Laura Michelle Kelly to Join Broadway's MARY POPPINS

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 1:55pm

The UK's Daily Mail reports that London Mary Poppins star Laura Michelle Kelly will recreate her acclaimed performance for the Broadway production. Kelly won an Olivier Award for originating the title role of the Mary Poppins stage musical.

BAZ BAMIGBOYE reveals that the award-winning actress has been rehearsing with director Richard Eyre in New York. She will resume the famous nanny role on October 12 for a limited run. There has been no official announcement of her joining the production at this time.
BWW Story

Updated On: 9/11/09 at 01:55 PM

[jess20882]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:00pm

we should combine this with the already huge mary poppins replacement thread a few stories down...

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:01pm

WHOA! I guess everything has been straightened out between her and Cameron Mackintosh???

I'm gonna have to see MARY POPPINS again!

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:02pm

She and Cameron Mackintosh must've kissed and made up after their fallout. She was asked to origiante the role on Broadway, but she wanted to record a cd, so she wasn't given the oppurtiuity. It's interesting that she is taking over for Scarlett because Scarlett replaced her In London.
Updated On: 9/11/09 at 02:02 PM

[B3TA07]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:20pm

Holy crap!! I need to see it again!!!!

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:21pm

I am going to have to go back to see this!!!!

Glad to hear they worked out their issues so she can finally get to Broadway.

[Parks]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:21pm

Would anyone care to elaborate on the falling out for those of us who don't know what you're talking about? Please and thank you!

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 4:15pm

I hope her limited run extends through November as I'd love to see her in the role.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 4:21pm

Do you think she'll play the part through the holidays?

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 4:56pm

"Glad to hear they worked out their issues so she can finally get to Broadway."

This wouldn't be her Broadway debut though. She played Hodel in the 2004 revival of "Fiddler on the Roof."

[winston89]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 5:19pm

Parks, basically what happened is this. Kelly wanted to take some time off between her run in the London production and the Broadway one. I believe in that time she was going to record a CD and just take a break from the role before going to do it on Broadway. However, Cameron was insistent that if she were to do the role on Broadway it would have to be right after her time in London was up without any break between the two. This was something that she didn't want and therefor they got into a fight and had a falling out over it.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/11/09 at 10:25pm

That sounds nicer than version I heard, which was that the folks at Disney didn't want her for the Broadway production. In the original London production, Mary was created to resemble the character in the book more than the iconic film portrayal by Julie Andrews--in other words, the London Mary was a bit more harsh and cold. Because they were reconceiving the Broadway Mary to be more like the film characterization, they decided to go with someone else other than Ms. Kelly. However, it looks like whatever the reason was for Kelly not creating the role on Broadway (and who ever really knows the real reason except those directly involved?), all is well now between Ms. Kelly and whoever it was that had a problem with her.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 1:51am

off-topic- I had read that the pamela travers estate had demanded that the show opened in london because the U.S had already had there share of the film premiering there. most say that was a mackintosh move but thats not what schumacher said, and now it looks as if he has put the show 100% in disney's hand.
Updated On: 9/12/09 at 01:51 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 2:04am

I still haven't seen MARY POPPINS but now I will definitely go while she's in it. I heard she was brilliant in the West End. Great news!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 2:06am

Hmmmmm... Why does my mind see the ads saying "Catch the Original Mary Poppins back on Broadway before it closes!"

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 2:20am

I feel like I've posted this so many times, anyway...

Jordan, Disney owns the New Amsterdam, they will not close Poppins until they have a new show to put in.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 2:23am

Yes, I know Disney owns the New Amsterdam. I know this very well. And I also happen to know a lot more about Disney Theatricals.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 2:41am

They've certainly improved with casting the role since Brown left.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 8:54am

Does anyone think she'll run through January, or will this be an extremely short run?

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 11:04am

Just a quick note. Disney does NOT OWN the New Amsterdam, they have a 99 year lease.

This is also a mistake that people make about the new Henry Miller Theatre, Roundabout does not own it, they are in charge of programming.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 11:48am

Great to hear this!

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 6:55pm

Laura still wanted to play the part on Broadway eventually even after her fallout accoding to this interview: "From Carina: Do you think you will ever come to Broadway to play Mary Poppins?
Laura Michelle Kelly responds: I would love to play Mary again if the occasion arose. I also love New York very much. I can?t wait to work there again. But who knows?"

http://london.broadway.com/blog/id/3007274/LauraMichelleKelly

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 7:21pm

So when she comes in are they getting rid of that scary toy song? I think I'd rather see the show with the scary toy song if that's the case.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 7:34pm

"So when she comes in are they getting rid of that scary toy song? I think I'd rather see the show with the scary toy song if that's the case."

"Temper, Temper" will be cut from the show when LMK comes. The show was already removed from the United States tour.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 9:34pm

The new song really didn't work for me. It's rather senseless, constantly referring to the children not "playing the game right", but they never elaborate on what that "game" is. Also, the children are punished for fighting over the toy, rather than for the disrespect they show their mother.