On Wednesday, May 4, The Segerstrom Center for the Arts, in conjunction with Disney Theatrical Productions, hosted a perfectly enchanting reception and behind-the-scenes program to meet and greet legendary Academy Award-winning composer Richard Sherman. He was there to help celebrate the upcoming Orange County debut performances of the national touring company of MARY POPPINS, which lands at the Center on July 14 for an extended four-week engagement.
Sherman mingled with the invited guests then later sat behind the piano to share nostalgic backstage anecdotes and musical remembrances from his work on the 1964 musical that became one of the much-beloved film musicals of all time. The evening's master of ceremonies was none other than Disney Theatricals producer Thomas Schumacher who also reminisced about the creative development that went into turning the P.L. Travers novel and Walt Disney movie masterpiece into a newly-realized stage musical co-conceived with ubiquitous stage producer Cameron Mackintosh.
Besides Mary Poppins, Sherman—along with his brother Robert—wrote some of Disney's most memorable musical scores, including songs featured in The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, The Aristocats, The Parent Trap, Bedknobs And Broomsticks, and much more. The pair also wrote the music and score to Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Their work with Disney also spilled over to theme park attractions—The Sherman Brothers also wrote the themes "It's A Small World (After All)," "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," "The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room." Most recently, their theme song to Disney's Wonderful World of Color TV show has also been repurposed as the main musical motif to the World of Color attraction at Disney California Adventure park.
Also on hand giving live performances from the musical were two of tour's stars: Steffanie Leigh, who has been playing the title role full time since February 2011, and Nicolas Dromard, who joined the tour cast as Bert last September 2010. Both actors will return to Orange County in July with the rest of the touring ensemble.
Tickets to see MARY POPPINS at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts from July 14 through August 7 start at $22.50 and can be purchased by phone at (714) 556-2787, by visiting the box office in person at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, or online at SCFTA.org.
Photos by Vincent Montero
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