News: (Toronto) Mary Poppins Flies into the record books

(L to R) Rachel Wallace as ‘Mary Poppins,’ Annie Baltic as ‘Jane Banks,’ Reese Sebastian Diaz as ‘Michael Banks,’ Nicolas Dromard as ‘Bert,’ and the National Tour Company of MARY POPPINS perform “Step In Time.” ©Disney/CML. Photo by Joan Marcus.

The Mirvish production of Mary Poppins has shattered box office records not only for the organization but also for the nation. The production, a tour version of the London-born stage musical (adapted from the Disney movie), took in $2,088,824.50 (CND) in one week, equaling the receipts for many highly successful shows on Broadway. In comparison, Daniel (Harry Potter) Radcliffe's final week in New York's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying came in at under $2M (US) during the same period. (source)

Read the Mirvish release:

SHATTERS BOX OFFICE RECORD FOR HIGHEST

WEEKLY GROSS IN CANADIAN THEATRE HISTORY

TOURING ENGAGEMENT IS PLAYING IN TORONTO AT THE PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE THROUGH JANUARY 8, 2012

With eight performances still remaining in Toronto, the North American tour of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s MARY POPPINS set a new Canadian record grossing $2,088,824.50 CDN during the nine performance New Year’s week ending January 1, 2012.  This figure marks the highest single-week gross for a theatrical production in Canadian history.  By the time the premiere nine-week Toronto engagement concludes on Sunday, January 8 at The Princess of Wales Theatre, it will have entertained more than 130,000 people and grossed approximately $13 million CDN at the box office. 

It is estimated that by the conclusion of the engagement, MARY POPPINS will generate a $45 million economic benefit to Toronto from travel, hotels, restaurants, parking and other businesses patronized by both theatergoers and production staff.  This figure is based upon a report from the Touring Broadway League, the official trade organization for Broadway and their North American Tours. The report states that on average, Broadway tours contribute to the local metropolitan area’s economy an economic impact 3.5 times the gross ticket sales. 

The Broadway production of MARY POPPINS, now in its sixth smash year, enjoyed another exceptional week with a gross of $1,577,884.40, the second highest in the history of the New Amsterdam Theatre.

With four productions currently running on three continents, MARY POPPINS is one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London or New York in recent years.  Worldwide to date, the show has grossed over $644 million and welcomed 9.3 million guests. The musical is the winner of 44 major theatre awards around the globe, including Tony®, Olivier, Helpmann and Evening Standard awards.

The entire original creative team has reunited to bring this magical story of the world’s most famous nanny to audiences around North America. The MARY POPPINS North American Tour began performances on March 25, 2009 and has played to two million delighted theatergoers in 34 cities to date.

MARY POPPINS, a co-production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened on Broadway on November 16, 2006.  Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS the stage play features the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.  The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.

Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team, with co-direction and choreography by Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne.  MARY POPPINS features set and costume design by Tony Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick. The tour’s creative team includes Tour Director Anthony Lyn, Associate Choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Music Director Daniel Bowling. 

ABOUT MARY POPPINS WORLDWIDE

MARY POPPINS received its worldwide premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End in December 2004.  Following its successful three-year London run, the production launched an acclaimed U.K. tour. 

The Broadway production of MARY POPPINS officially opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 16, 2006, recouping its initial Broadway investment within 52 weeks of its premiere.  MARY POPPINS is the only show from the 2006-2007 theatrical season still in performance. 

The MARY POPPINS North American tour has garnered continuous critical praise and achieved box office success since its launch in Chicago in March 2009. 

MARY POPPINS can also be seen Sydney, Australia (at the Capitol Theatre).  Productions of MARY POPPINS have also been mounted in Finland, Denmark and the Czech Republic.     

           

In Toronto, MARY POPPINS plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30PM and Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00PM. Ticket prices start as low as $35. Ticket Packages are available at select performances, and include premium seating and a complimentary souvenir program. Tickets are available at the Princess of Wales Box Office, online at mirvish.com.  To charge tickets, call Mirvish at 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333.  Orders for groups of fifteen (15) or more may be placed by calling 416-593-4142 or 1-800-724-6420.