SAF Young People Theatre: “Mary Poppins,” Opens 2/2

29 Jan SAF Young People Theatre: “Mary Poppins,” Opens 2/2

Telluride’s Sheridan Arts Foundation Young People’s Theater presents its annual high school musical production. “Mary Poppins” goes up Friday, February 2, Saturday, February 3 & Monday, February 5, 2018 at the historic Sheridan Opera House. 

Directed by Leah Nikula, the musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film. Original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Book by Julia Fellows. New songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drew. Co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. Performed by students in grades 9 – 12. 

Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for kids 18 and under. (Buy in advance, they increase $1 at the door.)Tickets are reserved seating and available on the Sheridan Opera House website.

“Mary Poppins,” one of the most iconic movie-musicals of all time, has been brought to life on the stage.

And what an extraordinary story it is.

Based on the children’s books by P.L Travers, “Mary Poppins” tells the tale of a magical nanny (played by Gabrielle Chamberlain) who comes into the home of the Banks family and teaches everyone to laugh, love, and dance.

Throughout the show, Mary Poppins takes the two children of the family, Jane (played by Maddy Regrut) and Michael (played by Dietz Woehle), on all sorts of adventures that include dancing with magical statues, finding the oldest candy shop in the world and exploring the rooftops of London with Burt (played by Kody Shugars). George and Winifred Banks, the parents, are played by Ronin Wilkes and Macy Desmarais.

The cast is rounded out by: Jaxon Mosher As Robertson Ay,;Will Plantz as Neleus/Mr. Corry; Zachary Davis as the Policeman/Von Hussler; Blaine Musselman as Mrs. Brill; Sam Young as Miss Andrew; Charlotte Botenhagen as Miss Lark; Maxwell Gorraiz as the Bank Chairman; Peter Spencer as Admiral Boon; Linnea Taylor as the Park Keeper ; Koko Waller as the Bird Woman; Mariposa Boyd as Katie Nanna; Cassidy Craige as Annie; Camille Denman as Fannie; Hutton Hein as Miss Smythe; and Rowen Warren as Northbrook.

“I love the staged version of Mary Poppins so much; it takes all of the beloved dynamics of the Disney Movie- the music, the iconic characters, the magic- and digs even deeper into the relationships within the story,” Nikula said. “You really get to see into the heart of George Banks; the staged version makes you truly understand why he is so hardened, and why Mary Poppins is so necessary to save this family.” 

The play features original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, book by Julia Fellows, and new songs and additional music/lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drew.

The show is directed by Leah Nikula, the Artistic Director of the Young People’s Theater, and choreographed by Danielle Jenkins. The creative team also includes Rob Wagner on sound design; Tommy Wince on light design; and Buff Hooper on set design.

“The kids have worked so incredibly hard; I think the audience is going to be absolutely blown away,” Nikula said. “They have learned so much choreography, (including a HUGE tap number! Most of these kids have never even put on tap shoes- and they sound AMAZING!) they have mastered different dialects, and they really have created so much magic that will make every ‘Mary Poppins’ lover so nostalgic.”