(Adam Hetrick’s article appeared in Playbill Online, 3/30; via Pam Green.)

Julie Andrews, who created the role of the Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle onstage, will direct the production that will utilize designs from the Broadway original.

To celebrate the 60 ^th anniversary of the musical, the production will play the Sydney Opera House August 30–November 5.

It was recently revealed that Andrews and the show’s producers were interested in “recreating the original production in its entirety.” The team has already begun the hunt for any remaining ground plans, costume and scenic designs from the 1956 original that opened at Broadway's Mark Hellinger Theatre.

Julie Andrews, Opera Australia artistic director Lyndon Terracini AM and leading Australian theatre producer John Frost AM will produce the revival, which will have choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli ( Newsies , The King and I, South Pacific).

According to the producing team, “Trips to Wisconsin, London, New York City and Los Angeles were made and hours were spend trawling over drawings, costume and set designs in the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Arts Centre Melbourne Performing Arts Collection just to name a few. Cold calls were made and leads were given as the journey unfolded. Along the way the team were fortunate enough to meet with the previous assistants of Cecil Beaton (the original costume designer) and Oliver Smith (the original set designer), who uncovered important materials that made recreating the magic of the 1956 Broadway production a step closer to reality.”

http://www.playbill.com/article/julie-andrews-helmed-my-fair-lady-will-recreate-broadway-original