This year the Springville Community Theater will celebrate 40 years. The first show, a children’s fantasy called “Circus Magic,” was an original musical written by the group’s founder, June Morgan (now June Morgan Mack) and was the result of a summer job that didn’t pan out. Springville was bursting with talent — so a renegade band of creative ne’er-do-wells spent the summer of 1976 practicing songs and dances, painting sets, sewing costumes, and running lines. They performed one show. It was a sell out (free, of course), they had a ball, and the Springville Community Theater was born.

Over the years, the group has produced such notable shows 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,” “Beauty and the Beast,” five original musicals, and now “Mary Poppins.”

For the past six weeks, cast and crew have been working to bring London, England to St. Clair County. Artists Merle Dollar and Garry Burttram and a crew of 15 arty-pants are creating a 33’ x 14’ painting of the rooftops of London, which will be the centerpiece in the story. Dazzling costumes are being designed by Milicent Yeager along with cast members, moms and dads. Set designers and builders Kyle Franklin, Caleb Davis, Scott Crumpton, Mac Morgan, Jack Crumpton, Ken Xydias, Bill Fuqua, Wendy Killingsworth and a host of helpers have created extensions to the existing stage to accommodate the 80+ cast members in the show, complete with a two-story nursery to allow cast members to look out over London from the rooftop. 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 Beth Bolton (Assistant Director) and Beverly Crumpton (Business Manager).

“Mary Poppins” promises to be the most challenging and rewarding technical experience to date 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.

The popular play, quite different from the movie, won a Tony award for Best Scenic design, as well as receiving seven nominations, including Best Musical. The original Broadway production ran for 2,619 performances. The Springville production will star Jennifer Lewis as the indomitable, magical nanny from the skies. The Banks family will be played by Brian Allison (George), Jessica Lloyd (Winifred), Campbell Pate (Jane), and Seth Allison (Michael). Karen Cunningham and Austin Scarborough will play Mrs. Brill and Robertson Ay, respectively. Cameo roles will be played by Amanda Hudson (Mrs. Corry/Miss Andrew), Vanessa Oakes (Katie Nanna), Neleus the Statue (Brody Sharp), and Lannette Lacky (The Bird Woman).

Show dates are July 28, 29, 30 at 7 p.m. and July 31 at 2 p.m. at the Springville Middle School (6691 U. S. Highway 11, Springville, AL 35173). Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets go on sale on July 14. You may reserve tickets online or by phone. Online, go to Springvillecommunitytheater.com. For phone reservations, call Donna Smith at (205) 937-0646 or Candace Eskew at (205) 965-2946. In addition, you may purchase tickets in person at the Springville Middle School on Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24 from 2-4 p.m. For more information on tickets or getting involved, visit the theater website today.