Mary Poppins

At this moment, the Springville Middle School Auditorium is likely buzzing with activity, from costumes alterations to last minute prop assembly. For the past few months, cast and crew members have been working to bring Britain to St. Clair. 

Mary Poppins promises to be the most challenging and rewarding technical endeavor for the Springville Community Theater. One of the main attractions is the flying apparatus that will hoist Mary and Bert above the stage. Pat Bosworth is heading up the rigging for this spectacular effect in conjunction with On the Fly Productions, a theatrical flying company from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mary Poppins, as a stage production, has proven to be a very popular choice for theaters throughout the world. One of the reasons would be the whimsical set-design and magical elements.

According to Seth Allison, 10, who takes the stage as Michael Banks, the special effects are the best part.

“My favorite part of the play is definitely the magic that happens,” Seth said. “The tricks are really cool, but Mary Poppins flying is the best part.”

Set designers Kyle Franklin, Caleb Davis, Scott Crumpton, Mac Morgan, Jack Crumpton, Ken Xydias, Bill Fuqua, Wendy Killingsworth have worked with a host of helpers to create extensions to the existing stage to accommodate the over 80 cast members in the show, complete with a multi-story story nursery to allow the cast to look out over London from the rooftop. From fake walls to light fixtures, they have worked to make the set emulate real-life as much as possible.

Costumes have been designed by Milicent Yeager. Yeager has had assistance in that department, with willing cast members and their families willing to pitch in.

Choreographers Shalita Clark and Jessica Lloyd and pianist Karen Krekelberg have been hard at work preparing the cast for the many musical numbers that are the main calling card of the famous show. The production is being directed by June Morgan Mack with strong support from Assistant Director Beth Bolton and Business Manager Beverly Crumpton.

Springville’s Mary Poppins will star Jennifer Lewis as the indomitable, magical nanny from the skies. The Banks family will be played by Brian Allison, Jessica Lloyd, Campbell Pate and Seth Allison. Karen Cunningham and Austin Scarborough will play Mrs. Brill and Robertson Ay, respectively. Cameo roles will be played by Amanda Hudson, Vanessa Oakes, Neleus the Statue and Lannette Lacky.

Aside from such an exciting production, the Springville Community Theater is buzzing for another reason. This year it celebrates its 40th birthday. Over the past four decades, the group has produced shows such as Oklahoma!, Music Man, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Annie Get Your Gun, and many more.

Show dates for Mary Poppins are July 28, 29, 30 at 7 p.m. and July 31 at 2 p.m. at the Springville Middle School Auditorium. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. You may reserve tickets online by visiting springvillecommunitytheater.com. For phone reservations, call Donna Smith (205) 937-0646 or Candace Eskew (205) 965-2946.