Tyler Merna

'Sofia the First: Forever Royal,' a special extended-length finale episode of Disney Junior's Humanitas and Emmy® Award-winning series 'Sofia the First,' will premiere SATURDAY, SEPT. 8 (11:00 a.m.-12:10 p.m. EDT/PDT), on Disney Junior and the DisneyNOW app.

ELENA AND THE SECRET OF AVALOR a special television movie event, premieres as a special simulcast SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 (7:00-8:05 p.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.

ELENA AND THE SECRET OF AVALOR a special television movie event, premieres as a special simulcast SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 (7:00-8:05 p.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.

More than 35 actors are set to participate in The Blank Theatre's 22nd Annual Young Playwrights Festival, including Sara Gilbert (Roseanne, The Talk, The Big Bang Theory), Curt Hansen (A Snow White Christmas, Wicked), Scott Lowell (Queer As Folk), Michael Grant Terry (Bones), Angel Parker (Lab Rats), Ellen D. Williams (How I Met Your Mother), and Jessy Schram (Falling Skies, Mad Men). Twelve winning plays by young playwrights aged 16 -19 from seven different states will be presented during this year's festival at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, running from June 5-29.

Season two of Disney Junior's hit animated series 'Sofia the First,' 2013's #1 TV series among Girls 2-5 and the #2 cable TV series overall among Kids 2-5, debuts FRIDAY, MARCH 7

Season two of Disney Junior's hit animated series 'Sofia the First,' 2013's #1 TV series among Girls 2-5 and the #2 cable TV series overall among Kids 2-5, debuts FRIDAY, MARCH 7

As the Broadway production of MARY POPPINS comes to a close, we tracked down all the past and current kids who played the iconic roles of Jane and Michael Banks, from the original cast in 2006 to the current group as they take their final bow on March 3, 2013.

At BroadwayWorld we pride ourselves in showcasing theater content submitted by our regional contributors from all corners of the globe. Get all your theater news at a glance each Friday with 'Around BWW: Regional Highlights of the Week'!

Young Tyler Merna, who starred as 'Michael Banks' on the First Broadway National Tour and Broadway productions of MARY POPPINS, recently performed the National Anthem at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 13, 2013. Check it out below!

Five young Broadway veterans treated children from Brooklyn communities profoundly impacted by Hurricane Sandy to a special performance for the holidays on Sunday, December 16, 2012. The event, UJA-Federation of New York's Hugs for Chanukah, brought together 180 kids with their parents and grandparents for an afternoon of song, face painting, carnival games, crafts, and snacks at the Shorefront YM-YWHA of Brighton-Manhattan Beach, a UJA-Federation beneficiary agency.

When I first opened my New York City studio in 1977, I had just been hired as one of the pianists for the new Broadway musical, Annie. Many of my fellow voice teachers were quite upset that kids were being asked to belt in that show, feeling that only classical "head voice" singing was healthy. Also, at that time, most voice teachers and coaches would refuse to work with any student who had not reached puberty. They were under the impression that voice lessons could "ruin" a child's voice, which for many years was a widely accepted belief.

Last night, June 25, the stars of the upcoming revival of Jekyll & Hyde, Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis (Rock of Ages) and Grammy Award Nominee Deborah Cox (Aida), hosted the 4th annual National High School Musical Theater Awards at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre. The show featured 60 of America's most talented young musical theater performers vying for the "Jimmy Award" for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor. This year, Elizabeth Romero, Joshua Grosso were crowned the night's big winners. Each received $10,000 scholarship awards for their efforts. Runners up, who each recieved $2,500 in scholarships, were Evan Greenberg, Drew Shafranek, Nicolette Burton, and Erica Durham. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below.

The 26th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition raised $3,677,855, the result of six weeks of intensive fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by 51 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. The grand total was announced Tuesday at this year's Easter Bonnet Competition, which ended in two shows featuring original presentations, songs, dances and 18 elaborate, custom-made bonnets. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of day two of the competition extravaganza!

The 26th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition raised $3,677,855, the result of six weeks of intensive fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by 51 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. The grand total was announced Tuesday at this year's Easter Bonnet Competition, which ended in two shows featuring original presentations, songs, dances and 18 elaborate, custom-made bonnets. Check out day one of the festivies below and stay tuned for day two coming soon!

MARY POPPINS, part of Broadway/San Diego's 2011-2012 35th Anniversary Season, is playing through Sunday, August 21st, at the San Diego Civic Theatre. With four productions currently running on three continents, MARY POPPINS is one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London or New York in recent years. Worldwide to date, the six productions of the show have grossed over $521 million, welcomed 7 million guests and cumulatively run 11.5 years. The musical is the winner of 36 major theatre awards around the globe, including Tony®, Olivier and Evening Standard awards. In the video below, Mary Poppins herself, Steffanie Leigh chats about taking on the iconic role.

Based on the popular children's book series by P.L. Travers that Disney shaped into an even more renowned movie musical, the stage iteration's current touring company has temporarily taken up residence at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts in Orange County for an extended four-week limited engagement through August 7. Joyfully engaging but oddly peculiar, this stage version of MARY POPPINS--which weaves peppy elements from the much-beloved Disney movie with less-bouyant passages from Travers' darker, moodier books--is easily likable, but can be challenging to really love.

The Orange County premiere of MARY POPPINS opens tonight, Friday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, August 7.

The Orange County premiere of MARY POPPINS opens tonight, Friday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, August 7.

Producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh are pleased to announce full casting for the Orange County engagement of MARY POPPINS.

The Portland premiere of MARY POPPINS opens tonight, Friday, June 24, 2011 at 7:30pm at the Keller Auditorium for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, July 10, 2011. MARY POPPINS plays Tuesday through Friday evenings at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm and Sundays at 1:00pm and 6:30pm. 'We're very excited that Mary Poppins has flown into town and that audiences in Portland will have the opportunity to experience this blockbuster musical' said Portland Opera General Director, Christopher Mattaliano. 'Tickets are on sale and great seats are still available.'