Why was Laura Michelle Kelly not offered Mary Poppins...

[Jovie24]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:16pm

I know this has been discussed on this board before, but I forgot why LMK was not asked to do Mary Poppins on Broadway...I heard many conflicting stories, and was just wondering if any knew the truth?

Thanks!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:21pm

Because Disney often does not make the right choices when it comes to their theatrical "endeavours."

[Jovie24]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:28pm

Thanks...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:37pm

Thats not the real answer, I know...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:42pm

The rumors in London were that LMK wanted to leave the UK production and have some time off prior to taking the show to New York, but the producers wanted her to stay right up until rehearsels for Broadway began. She wasn't willing to do that, left the show there, and that's history.

It could have been (and most likely was) an Equity thing. I doubt we'll ever know for sure..

[joshy]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 3:20pm

Also she was more interested in focusing on her new career as a pop singer/songwriter, which hasn't turned out to be particularly successful. So it might have been a wiser choice to stick with Poppins.

[Popular]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 3:31pm

She burned some bridges with Cameron Mackintosh. I'm sure there is more to it than just that, but I believe that is the short answer.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 5:54pm

Perhaps her utter lack of stage presence had something to do with it?

[ALWrules]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:03pm

I heard she had a falling-out with Mackintosh

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:04pm

What a bad person to burn bridges with (Mackinstosh)

[Jovie24]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:10pm

Thansk guys...stuff happens..that is life..just keep moving forward...that is what i say...

Jovan

[timote316]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:11pm

somethingwicked - it probably wasn't an Equity issue, because she was in Fiddler with no problem, and its not like she was the only actress capable of playing Hodel or something like that.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:13pm

Actually, she was incapable of playing Hodel. At least the night I saw it. In a production filled with problems, she was one of the biggest, imo.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:14pm

John, I was just going to say the same thing.

I thought she was HORRENDOUS.

[timote316]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:19pm

I've heard similar reviews about her, but I mostly meant that Equity wouldn't have bought the role as the reason she had to be in the show.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 8:07pm

Didn't she win the Oliver for it? I would think she was at least servicable. Or had no competition.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 9:03pm

I meant she was horrendous in FIDDLER. I didn't see POPPINS.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 9:23pm

Oh I know. (If you were referring to my post)

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 9:28pm

I saw both, and I disliked her, in both. She really has no stage presence. None.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 9:45pm

Equity was probably not the issue. After all, the original Burt from London is coming to Broadway. It would hardly have been the first time Equity let actors from other countries perform on Broadway. I mean, c'mon, they let practically the entire cast of The History Boys come over

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 10:18pm

Maybe she just didn't want to...?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 11:39pm

Aren't we getting Gavin Lee as Bert because London is getting Gavin Creel?

Equity rules stipulate there must be "exchanges" for these sorts of things to occur.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:07am

Hmmmm...I kind of thought it was because Disney owns Ashley Brown's soul.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:10am

Anyone know why they just didn't keep Creel in the U.S.? Perhaps he will join Mary Poppins someday when Lee decides to leave the U.S. production.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:17am

My understanding was that Laura got into a bit of a squabble with Cameron Mackintosh, who then basically took the opportunity of coming with the show to the US away from her.