From Staff Reports
The Springville Community Theater is gearing up for its 40th year this summer — the classic musical Mary Poppins will be presented at the Springville Middle School on July 28, 29, and 30.
This production will be the broadway version of Mary Poppins which differs from the movie in several ways. As in the movie, the Banks family needs Mary Poppins to nanny their children because they need to learn how to be a family. The stage adaptation builds on this, giving Winifred Banks a fuller storyline, George Banks a backstory, and the children a bit more room to grow from spoiled and bratty to kind and thoughtful.
The stage musical clarifies the passage of time (fall to winter of a single year), so the audience? can better chart their change. Much of the beloved movie music appears in the show including “Spoonful of Sugar”, “Feed the Birds”, “Chim Chim Cher-ee” among others.
Auditions will be held on Saturday, May 21st at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 22nd at 2 p.m. in the Springville Middle School auditorium at 6691 Highway 11, Springville. The play offers a wide variety of parts for actors of all ages, including a large chorus of townspeople. Those planning to audition should make sure their calendar is clear for rehearsals during June and July. No experience is necessary and actors do not need to bring prepared material. Everything needed will be provided or taught at the audition. English accents will be used for this show.
In addition to seeking actors, the Springville Community Theater welcomes people of all ages as builders, artists, musicians, prop persons, sound/lighting technicians, publicity and box office. No
experience is necessary to work in any capacity except musician. The show will be directed by June Morgan Mack, with Beth Bolton as Assistant Director and Beverly Crumpton as Business Manager. Other crew members already on board include: Milicent Yeager (costumes), Merle Dollar and Garry Burttram (art), Shalita Clark and Jessica Lloyd (choreography), Gayla Reynolds and Traci Owen (props), Caleb Davis (set design), Lori Hebson and Laura McKenzie (publicity).
A theatrical flying effects company from Louisville, Kentucky (ZFX Flying Effects) will be designing and installing the flying rig to hoist Mary into the rafters and beyond. The show promises to be the most challenging and rewarding technical experience to date for the Springville Community Theater. In addition to the usual fundraising for their shows, the group has set up a special fund for donations for the pricey flying effect: The Help Mary Fly Fund.
For more information visit springvillecommunitytheater.com or contact June Mack – 205-552-3023, jmack@uab.edu.