Scarlett Strallen and Adam Fiorentino have been tapped to make their Broadway debuts as practically perfect nanny Mary Poppins and Bert the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins, beginning October 9. Original Broadway stars Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee will give their final performances in the show on October 5, with understudies playing Mary and Bert on October 7 and 8.
Strallen starred as Mary Poppins in the London production in the fall of 2005 and returned to the part in spring 2007. An original cast member of the London productions of Mamma Mia! and The Witches of Eastwick, she received a 2006 Olivier nomination for her role as Josephine in HMS Pinafore.
Fiorentino made his stage debut at age 17 in the Australian tour of The Boy from Oz. He originated the role of Tony Manero in the Australian premiere of Saturday Night Fever and later reprised the role in the London production.
As previously announced, Brown and Lee will star in the North American tour of Mary Poppins, which is scheduled to begin performances at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre on March 11, 2009. After Chicago, the tour is scheduled to play the State Theatre in Cleveland, the Fox Theatre in St. Louis and the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, with additional cities, venues and dates to be announced.
The Broadway cast of Mary Poppins also features Daniel Jenkins Mr. Banks, Rebecca Luker Mrs. Banks, Jane Carr Mrs. Brill, Ann Arvia Bird Woman, Mark Price Robertson Ay, Ruth Gottschall Miss Andrew and Jeff Steitzer Admiral Boom.