Photo Flash: First Look at Sierra Rep's MARY POPPINS

Disney's Mary Poppins arrived at Sierra Repertory Theatre February 28 with plenty of spectacle (she flies!), plenty of songs (think "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"), plenty of heartwarming comedy and drama and - of course - plenty of magic, the kind only a no-nonsense nanny can deliver. The "practically perfect" musical plays through May 3 at the East Sonora Theatre and opens Sierra Rep's 36th season. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Mary Poppins follows the Banks family of London's Cherry Lane. The children, Jane and Michael, are out of control and need a new nanny. They have their own ideas about what sort of person should care for them, while their father, Mr. Banks, insists on someone strict for the job. Enter Mary Poppins and her bag of tricks. The musical, much like the beloved Disney movie, features Mary and her magic. How else would she unpack a houseful of items from her carpet bag? Restore a kitchen to order in the blink of an eye? How else would she fly?

"That's the question I get most often," said Scott Viets, SRT's artistic director. "How does Mary fly?"

Magic, of course. But even with a little trickery flying across SRT's small East Sonora stage presents challenges. That's why Sierra Rep enlisted Paul Rubin, who choreographed some of the memorable flying sequences in the Broadway productions of Wicked, Tarzan and Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan. Rubin will rig the stage, choreograph flights and teach actors how to fly.

Mary, played by Megan Buzzard, is already experienced with the thrill and complexity of flying every night. Buzzard played Mary last summer at an East Coast theater. Dan Reardon was Bert in the same production and, coincidently, is slated to play Bert in Sierra Rep's version. The two auditioned separately, but are excited to work together again.

Julian Fellowes, creator of "Downtown Abbey," wrote the script, and his treatment of the family's challenges makes for interesting characters, Viets said. Among the most compelling is Mr. Banks, who convinces himself he is a failure at business - and at life.

Other pivotal roles include the Banks children, Jane and Michael, played by Tuolumne County children Joseph Fitzgerald and Kara Tangenberg. The two auditioned after taking part in an SRT Jr. theater workshop. With a cast of 24, a dozen set locations, huge production numbers and special effects in almost every scene, the show is a challenge for the SRT team.

Mary Poppins opened on Feb. 28 with Sierra Rep's 2015 Gala and runs through May 3 with performances Wednesdays, some Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and some Thursdays at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $28 to $45, with senior, student and child rates available. Special discounts are available for the March 5 Ladies Night and March 27 Kids Night, and Black Oak Casino Resort is offering stay-and-play packages for March 7 and 11. For tickets and information, visit www.sierrarep.org or call the Box Office at 209-532-3120.

Photo Credit: Rich Miller