This is Extraordinary Things, a fansite dedicated to the Practically Perfect Nanny's
on-stage incarnation. Disney Theatrical and Cameron MacKintosh worked together to create a wonderful new
adaptation of Pamela Travers' Mary Poppins books (using material made famous in the
Disney film). This new stage musical first opened in West End, and is now on Broadway and
due to make her appearance all over the world.
40 years after the Disney movie first charmed audiences the worldwide over, Mary
Poppins finally arrived on stage. The Mary Poppins stage musical had its world premier in September
2004 at the Bristol Hippodrome, and in December 2004 officially moved to
The Prince Edward Theatre in West End, London.
The first thing anyone watching the musical would notice is that it is not
a direct translation of the movie. Instead it borrows more from the
books by P.L. Travers, with familiar aspects of the movie and a little
original Cameron MacKintosh interpretation thrown in. New music was written by the creative team of
Anthony Drewe and George Stiles to compliment the songs written by for the movie. The result is a clever,
sharp and sometimes even a little scary story about a nanny who has taken it upon herself
to help a dysfunctional British family.
The success of the West End production made it (perhaps inevitable) that it would
be transferred to Broadway. The Broadway version of Mary Poppins debuted at the
New Amsterdam Theatre in October 2006, taking on a few changes from the West End version.
The Broadway version was also a resounding success, and now there are a number of new
productions in the works.
8 August 2010 I realize I'm severely behind in updating the information on this website. I'm on it.
For starters, I've added the gallery for the Finnish production
HERE,
and added a cast chart page for the Broadway production
HERE.
2 May 2010 Updated the list of venues for the US Tour below. The Dutch production opened at the
Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Holland on 11 April, the theatre's official website is
HERE
and the musical's official website is HERE.
1st August 2009 Put a section for the upcoming Finnish production, which will open in less two
weeks on 13 August 2009.
20 March 2011 Phillyburbs.com has an interview with Steffanie Leigh, the US tour's current Mary,
HERE.
The US tour has also received nominations at the Helen Hayes Awards, article at Broadwayworld.com
HERE.
8 March 2011 Ashley Brown is back in the Broadway production as Mary, taking over from Laura
Michelle Kelly until 17 July 2011. Pictures
HERE,
HERE and
HERE.
The original production opened in September 2004
at the Bristol Hippodrome, and in December of the same year moved to the Prince Edward
Theatre in West End, London.
Status: Closed (January 2008)
The Dutch production opened
at the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Holland in April 2010.
Status: Active
Original Dutch cast
Images
The Australian production opened
in July 2010 at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne. The production will move to Sydney,
with an expected opening on 6 May 2011.
Status: Active
Original Melbourne cast
Images
Must have for the Mary Poppins stage musical fan:
Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen If You Let It, by Brian Sibley
Official book chronicling the transfer of Mary Poppins from the
Pamela Travers book and Disney film to the stage.