Gavin Lee News

Liza's at the Palace...! opened on Broadway last night, December 3rd and BroadwayWorld.com was invited to the star-studded Opening Night party so we could share the celebration with you!

DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, producer of Broadway?s Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, proudly celebrates the 2008 holiday season with four nationally televised performances from two of its three smash hit Broadway shows. Beginning this Saturday, November 22, viewers *nationwide can tune-in to see Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid on the following holiday specials:

The award-winning Broadway musical MARY POPPINS celebrates its two-year anniversary at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street) on Sunday, November 16. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions, the Broadway production has grossed over $100 million to date and will have played 837 performances by Sunday.

At its yearly coast-to-coast gala honoring excellence in casting, the Casting Society of America announced the New York award-winners at the 24th Artios Awards® held at Caroline's on Broadway on November 10, 2008.

At its yearly coast-to-coast gala honoring excellence in casting, the Casting Society of America announced the New York award-winners at the 24th Artios Awards® held at Caroline's on Broadway on November 10, 2008.

Broadway In Chicago and producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh announced today that tickets for the long-awaited production of MARY POPPINS will go on sale to the public Friday, November 14, 2008 with a special public pre-sale at 8 a.m. at the Cadillac Palace Theatre box office. Telephone ticketing lines, internet (ticketmaster.com), and other box office outlets will have tickets available to the public beginning at 10 a.m. The eagerly anticipated North American National Tour will begin performances at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre March 11, 2009. Original Broadway stars Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, along with the entire original creative team, will reunite to bring this magical story of the world's most famous nanny to audiences around North America.

The Casting Society of America has announced more New York celebrity presenters for this year's 24th Annual Artios Awards, honoring excellence in casting. As previously announced, Broadway veteran and comedienne Julie Halston will act as Mistress of Ceremonies, and producer Thomas Schumacher, President of Disney Theatrical Group, will receive the special ‘New York Apple Award' at the New York ceremony.

The Casting Society of America has announced that Broadway veteran and comedienne Julie Halston will be the New York Mistress of Ceremonies at this year's 24th Annual Artios Awards honoring excellence in casting.

Producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh are pleased to welcome Olivier-nominee Scarlett Strallen and Adam Fiorentino (in their Broadway debuts as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively), to the company of the award-winning musical MARY POPPINS, beginning tonignt Thursday, October 9 at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street).

Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert in the hit Broadway and London productions of MARY POPPINS, and Ashley Brown, who originated the title role on Broadway, both play their final performances today, Sunday October 5th. They will then ready to essay the leading roles on the show's National Tour.

Individual tickets are now available to all Visa and Visa Signature cardholders through October 19 for MARY POPPINS in Chicago as part of a special pre-sale. Individual tickets which range in price from $23 - $90 will go on-sale to the general public on Friday, November 14 at 10 a.m. The North American Tour of MARY POPPINS will premiere at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) starting March 11, 2009.

A sold-out audience of over 550 people attended the annual benefit, 'Footlights and Film: A Celebration of the Great Musicals from Stage and Screen,' hosted by Julia Roberts and featuring a special tribute to Angela Lansbury presented by Bernadette Peters, at Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on Monday evening, September 15. The fundraiser grossed $1,407,610, including revenue from tickets, donations and silent auctions.

Producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh are pleased to welcome Olivier-nominee SCARLETT STRALLEN and ADAM FIORENTINO (in their Broadway debuts as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively), to the company of the award-winning musical MARY POPPINS, beginning Thursday, October 9 at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street).

Award-winning actors Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Lithgow and other celebrities will offer one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences in a silent auction to benefit Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director), at the historic Westport, Connecticut theatre's annual fundraising gala on Monday, September 15. In addition to celebrity auction items, there will be sports, vacation, fashion and jewelry auction packages. Full details of all silent auction items are available at www.westportplayhouse.org

Broadway talents Tituss Burgess ('The Little Mermaid'), Kerry Butler ('Xanadu'), Gavin Lee ('Mary Poppins'), Nedra McClyde, Julia Murney, Q. Smith and Aurelia Williams will join previously announced Laura Benanti ('Gypsy'), Raúl Esparza ('Company') and Steven Pasquale ('The Light in the Piazza') on Monday, September 15, at the annual gala for the venerable 78-year-old Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director), Westport, Connecticut.

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher are pleased to announce that Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert in the hit Broadway and London productions of MARY POPPINS, will be joining Ashley Brown, who originated the title role on Broadway, for the show's eagerly anticipated North American National Tour.

Glory Days, a new musical by Nick Blaemire (Music and Lyrics) and James Gardiner (Book) opened Tuesday, May 6, 6:45PM at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street, NYC).

Thomas Schumacher, producer of the Tony Award winning musical The Lion King was honored with his caricature unveiling at the world famous Broadway eatery, Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th Street) on Thursday, March 6th. Schumacher joins the ranks of Broadway royalty whom have been honored with a caricature on the famous walls of Sardi's Restaurant.

Ashley Brown, who stars in the title role of Broadway's classic musical, Mary Poppins and author Michael Lassell who wrote the new book 'Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen If You Let It,' will appear at the Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center store at 1972 Broadway (at 66th Street) as part of Barnes & Noble's 'Live at Lincoln' series on Friday, March 7 from 4-6PM to celebrate the release of Lassell's new book

Today's the day the Teddy Bears had their picnic! And they brought along all their Broadway-loving friends for another successful and entertaining Broadway Bears auction, presented by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS! To the thrill of bear and fan-boy alike, the 11th Annual event raised over $127,000! Top winners were 'Cyrano de Bergerac,' 'The Lion King' and 'Spamalot.'