 p.m. Sunday and in Connecticut on New Haven's WQUN (AM 1220) at 7 a.m. Sunday and on Middletown's WMRD (AM 1150) and Old Saybrook's WLIS (AM 1420) at 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Mary Poppins has received seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, and has also won two Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Gavin Lee) and Outstanding Set Design of a Musical (Bob Crowley), as well as a Theatre World Award (for Gavin Lee).  A co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, Mary Poppins opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 16, 2006, and quickly proved to be a hit with audience members and critics alike.

Based on P.L. Travers's cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, the musical 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 assembled for Mary Poppins with co-direction and choreography by Tony and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne. The show features set and costume design by Tony Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Steve Canyon Kennedy, orchestrations by William David Brohn, music supervision by David Caddick, and music direction by Brad Haak.

Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee respectively play the roles of Mary Poppins and Bert.  Joining Brown and Lee are Daniel Jenkins (Mr. Banks), Rebecca Luker (Mrs. Banks), Jane Carr (Mrs. Brill), Mark Price (Robertson Ay), Cass Morgan (Bird Woman), Ruth Gottschall (Miss Andrew), and Michael McCarty (Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman). Nicole Bocchi, Kathryn Faughnan, and Devynn Pedell alternate in the role of Jane Banks. Matthew Gumley, Henry Hodges and Jacob Levine alternate in the role of Michael Banks.

The ensemble includes: Eric B. Anthony, Ann Arvia, Pam Bradley, Kristin Carbone, Brian Collier, Nick Corley, Case Dillard, Nicolas Dromard, James Hindman, Suzanne Hylenski, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Brian Letendre, Matt Loehr, Michelle Lookadoo, Tony Mansker, Tyler Maynard, Sean McCourt, Vasthy E. Mompoint, Jesse Nager, Kathleen Nanni, Megan Osterhaus, Janelle Anne Robinson, Rommy Sandhu, Shekitra Starke, Catherine Walker, and Kevin Samual Yee.

Tickets are available at www.DisneyOnBroadway.com, the New Amsterdam Theatre Box Office, and all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at (212) 307-4747.  Prices range from $25 - $120.  For group sales and information please call (800) 439-9000.

 

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