London Production of Mary Poppins Sets January 2008 Closing Date

The London production of Mary Poppins will close at London's Prince Edward Theatre on January 12, 2008. Scarlett Strallen and Broadway veteran Gavin Creel lead the current London cast.

Co-directed by Richard Eyre and Matthew Bourne, the lavish musical draws on both the original Mary Poppins stories of P.L. Travers, which have remained popular with subsequent generations since they first appeared in the 1930s, and the Disney film version. The show, which opened in the West End on December 15, 2004, includes many of the original songs from the popular film with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have written the new songs and additional music and lyrics.

The show tells the story of Jane and Michael Banks, who need a nanny—or is it their parents, George and Winifred, who actually need more looking after? Either way, after Mary Poppins arrives at 17 Cherry Tree Lane, with her no-nonsense approach to making the right choices in life, nothing will ever be the same again.

Mary Poppins opened on Broadway on November 16 and has received seven 2007 Tony Award nominations.