Has Julie Andrews Ever Attended or Commented on Broadway's 'Mary Poppins'?

But of course.

She attended the London production shortly after it opened.

The screen Mary Poppins met her onstage double March 17, 2005 when Julie Andrews visited the London stage version at the Prince Edward Theatre.

Seated in a box during the show, Ms. Andrews formally bestowed her approval by taking to the stage during the curtain calls and making a speech praising the cast.

According to the Evening Standard newspaper, Laura Michelle Kelly, who plays Mary in the Cameron Mackintosh-Disney Theatricals co-production, was tearful during Andrews? speech. ?It?s always harder when your hero is watching,? she told the newspaper. ?Doing the show tonight, I could feel her over my shoulder, and I was thinking all the time, ?I got that bit from her.??

Andrews appeared delighted with the show, not least the moment when Kelly flew over her head into the auditorium. ?Can you imagine the joy and memories that this has brought back to me?? Andrews said during her speech, turning to the cast to add, ?Now the future lies in your hands. You have got to carry the torch from now on. Come to Broadway. Wow them all. I will be waiting.?

Not sure if she has bothered to see the New York production as she had already seen the original London production before it opened on Broadway.
She attended a performance one night and kept a very low profile and no cameras etc were present. A few weeks later she attended again and this time appeared on stage with the full company along with Cameron Mackintosh.
It was that night when she shocked the life out of Laura Michelle Kelly and made a speech saying how much the movie had been a big part of her life etc but she felt that after seeing Laura's performance, she saw it fit to hand over 'Poppins' and all the good luck that goes with it to Laura that night.
It was a very moving speech and the whole theatre stood and roared for more than 2 or 3 minutes only stopping when Cameron signaled to bring the curtain down.
I doubt if she would bother again after that but I don't know for sure if she has visited the New Amsterdam.

Everyone in that audience had tears in their eyes that night including a number of the company, It was so moving.

Class personified.

Julie Andrews is amazing! Although, I never got why Reese never saw Legally Blonde. Wasn't she just a little bit curios about the show? I'm sure she knew about it, but why did she never attend the show? That strikes me as a little bit odd.

Updated On: 4/8/09 at 02:55 PM