Mary Poppins is a lady with a past. Sure, she may look like she floated in out of nowhere, umbrella in one hand and carpet bag in the other, to the stage of Paper Mill Playhouse, where the stage ...

In fact, Travers went to see “Mary Poppins” plenty of times after that premiere, so maybe there is some truth to the screenplay. The only person who could verify that died in 1996.

The stage version of “Mary Poppins” will soon by flying around the world, say producers Thomas Schumacher and Cameron Mackintosh. The New York production, now in its second year on Broadway ...