Directors’ Notes
We are very excited to be one of the first schools in the area to produce Mary Poppins. It is truly a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious undertaking! Fortunately, we have had a great set and paint construction crew. Much of the magic would not have happened if it weren’t for the talent and experimentation of Heath Carlson and his crew. Families, check the stability of your kitchen tables! Evan Fable and his painters brought color to the sets; our resident artists Tracey Anderson, Catherine Beebe and student Devika Menon helped Bert’s imagination appear on canvases. Devika also created Mary's Parrot Umbrella, Miss Andrew's Lark and Mary's Robin. Student choreographers Caitlyn Saxon, Julie Harper, and Olivia La Rosa helped the featured dancers to step in time and kick up their heels. We are especially excited about our younger, junior actors: Giavanna Marino, Noah Sparks, Sophie Sparks, Tatum Bourdon and Jake Doyle,who join our families for park strolling and kite flying.
We produced new additions this year: a matinee; an hour-long Poppins Preview for the district’s 4th Graders; and a Character Tea Party. So many of our endeavors are matters of the heart, taken up by staff, students, as well as parents. Glori Kaczmarek has been our Parent Liaison. She spent hours handling fundraising, coordinating parent volunteers, marketing our show, and handling ticket sales. What a wonder! Parents Julie Thompson (a.k.a. SWHS Math Teacher Extraordinaire), Jill Bourdon, Diane Wilan, and Kathy LaRosa have also contributed their time and talents.
A current trend on Broadway is to encourage the audience to use their imaginations to help create the mystery and magic of the theater. Finding Neverland, currently on Broadway, does not suspend their flying children from wires; rather, they are physically held by a “puppeteer” while the actors’ movements create an illusion of flying. We have several “tricks” up our sleeves, but we are also using puppeteers to help birds and kites fly.
The original story by P.L. Travers, published in 1934, is a tale of a mysterious nanny who teaches a troubled family to appreciate the important things in life. She challenges us to find the magical in the everyday. In her hands, umbrellas fly, carpet bags hide endless treasures, and a day in the park becomes a “jolly holiday.” This story leaves us with a message about discovering the extraordinary world around us, even if things look bleak. In her words:
“Broaden your horizon
Open different doors
You may find a ‘you’ there
That you never knew was yours”
Thank you and enjoy the show,
—Barb Laurain & Terri White, Co-Producers/Directors
