By Kenneth Jones
28 Sep 2009
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| Laura Michelle Kelly and Christian Borle |
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| photo by Michael Le Poer Trench and Aubrey Reuben |
Broadway's new "practically perfect" nanny in Mary Poppins will be the show's original London star, Olivier Award winner Laura Michelle Kelly, who will fly into the New Amsterdam Theatre on Oct. 12.
Her casting had been reported abroad, but not confirmed by Disney and Cameron Mackinstosh until Sept. 29. Also joining the cast on Oct. 12 (playing chimney sweep Bert) will be Tony Award nominee Christian Borle (of Broadway's Legally Blonde).
Produced by Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh, Mary Poppins will celebrate its three-year anniversary at the New Amsterdam Theatre on West 42nd Street on Nov. 16.
Kelly returns to Broadway after earning rave reviews and garnering the Olivier Award for her performance as the original Mary Poppins in the 2004 West End premiere of the show (she played the role for more than 400 performances in the U.K. until October 2005). Kelly made her Broadway debut as one of Tevye's daughters in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof with Alfred Molina. She made her feature film debut as Lucy Barker opposite Johnny Depp in the musical "Sweeney Todd," directed by Tim Burton (2007). Last year, Kelly starred opposite Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum in the Old Vic's acclaimed production of Speed-the-Plow. Other West End credits include Eliza in My Fair Lady, Galadrial in Lord of the Rings, Sophie in Mamma Mia, Swallow in Whistle Down the Wind, Eponine in Les Miserables, Wendy in Peter Pan and an "enchanted object" in Disney's Beauty and the Beast at age 17. Kelly will appear with the permission of Actors' Equity Association (AEA).
Borle earned Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League nominations for his performance as Emmett Forrest in the Broadway premiere of Legally Blonde. In 2005, he earned a Drama Desk nomination for his performance as Prince Herbert in Monty Python's Spamalot. Earlier this year, Borle appeared in a workshop production of Peter and the Starcatchers, part of the La Jolla Playhouse Page To Stage program, by special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions. Borle made his Broadway debut in Footloose (1999) and stepped into the role of Jimmy in the Tony Award-winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (2003).
Kelly and Borle will be joined by new cast members Jeff Binder (Zazu in The Lion King) as Mr. Banks, Jenny Galloway (reprising her role from the West End production) as Mrs. Brill and Michael McCarty as Admiral Boom, returning to the role he created on Broadway.
Rebecca Luker continues to star as Mrs. Banks alongside Ann Arvia as Bird Woman, Mark Price as Robertson Ay and Ruth Gottschall as Miss Andrew.
For tickets and information, visit www.DisneyOnBroadway.com, the New Amsterdam Theatre Box Office (214 West 42nd Street) and all Ticketmaster outlets, or call (866) 870-2717.
