P. L. Travers News

Like retail stores, local theatres realize that they need a big December holiday season to make enough profits to sustain themselves for rest of the year.

Phoenix Theatre has rolled out the Holiday Season carpet with a Mary Poppins that will delight children of all ages and set the standard for this musical for years to come. The beauty of Michael Barnard's direction and musical staging is the seamless welding of a top-of-the-line cast and a brilliant technical crew. Trisha Hart Ditsworth is dazzling in her portrayal of the enigmatic nanny who literally descends upon the Banks household. Toby Yatso delivers a knock-your-socks-off performance as Bert, the jack-of-all-trades narrator. Lots of exceptional performances to delight one and all.

Today in 2006, Mary Poppins opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre, where it ran for 2619 performances. Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre Choreography. It received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, winning for Best Scenic Design.

The hottest ticket in West Michigan right now is indisputably Mary Poppins. Selling out even their final dress rehearsal, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre has brought together a technical powerhouse that will thrill the most seasoned audiences.

Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine is on a roll, following its thrilling, record-breaking production of BILLY ELLIOT with another beloved British musical import, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS. Featuring a terrific cast, crisp, thoughtful direction by Shaun Kerrison, and energetic choreography by Lisa Stevens, this MARY POPPINS is - yes, let's just say it and get it over with - practically perfect in every way.

When it comes to live theatre, there are many different ways to present it and at least two distinct camps. One is the minimalist, pared down production, often focused on story, dialogue, and character. The other is the big, highly technical spectacle filled with all sorts of theatrical magic tricks. With their current production of Mary Poppins, Theatre By the Sea has focused on the latter at the expense of the former, choosing gimmickry over truthful, enjoyable storytelling and characters. And unfortunately, that's only the beginning of the production's weak spots.

In its Music Circus premiere, the Disney classic musical Mary Poppins, based on the books by P. L. Travers and the beloved 1964 Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, is the second show in the 2014 Music Circus season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the 64th season for the venerable Sacramento institution. Performances are July 8 - 13. Check out a first look below!

One thing is sure; Mary Poppins remains one of the most popular tales to this day. The iconic story's Tony Award winning musical adaptation is having its Long Island premier at the beautiful Patchogue Theatre running through July 19th.

Today, July 9, 2014 Westchester Broadway Theatre will celebrate its 40th Anniversary. The Theatre has a history of 184 main-stage productions and nearly a thousand Monday/Tuesday special events and concerts. WBT's objective with this world-class venue is to always provide its audiences, which come from far and wide, with the highest production values and most memorable entertainment and dining experiences.

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents its 40th anniversary production of Disney's and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS, a musical based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film, featuring original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, book by Julian Fellowes, new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. Directed and Choreographed by Richard Stafford, with musical direction by Leo Carusone, the production continues now through July 27, 2014. Scroll down for new production photos from the show!

On July 9, 2014 Westchester Broadway Theatre will celebrate its 40th Anniversary. The Theatre has a history of 184 main-stage productions and nearly a thousand Monday/Tuesday special events and concerts. WBT's objective with this world-class venue is to always provide its audiences, which come from far and wide, with the highest production values and most memorable entertainment and dining experiences.

The WBT is celebrating 40 years of Broadway Musicals & Fine Dining! For this momentous occasion, Mary Poppins is flying onto their stage! The cherished 1964 Disney film has been re-imagined into a spectacular new musical. The show has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes. Based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film, and featuring original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, book by Julian Fellowes, and new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, MARY POPPINS will be directed and choreographed at Westchester Broadway Theatre by Richard Stafford, with musical direction by Leo Carusone. The show runs May 8 - July 27, 2014, and BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at star Lauren Blackman as Mary Poppins below!

Richard M. Sherman, who with his brother Robert B. Sherman, wrote more motion-picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history, including the music and lyrics of the Walt Disney classic 'Mary Poppins,' will be the special guest tonight, January 10 at the opening night of an 11-day return engagement of the Sing-A-Long version of the film at Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre. Sherman's appearance was announced today by Lylle Breier, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Special Events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Richard M. Sherman, who with his brother Robert B. Sherman, wrote more motion-picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history, including the music and lyrics of the Walt Disney classic 'Mary Poppins,' will be the special guest on Friday, January 10 at the opening night of an 11-day return engagement of the Sing-A-Long version of the film at Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre. Sherman's appearance was announced today by Lylle Breier, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Special Events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre will sing in the New Year with a special return engagement of the Sing-A-Long version of Walt Disney's classic 'Mary Poppins,' from January 10th through the 20th, it was announced today by Lylle Breier, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Special Events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Tom Hanks stars as the legendary Walt Disney alongside fellow double Oscar-winner Emma Thompson in the role of the prickly novelist in Disney's SAVING MR. BANKS. Let's see what the critics have to say!

Walt Disney Records releases the original motion picture soundtrack for Disney's 'Saving Mr. Banks' and the 'Saving Mr. Banks' 2-Disc Deluxe Edition today, December 10, 2013.

Walt Disney Records will release the original motion picture soundtrack for Disney's 'Saving Mr. Banks' and the 'Saving Mr. Banks' 2-Disc Deluxe Edition on December 10, 2013.

P.L. Travers' spellbinding stories of the magical nanny Mary Poppins are ageless and timeless, embraced by each successive generation. Now, in December 2013, Disney will release a new major motion picture, Saving Mr. Banks, which stars Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as the willful and unforgettable Travers.

Today in 2006, Mary Poppins opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre, where it ran for 2619 performances. Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre Choreography. It received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, winning for Best Scenic Design.