Richard Sherman News

It's nearly time to break out the popcorn (still FREE!) and soda (still FREE!) for another trip down memory lane with the 2009 Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series.

Making music to the ears of budget-conscious audiences, the River To River® Festival today unveiled a stellar line-up of completely free music, dance, and cultural events that firmly establishes Lower Manhattan as the city's summer arts capital.

Beloved screen legend Dick Van Dyke discussed Walt Disney's MARY POPPINS with CNN in celebration of the classic film's 45th Anniversary Edition DVD release. He reveals the true reason for his casting and the staying power of the Disney classic. The Walt Disney Studios celebrates the 45th Anniversary of the 1964 classic film, Mary Poppins, with a 2-disc special edition DVD featuring brand new bonus materials from the hit stage production based on the popular film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and on the P.L. Travers books.

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) today announced that The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the 1964 classic film, MARY POPPINS, with a 2-disc special edition DVD featuring brand new bonus materials from the hit stage production based on the popular film starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke and on the P.L. Travers books. To be released on January 27, 2009, the DVD set will feature a new 45-minute documentary, 'Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage' that takes audiences behind the scenes for a close look at the creation of the stage musical produced by DTP and Cameron Mackintosh. Filmed in the UK, France and the United States, the documentary is a series of intimate conversations with many of the stage versions' creators including producers Cameron Macintosh and Thomas Schumacher, composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Richard Sherman, who co-wrote music and lyrics for the original film and set and costume designer Bob Crowley. The documentary also features a roundtable discussion at the world-famous Sardi's restaurant in New York City between Schumacher and actors Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, who originated the roles of Mary Poppins and Bert in the Broadway production. Another extra from the stage version is the musical number 'Step In Time' shot in its entirety onstage at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the show's Broadway home since 2006. The number showcases showstopping technical effects, as Bert and his chimneysweeps dance with Mary and the Banks children over the rooftops of London. The performance features Brown, Lee and the full Broadway company performing the never-before-filmed popular number from the show, also downloadable as an MP3 audio file.

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) today announced that The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the 1964 classic film, MARY POPPINS, with a 2-disc special edition DVD featuring brand new bonus materials from the hit stage production based on the popular film starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke and on the P.L. Travers books. To be released on January 27, 2009, the DVD set will feature a new 45-minute documentary, 'Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage' that takes audiences behind the scenes for a close look at the creation of the stage musical produced by DTP and Cameron Mackintosh. Filmed in the UK, France and the United States, the documentary is a series of intimate conversations with many of the stage versions' creators including producers Cameron Macintosh and Thomas Schumacher, composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Richard Sherman, who co-wrote music and lyrics for the original film and set and costume designer Bob Crowley. The documentary also features a roundtable discussion at the world-famous Sardi's restaurant in New York City between Schumacher and actors Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, who originated the roles of Mary Poppins and Bert in the Broadway production. Another extra from the stage version is the musical number 'Step In Time' shot in its entirety onstage at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the show's Broadway home since 2006. The number showcases showstopping technical effects, as Bert and his chimneysweeps dance with Mary and the Banks children over the rooftops of London. The performance features Brown, Lee and the full Broadway company performing the never-before-filmed popular number from the show, also downloadable as an MP3 audio file.

Music arranger Angela Morley, who won Emmys for arranging two of Julie Andrews television specials has died at 84 in Scottsdale, Arizona. She's said to have passed away from complications of a fall and a subsequent heart attack. The three-time Emmy winner, also received Oscar nominations for adaptaing the songs in the musicals 'The Little Prince' and 'The Slipper and the Rose' This prolific woman also wrote her own official bio for her web site, which we reprint below. A very full life! Our thoughts and prayers go out to her partner Christine Parker, along with her son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren during this difficult time.

Neil Patrick Harris, Penn & Teller, JoAnne Worley, Tippi Hedren, Richard Sherman, and Magic Castle co-founder's Milt Larsen and Irene Larsen were all on hand Friday, October 24th, 2008 for the unveiling of the refurbished Star on the Walk of Fame dedicated to the earliest and still often most recognized illusionist of stage and screen - MR. HARRY HOUDINI.

'PAZZAZZ!' at Santa Barbara's Granada Theatre.

BroadwayWorld's James Sims sat down with Pazzazz! creators Richard Sherman and Milt Larsen at Hollywood's Magic Castle to talk about this brand-new musical and hear a few of the songs, accompanied by Erma, the ghost pianist in residence...

Saturday night was truly an amazing star studded tribute to Stage Magicians at the Tony Awards for Magicians - The Academy of Magic Arts Awards. Participants ranged from Jason Alexander to Bruce Vilanch the stars turned out to support this theatrical institution on its 40th Anniversary.

The Actors Fund kicked off its third year of intimate Musical Mondays celebrations Monday night in the lobby of Hollywood's Pantages Theatre as Broadway composer and musical director Ron Abel took center stage joined by a handful of all-star friends...

Dominic, who quit his H.S. baseball and hockey teams to concentrate on theater, is playing more than half a dozen characters in his Broadway debut.

Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre Starts 2007 on a 'Cher-ee' Note With Return Engagement of Walt Disney's Sing-A-Long 'Mary Poppins' From 1/11-31; Oscar(R) Winner Richard Sherman to Host Opening Night Event

An array of star caught the opening night of Disney's Mary Poppins, which opened on Thursday, November 16th at the New Amsterdam Theatre!

Variety reports that the Sherman Brothers will be writing a new musical based on an original story - Merry-Go-Round.

The show made its US premiere at Broadway's Hilton Theatre on Thursday, April 28, 2005 and BroadwayWorld was out on the red carpet!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang celebrated its opening night on April 28, 2005 with a post-show bash at the Hilton Hotel and BroadwayWorld was there!