'Mary Poppins' to close on Broadway in the spring

(AP) Mary Poppins is closing up its umbrella on Broadway.

An official close to the show's producers said Monday that the 6-year-old musical will end performances in March at the New Amsterdam Theatre and eventually be replaced by a musical adapted from the film Aladdin.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak before the official announcement.

Mary Poppins, co-produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, is based both on the children's books by P.L. Travers and the 1964 movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. It tells the story of the world's most practically perfect nanny in Edwardian London.

With a big cast, lavish sets and stunts that include Mary flying with her umbrella, the show was a hit after opening in 2006.

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Online:

http://disney.go.com/theatre/marypoppins