Theater News

Mary Poppins Tour to Launch in Chicago in March 2009

The North American national tour of the hit Disney musical Mary Poppins will launch at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre on March 25, 2009. The entire original creative team, including Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre and co-director and co-choreographer Matthew Bourne will reunite for the tour. No casting has been announced.

Based on P.L. Travers’ cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, the show features music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, with additional songs and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and a book by Julian Fellowes.

The show features set and costume design by Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick.

Mary Poppins originated in London in 2004 and will close on January 2008. A UK tour will begin on June 4 in Plymouth. The show is currently playing on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater., where it has recouped its entire investment in its first 52 weeks.

In addition, Disney has licensed productions of the musical for Stockholm (October, 2008), Copenhagen (January, 2009), Helsinki (January, 2009) and Budapest (September, 2009). Plans are also underway to present the show in Holland, China, South Africa. and South America.