Mary Poppins
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfiLrDXKmpA?showinfo=0&w=560&h=315]
From the desk of Glenn Ballard, Fine Arts Director:
It is no secret that I love musical theatre. I love almost everything about it, including the many hours of hard work necessary to produce a high-quality show. But the thing that I love most聽 about a good musical is the music; telling a great story with beautiful songs, inspiring lyrics and choreography is an amazing educational and artistic experience, and a real joy.
Mary Poppins has some of the most memorable and really fun music that you will ever hear. In a song that has become one of my favorites, Mary Poppins sings 鈥淎nything can happen if you let it. Sometimes things are difficult, but you can bet it doesn鈥檛 have to be so. Changes can be made. You can move a mountain if you use a larger spade! 鈥tretch your mind beyond fantastic. Dreams are made of strong elastic鈥︹�� I think that lyric really captures the spirit of what we try to do on our stage. We help young actors to dream big. And we help young actors stretch. We want to produce a show that everyone will love; and one that makes people want to come again and 聽to tell their friends, and one that makes them proud of our school and our performers. Is it difficult? It is. Does it require lots of sacrifices and dedication and hundreds of hours of practice? You bet it does. Is it worth all the effort and hours of practice? Absolutely!
Mary Poppins is the Tony Award-winning musical named after the famous nanny created by P. L. Travers and immortalized in the 1964 film by Walt Disney. 91猫先生 is the first school in East Texas to acquire the amateur rights to produce the play. The musical features a score of memorable tunes by Robert and Richard Sherman who also composed the music for the Walt Disney film. The stage musical version of Mary Poppins has been described as a 鈥榝usion鈥� of the work of Miss Travers and the classic Disney film. In our production the very familiar story is told by some really strong actors in the key roles and has some of the best music you will ever hear. 聽Claire Dixon, a senior at 91猫先生 and veteran of six full-length musicals will be featured in the title role. Claire has been preparing for this role since she was in the sixth grade, and I can assure you, she is ready.
Songs that many of us grew up with like 鈥淪poonful of Sugar,鈥� 鈥淟et鈥檚 Go Fly a Kite,鈥� and the ever popular 鈥淪upercalifragilisticexpialidocious鈥� are interwoven with several new songs including Mary Poppins鈥� anthem to herself called 鈥淧ractically Perfect,鈥� and a couple of real show-stoppers, 鈥淪tep in Time,鈥� and 鈥淎nything Can Happen If You Let It.鈥�
Every year when I select the spring show, I look for something that has a compelling story, fun and memorable music and something that will inspire my kids and our patrons. I believe that once more we have found the perfect show for this group of actors. Mary Poppins will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will inspire you and very likely cause you to leave the theatre humming one or more of the incredible show tunes.
One more line from the song says it this way, 鈥淚f you reach for the stars, all you get are the stars, but we鈥檝e found a whole new spin. If you reach for the heavens, you get the stars thrown in.鈥澛營 want my kids to reach for the heavens. I want them to dream big. And I want to do everything I can to help them realize their dreams. Come see the show, and let us know how we did!
The show will be performed on May 1, 2, 8 and 9 on the 91猫先生 stage in Bullard with a 7:30 curtain time each evening. You can get your tickets on the school鈥檚 website or by calling the school at 903-894-5000.
