Midcoast Youth Theater Presents MARY POPPINS

Midcoast Youth Theater (MYT) presents their upcoming production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, a musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film. The show is directed by Tammy Holmes and includes MYT's largest ever cast of almost 120 members ranging in age from 4-70 from Brunswick, Topsham, Harpswell, Bath, Freeport, Gray, Edgecomb, Gardiner and other surrounding areas.

MYT will present Mary Poppins at Brunswick High School's Crooker Theater on Thursday May 3 at 7:00 pm, Friday, May 4 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, May 5 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm and Sunday, May 6 at 2:00 pm.

Advanced tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors/students and $8 for children under 5 and can be purchased online at www.midcoastyouththeater.org or can be purchased at the door for $15.00. Midcoast Youth Theater thanks its generous show sponsors Androscoggin Animal Hospital, Goodwin Motor Group, Norway Savings Bank, and People's United Bank.

Mary Poppins came to life in author P.L. Travers' series of eight children's books that told the story of a magical English nanny sent to straighten out the Bank's family. The first book was published in 1934, but it wasn't until 1964 that Walt Disney's Mary Poppins was released, based only loosely on the original book series. Author P. L. Travers resisted selling the stage rights to the Mary Poppins stories for many years, as a result of her dislike of the 1964 film version. Travers eventually sold the stage rights to London theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh.

Courtney Babbidge's musical direction and KC Andreu's choreography is perfect, but it shines brightest during the big musical numbers, of which there are many. The score is filled with timeless classics such as "Feed the Birds," "Jolly Holiday," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "A Spoonful of Sugar," and the Academy Award-winning "Chim-Chim Cher-ee." Linda Gardiner who plays Winifred Banks also served as the choreographer for the big tap number "Step in Time."

The jack-of-all-trades, Bert, played by Michael Blakemore, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael, played by Caitlin Ellis and Ronan Cullina and understudied by Hali Isaacson and Josh Allard, have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins, played by Julia Nadeau arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family how to value each other again and to believe that anything can happen!

Miss Andrew, played by Mary Melquist, an overly strict and bossy nanny, is invited to the Bank's home after Mary Poppins leaves. She takes Mary Poppins' place but Mary Poppins shows up to rescue the Banks children from the mean and restrictive Miss Andrew who'd like to fill them to the gills with cod liver oil! George Banks, played by Iver McLeod, also needs saving! Bring the whole family out to see how it all turns out!

Mary Poppins is presented through special arrangements with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com. Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Book by Julian Fellowes. New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh.

MYT is a non-profit organization providing equal opportunities for all children to perform in full-length musicals, without regard for past experience or financial resources. We produce two multi-age shows (in the spring and fall) and four youth-only shows in the summer divided by age groups. Our mission is to empower youth through a safe, nurturing theater experience, to build life skills with teamwork, creative problem solving, public speaking, risk taking and tolerance, while enhancing self awareness and self esteem.

To post a comment, you must register and login.