Mary Poppins Tones Down for Broadway???

Mary Poppins has set the date for its US premiere next autumn. It will open on 16 November 2006 (previews from 14 October) at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre. That esteemed venue on 42nd Street is currently home to another big-budget musical, The Lion King, but as its producer Disney is also the co-producer, with Cameron Mackintosh, of Mary Poppins, persuading the 76-strong company to move wasn’t so difficult. In June, well ahead of Poppins’ transfer, The Lion King will move across town to the Minskoff Theatre, which is being specially renovated to accommodate it. Commenting on the news, president of Disney Theatrical Productions Thomas Schumacher said: “We are delighted to be able to bring Mary Poppins to Broadway and continue our successful partnership with Cameron Mackintosh. After the enormous success of the show in London, I’m looking forward to these two great production companies working together for years to come.” The new musical, which had its West End premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in December 2004, is based on the children’s stories by PL Travers. According to today’s Daily Mail, Julian Fellowes’ book for the stage show is likely to be toned down in favour of a more “family-friendly” version for New York as some of the scarier scenes have put off many London families with younger children.

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