Mary Poppins Star Gavin Lee Remembers Robert Sherman

Robert Sherman, who won two Academy Awards for his work on Disney’s Mary Poppins, passed away on March 5 at age 86. Actor Gavin Lee, who originated the role of the cheery chimney sweep Bert in both the Broadway and West End productions on the stage adapation of Mary Poppins, released a statement to Broadway.com on Sherman's death.

“Bob’s passing is a great loss to our show,” Lee said. “I was lucky enough to be there at the beginning of Mary Poppins’ life as a stage musical and to work with the iconic Sherman Brother—who had created so much of the music that I loved as a kid—was a great honor. It’s very sad that this partnership is no longer."

The popular stage musical Mary Poppins, based on both P.L. Travers’ stories and the classic 1964 Disney film, had its world-premiere in September 2004 at the Bristol Hippodrome before transferring to the West End's Prince Edward Theatre. In November of 2006, Poppins flew across the pond and opened on Broadway, where it continues to run at the New Amsterdam Theatre. On Broadway,Sherman also co-wrote the music and lyrics to Over Here! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.