Richard Sherman

The marquees of Disney’s New Amsterdam Theatre, home of the musical Mary Poppins, along with the Minskoff and Nederlander Theatres, which house Disney Theatrical Productions’ The Lion King and Newsies,  will dim this evening at 7:01 in memory of legendary songwriter Robert Sherman, who died yesterday in London at 86. 

The same tribute will be paid tonight at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Appleton, WI where the Mary Poppins national tour is playing and tomorrow’s performance of Mary Poppins in Perth, Australia will be dedicated to Sherman.

Sherman, along with his brother Richard, wrote the beloved score of the 1964 classic Disney film Mary Poppins and together they were an integral part of the creation of the Disney and Cameron Mackintosh stage musical in London in 2004.

The Sherman Brothers on the set of Mary Poppins

The team created an extraordinary canon of songs for film, stage and popular music, amassing honors across all media. The team won two Academy Awards, and seven additional nominations, three Grammy Awards, 24 Gold and Platinum Albums and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.   They were inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Shermans (Robert & Richard) and Walt Disney

President George W. Bush awarded them the National Medal of Arts in 2008, commended for music that “has helped bring joy to millions”

“The contribution of the Sherman Brothers to American popular culture cannot be overstated,” said Thomas Schumacher, Producer and President Disney Theatrical Productions.  “Working with Robert and Richard bringing their masterpiece to the stage remains one of one of Cameron’s and my greatest pleasures and our hearts go out to his dear brother and their entire family.  Like so many of my generation, I was raised with the wisdom and the heart of the Sherman Brothers through song.”

The Shermans on the Walt Disney Studios lot

The Shermans began a decade-long partnership with Disney after having written hit pop songs like “Tall Paul” for Annette Funicello and “You’re Sixteen,” going on to write over 150 songs for the studio, including “It’s A Small World” and the soundtracks for such films as The Jungle Book, The Parent Trap, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Winnie The Pooh, The Aristocats and The Tigger Movie.  Other films include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Tom Sawyer, The Slipper & The Rose, Charlotte’s Web, and Beverly Hills Cop 3.

On Broadway, in addition to Mary Poppins, the Sherman Brothers wrote the original musical comedy Over Here! (1974) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2005), adding new songs to their film score.