We have heard that Mary Poppins will close at the New Amsterdam Theater in 2011 due to continuing soft sales. Disney Theatrical Productions are currently assessing replacement shows and the division's president Tom Schumacher is keen to bring Alice in Wonderland to the stage. Tim Burton has already agreed to participate in the production. No word as of yet on composers but many of the original creative team behind the Beauty and the Beast musical have been approached. It was originally envisaged that Newsies would be destined for the Great White Way but that project no longer has momentum for a residency run.Consider it a rumor, but Laughingplace is well connected and usually gets their information straight before running with it.
Remember when I said that Mary Poppins was a qualified success? Even I didn't realize how lousy sales had become.
How does Tom Schumacher still have a job?
UPDATE: Disney contacted Laughingplace to emphatically state that Mary Poppins will not be closing in 2011. Still, it would not surprise me if it happens sooner rather than later. But they need a project ready to use the vacant theater and they're not there yet.