An Adelaide woman has won the coveted role of Mary Poppins in the Australian production of the hit musical, after a worldwide search that included auditions on YouTube.
Verity Hunt-Ballard will play the world's best-loved nanny when the production opens in Melbourne in July.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh said the search for the perfect performer for the role was the most exhaustive he had done in the 30 years he had been bringing productions to Australia.
Hunt-Ballard, who will star opposite So You Think You Can Dance judge Matt Lee as Bert, got the role after a final audition in Amsterdam last weekend.
Producers last year launched a worldwide hunt for the perfect Australian to play Mary Poppins after auditions with more than 650 performers in Melbourne and Sydney failed to turn up the right woman.
They even opened up the audition process online, accepting audition videos posted on YouTube.
Producer Thomas Schumacher said the wait had paid off and it still amazed him how difficult it was to find that one extraordinary actress who could bring Mary to life.
Hunt-Ballard, who is now playing Frankie Valli's lover in Jersey Boys, said: "Like Mary Poppins, my feet haven't touched the ground since I received the news."
The show, which also stars Marina Prior, Judi Connelli and Debra Byrne, goes into rehearsals in May.
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