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Mice Invade Broadway Stage: Hairdresser's Discovery Inspires Julie Andrews' Book Idea
28 Oct
Summary
- Julie Andrews had the idea for a book about mice watching a Broadway show in the 1990s
- A hairdresser told Andrews there were hundreds of mice beneath the stage of Victor/Victoria
- Andrews was inspired by the idea of mice developing their own theatrical performances
In October 2025, it was revealed that acclaimed actress Julie Andrews had the idea for a book about mice watching a Broadway show way back in the 1990s. Andrews recalled that while she was starring in the Broadway production of Victor/Victoria, her hairdresser informed her that there had been a mouse discovered in the hairdressing department. When Andrews asked him to set up a humane mouse trap, the hairdresser gently broke the news that there were actually hundreds of mice living beneath the stage.
This revelation sparked an idea in Andrews' mind. "A light bulb went off in my head when he said, 'That mouse probably came up to see all the stars, you know,'" Andrews shared. She then went on to tell her co-star Emma that they should write a story about "a troupe of mice who watch everything up on the big stage, and then develop it for their own pleasure."
Though it took over 30 years, it seems Andrews' initial vision for a book about theatrical mice is finally coming to fruition. The story of how a simple backstage mouse sighting inspired this acclaimed actress to dream up an entire narrative about the secret world of Broadway's furry fans is a delightful tale in itself.
