Robert J. Sherman to Lead A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN at the St. James Theatre, Jan 6 & 13

Robert and Richard Sherman are the most successful songwriting partnership in the history of Hollywood, composing more movie musical songs and acclaimed film scores than any other writing team. From the Oscar-winning Chim Chim Cher-ee to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds in Mary Poppins to the unforgettable Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which earned them a third Oscar nomination, their songs have entertained the world for more than 60 years.

Now their prolific output will be celebrated in the cabaret event A Spoonful of Sherman at St James Theatre on January 6 and 13. Robert's son Robbie, himself a writer of musicals, will be performing alongside several top West End Singers, including Charlotte Wakefield (The Sound of Music, Regent's Park) Emma Williams (the original West End Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and Stuart Matthew Price (Parade, Donmar Warehouse). Songs featured will actually span 90 incredible years of Sherman family history by including music from The Sherman Brothers' father, Tin Pan Alley songwriter Al Sherman.

These performances mark the launch of Robert B. Sherman's autobiographical book, Moose: Chapters From My Life.

The recent Tom Hanks/Emma Thompson film Saving Mr Banks, about Walt Disney's battle to turn the book Mary Poppins into a film, has sparked renewed interest in The Sherman Brothers and their long association with the Disney studio, for whom they composed Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book, Charlotte's Web and The Aristocats. They also wrote what is perhaps their best-known song, It's a small world (after all) for the 1964 New York World's Fair. It has featured as a boat ride around the nations of the world at Disney theme parks ever since. In 2003, four Sherman Brothers' musicals ranked in the Top 10 Favourite Children's Films of All Time in a British nationwide poll reported by the BBC. The film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was adapted into a West End musical in 2002 and runing three-and-a-half-years, it became the longest running show ever at the London Palladium. It was nominated for the Best Musical Olivier Award. A stage adaptation of Mary Poppins followed in 2005 in London and on Broadway, where it was nominated for nine Tonys.

A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN
A Celebration of the Life, Times and Songs of Robert B. Sherman
St James Studio12 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JA
Monday 6 & 13 January at 8.00pm
Tickets: £12.50 - £22.50
Box office: 0844 264 2140
Online bookings: www.stjamestheatre.co.uk

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