Veteran star JULIE ANDREWS was inspired to write a children's book about mice after one took over her dressing room when she starred in the stage show VICTOR/VICTORIA. The 70-year-old star has re-invented herself as an author and has published 23 successful children's books. She explains, "An actual mouse came into the theatre when I was doing Victor/Victoria and ran around our wardrobe department. "They were going to set a trap and try and get rid of it and I said, 'Please set a humane trap!' "A light bulb went off in my head when someone joked that the mice would come up (from the basement) and watch all of the performers during the show. "I thought, 'What a wonderful idea for a children's book!'" The star, who has five children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, decided to write THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL. She adds, "I don't want to write down to children and I try and write as well as I can, because they're the ones that are going to learn and carry the messages. "The characters are all named after characters in Broadway musicals. It's a way to reach children and teach them a little bit about the theatre."

12/06/2006 20:13

ANDREWS INSPIRED BY MICE ON MUSICAL