Julie Andrews News

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) today announced that The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the 1964 classic film, MARY POPPINS, with a 2-disc special edition DVD featuring brand new bonus materials from the hit stage production based on the popular film starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke and on the P.L. Travers books. To be released on January 27, 2009, the DVD set will feature a new 45-minute documentary, 'Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage' that takes audiences behind the scenes for a close look at the creation of the stage musical produced by DTP and Cameron Mackintosh. Filmed in the UK, France and the United States, the documentary is a series of intimate conversations with many of the stage versions' creators including producers Cameron Macintosh and Thomas Schumacher, composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Richard Sherman, who co-wrote music and lyrics for the original film and set and costume designer Bob Crowley. The documentary also features a roundtable discussion at the world-famous Sardi's restaurant in New York City between Schumacher and actors Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, who originated the roles of Mary Poppins and Bert in the Broadway production. Another extra from the stage version is the musical number 'Step In Time' shot in its entirety onstage at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the show's Broadway home since 2006. The number showcases showstopping technical effects, as Bert and his chimneysweeps dance with Mary and the Banks children over the rooftops of London. The performance features Brown, Lee and the full Broadway company performing the never-before-filmed popular number from the show, also downloadable as an MP3 audio file.

Music arranger Angela Morley, who won Emmys for arranging two of Julie Andrews television specials has died at 84 in Scottsdale, Arizona. She's said to have passed away from complications of a fall and a subsequent heart attack. The three-time Emmy winner, also received Oscar nominations for adaptaing the songs in the musicals 'The Little Prince' and 'The Slipper and the Rose' This prolific woman also wrote her own official bio for her web site, which we reprint below. A very full life! Our thoughts and prayers go out to her partner Christine Parker, along with her son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren during this difficult time.

Broadway leading lady Rachel York, most recently seen in the world premiere musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will launch a series of symphony concert appearances this month. Now through April, the versatile stage, screen, and recording artist will be a guest soloist performing the works of Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, and Andrew Lloyd Webber with major orchestras across the country.

Soprano JANET PAVEK, age 72, died January 6, 2009 in New Port Richey, Florida. The cause of death was complications resulting from liver failure. Pavek was born in Bronxville, New York. She started studying voice at the age of eleven, and after being named 'Miss Eastchester' in 1953, at the age of sixteen she was cast in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway production of 'Me and Juliet.'

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Fred Applegate. Sebastian Arcelus, Miguel Cervantes, Hunter Foster, Joanna Gleason, Ken Page, Robert Petkoff, Jenny Powers, Phyllis Somerville and Pearl Sun will be featured in its upcoming production of the new musical HAPPINESS.

The New York Times presented a starry line up of guests for the Eighth Annual Arts & Leisure Weekend, Jan. 8 to 11. The Times's signature event is a four-day international celebration of the arts with a wide range of activities, from interviews between Times journalists and celebrated guests from the arts, film, music, media and politics, to special offers at cultural institutions around the world. All TimesTalk events are held at TheTimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street. BWW was there as the HAIR family met the press.

Broadway leading lady Rachel York, most recently seen in the world premiere musical 'Turn of the Century' at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will launch a series of symphony concert appearances this month. Now through April, the versatile stage, screen, and recording artist will be a guest soloist performing the works of Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, and Andrew Lloyd Webber with major orchestras across the country.

Tony Award-nominee Gavin Creel will join the Broadway cast of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, in the leading role of 'Claude', it was announced today by Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater. In a statement, Mr. Eustis said 'We are thrilled that Gavin Creel will be joining the tribe of HAIR as Claude.

Film star Anne Hathaway will be a guest on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tonight Thursday January 8th. The show airs at 12:05am (EST) on ABC stations.

Tonight Wednesday January 7th, 2009 film star Anne Hathaway will be a guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight, the program airs 11:30pm (EST) on NBC.

Broadway leading lady Rachel York, most recently seen in the world premiere musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will launch a series of symphony concert appearances this month. Now through April, the versatile stage, screen, and recording artist will be a guest soloist performing the works of Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, and Andrew Lloyd Webber with major orchestras across the country.

On Monday January 5th, 2009 film star Anne Hathaway will be dropping by 'Live With Regis and Kelly' to talk about her new movie 'Bride Wars'. The show begins at 9AM EST on ABC stations.

Julie Andrews will be the host of the Annual New Year's Day concert on PBS. The show will feature the Vienna Philharmonic. Academy Award winner Andrews is following in the host-footsteps of Walter Cronkite. Cronkite hosted the Annual New Year's Day concert for over two decades.

LCT's production of HAPPINESS has announced partial casting. HAPPINESS, is a new musical about a disparate group of New Yorkers caught on a subway train under unusual circumstances. It was commissioned and developed by Lincoln Center Theater. The production will reunite director-choreographer Susan Stroman and book writer John Weidman, whose last LCT collaboration was the Tony Award winning Best Musical Contact and will mark the LCT debuts of composer Scott Frankel and lyricist Michael Korie.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Saturday, December 27, 2008.

The daffy and delightful Christine Pedi's newest cabaret concoction, the Jolly Holly Christmas Folly is an inviting cocktail mixing old favorites with a few new routines; very merry, raucously funny and abundantly cheery.

Matthew Lloyd will direct Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman as Stephanie Abrahams and Dr Feldmann in Tom Kempinski's two-hander Duet for One runs at the Almeida from 22 January 14 March 2009, with press night on 29 January. Designs are by Lez Brotherston with lighting by Jason Taylor and sound by John Leonard. Duet for One is sponsored by Pinsent Masons.

Seth Rudetsky will interview Raul Esparza from Speed-the-Plow and Gina Kreiezmar from Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab for a SIRIUS XM broadcast featuring live musical performances and interviews on Wednesday, December 17th at 12pm.

Here it is - the year end 'holiday roundup' of books, which, by the way, make for a perfect gift...and an affordable one, that will last much longer than flowers, cookies or fruitcake (that no one wants anyway).

Julie Andrews will be the host of the Annual New Year's Day concert on PBS. The show will feature the Vienna Philharmonic. Academy Award winner Andrews is following in the host-footsteps of Walter Cronkite. Cronkite hosted the Annual New Year's Day concert for over two decades.