‘Mary Poppins’ Set Canadian Box Office Record in Toronto

Though it continues to run through tomorrow in Toronto, the touring version of “Mary Poppins” already has set a Canadian record by grossing $2.1 million (CDN) during the week ending January 1. That number represents the highest single week gross of any show performed in Toronto. By the time the production ends, it is estimated that the Toronto show will have been seen by over 130,000 people and generated a total gross around $13 million. Additionally, it has been estimated that the Toronto production of the show will generate $45 million in total economic benefits for the city, including money spent on travel, hotels, restaurants, parking and other businesses.

The North American touring version of the hit Broadway musical began previews on March 11, 2009, and officially opened on March 25 of that year. The Tony Award winning Broadway version of the show debuted on November 16, 2006 and was reported by Playbill to be the 30th longest running Broadway show in history earlier this year. The show is a joint production between Disney and Cameron Mackintosh and is held at the New Amsterdam Theatre. The original West End production of the musical debuted at the Prince Edward Theatre in 2004. It has since been staged around the world in Australia, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Czech Republic, among other countries, and it has been estimated that the show has grossed a total of $644 million from the combined total of all shows around the world.

Before stopping in Toronto at The Princess of Wales Theatre, the North American version of the show had been performed in 33 cities since 2009. After closing in Toronto, the tour will move south to Mexico, where it will open on January 29. North Charleston is next on the list, opening February 1, and performances currently are scheduled through June 17, when the show will close in Spokane Washington.