Nowt2Do.Com brings you our interview with Richard Sherman. Want info about him? Click here!

Nowt2Do: Hello Richard how are you?

Richard Sherman: Good thank you

N2D: How’s London Treating You?

RS: London is fantastic, yesterday was the most thrilling day I saw the entire cast and heard the first read through, it is smashing, it’s very exciting for me, it’s a great new re-telling of the story, our songs are sounding amazing and there are some great new songs.

N2D: You sound so enthusiastic about it?

RS: Well I am! I’ve been living with these stories for 40 years and I’ve been dreaming about seeing it on stage. Of course things have to change to make it work on stage, things have to be added and subtracted and such. But the people that loved this film with relish seeing it on stage, but those who know the story will love this new telling, as a great deal of what they have always loved in the film is all there, but there is a bunch of new things which will take them on a whole new adventure. Julian Fellows has written a wonderful script, he’s a lovely guy and a brilliant writer…we have a wonderful crew together.

N2D: You’ve been waiting 40 years for this, and it’s all started now so is your work done?

RS: Well my job is basically that of an observer now, they are using are songs and doing such a wonderful job with it. It’s a joint production between Cameron Mackintosh and Disney and there is some combination of talent and we really are in remarkably good hands. Most of the songs you know and love will be done brilliantly, all the classics, feed the birds is beautifully stage, but they are also going to hear some new songs.

N2D: How many?

RS: There are 6 new songs written by George Stiles and Anthony Drew, they are traffic writers who wrote Honk! There are 10 original songs, and these new ones…it’s a nice mixture of new and old favourites. Richard then sings Step In Time...it's brilliant!

N2D: What are you most proud of, what is going to make the tears well up as you sit there on the opening night in Bristol?

RS: I will tell you something, the tears will well up many times because it is a very touching and very moving story being performed by a stellar cast. I can tell you one thing, they will well up in one particular place. There is a little song we wrote called, “A Man Has Dreams” which is in the 2^nd act. Mr Banks thinks all is lost, and he’s lost his job, he feels his life is a disaster he sings, “A man has dreams, of walking with giants, to carve his name in the edifice of time.” And that’s what he wants to do, he wants to make his mark on life and he feels like life is fading, that’s when I think I’ll be weeping because I can identify with Mr Banks as I’ve wanted to do that, to carve my name. To hear that line, to see the beautiful re-incarnation of our show I think we’ll have finally made our name.

N2D: Don’t worry Richard, you’ve already done that!

RS: Thank you, I am so proud to do this thing, and anyone who sees this is going to have a super-cali-frag-alistic time!

N2D: Is that going on the poster?! We mustn’t forget that the songs you’ve done are phenomenal, you’ve shaped children’s lives around the world with you songs.

RS: One of the things I was very touched by was when Anthony Drew confessed to me that one of our songs, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, was the first song he learnt to play on the piano.

N2D: Obviously you’ve won the Oscars, you have these amazing credits, do you now feel that Mary Poppins is reaching its natural conclusion?

RS: Yes I do, I feel that very much so, it really works as everyone has the same dream, and everyone wants this. The two teams blend wonderfully and it’s a really nice marriage.

N2D: Are you going to be joining us in Bristol for the openings?

RS: You bet! I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ll be there a few weeks before opening to watch rehearsals and we’ll be there on the opening night with cells on! I’m looking forward to seeing your part of the world, as I’ve never seen it.

The Sherman Brothers

 RICHARD M. SHERMAN and ROBERT B. SHERMAN are leading composer/lyricists in family entertainment. Their career spans almost 50 years and includes two Academy Awards for MARY POPPINS – Best Score, and Best Song – for CHIM CHIM CHER-EE. They also wrote the most translated and performed song on earth, IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL. They have written several additional numbers for the smash hit production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG currently enjoying huge success at the London Palladium, and next year will see MARY POPPINS presented on stage in the West End.

 The Sherman Brothers gained recognition in popular music with several top-ten hits – among them YOU’RE SIXTEEN, LET’S GET TOGETHER and TALL PAUL. 

1960 marked the start of a phenomenal 10 year association with Walt Disney, during which time they composed over 150 songs for his films, TV shows, Disneyland and other theme parks. Their Disney credits include the films THE JUNGLE BOOK, THE PARENT TRAP, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS, THE SWORD IN THE STONE, THE ARISTOCRATS, THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE, the WINNIE THE POOH series, and of course MARY POPPINS.

 They went on to compose song scores for SNOOPY COME HOME, CHARLOTTE’S WEB, the Broadway hit musical OVER HERE! and

the ‘fantasmagorical’ CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG – with its Oscar nominated title song.

 The Sherman Brothers created screenplays and song scores for TOM SAWYER (their music won First Prize at the Moscow Film Festival), HUCKLEBERRY FINN, the 1976 Royal Film Performance THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE (with co-author Bryan Forbes), and THE MAGIC LASSIE which earned them their 9^th Academy Award nomination for Best Song.

 Most recent credits include the book WALT’S TIME – a wonderful autobiographical and pictorial journey through their song-writing years, the Disney hit animated feature THE TIGGER MOVIE, the stage musical BUSKER ALLEY starring Tommy Tune which toured the United States and BEVERLY HILLS COP 3.

 Other musical honours include 3 Grammys, 24 Gold and Platinum Albums, and a star on the HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME.

Main Page

Review

World Premier Feature

Your Say

Behind The Scenes - Week 2 of the 'get in' & interview with Production Manager Simon Robertson.

Cast Announcement

Original Composer Richard Sherman Interview

Mary Poppins Comes Alive!

Read about the Mary Poppins Auditions

Read our interview with Resident Director James Powell

Buy tickets for events: