Aspiring actors, step in time.
This weekend, the process begins to audition for Judy Russell's production of Mary Poppins. There are 14 specified roles, plus a chorus. Russell has issued a public call for interested actors to come try their hand at earning one of these positions in the cast.
"The show is scheduled to run the last two weeks of July, 2016," said Russell. "Please dress comfortably and come prepared to present a brief piece of music (16 bars), as well as participate in a reading and dance routine."
As one of popular culture's most famous musicals of all time, beloved by audiences of all ages, Russell is expecting a large response from the local musical theatre performance community. She has broken the audition exercise into bite-sized pieces to accommodate the many different kinds of actors needed for this multi-aged cast.
Mary Poppins was first a part of mainstream consciousness as an eight-book set of stories by P.L. Travers (illustrated by Mary Shepard) between 1938 and 1988.
In 1964, Disney made a movie based on the books. It starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, and the top blew off the whimsical nanny character. It was a blockbuster and remains so today. A musical theatre production was created for London's West End, it also took Broadway like an umbrella in a storm, and it eventually became available to communities for local productions.
Auditions will be held at Enchainement Dance Centre (3540 Opie Crescent).
Audition spots must be pre-booked by email.
(judydance@shawcable.com) or call and ask for Heather at 250-563-2902.
Characters
- Mary Poppins - Jane and Michael's Nanny. A dazzling personality and force to be reckoned with.
- Bert - A chimney sweep and jack-of-all-trades. Charming and charismatic.
- Mr. George Banks - Bank manager and father to Jane and Michael.
- Mrs. Winifred Banks - Former Actress. Loving but distracted mother to Jane and Michael.
- Michael and Jane - The Banks children. Tend to misbehave to get attention from their parents.
- Mrs. Brill - The Banks' cook who rules the kitchen.
- Robertson Ay - Clumsy but goodhearted bootman who has trouble following instructions.
- Miss Andrew - George Banks' old, cruel and demanding nanny.
- Katie Nanna - The last of a long line of exasperated nannies for the Banks children.
- Admiral Boom - The Banks' friendly neighbour.
- Miss Lark - Another neighbour who is a bit snobby and treats her dog as a child.
- Mrs. Corry - Mysterious. Runs the "Talking Shop" where people buy conversation and gingerbread.
- Neleus - A statue in the park. Neleus has lost his father, Poseidon, god of the ocean.
- The Bird Woman - Sits in front of St. Paul's Cathedral every day, selling bags of crumbs for the pigeons.
- The Park Keeper - A stickler for rules and regulations who watches over the Park.
- Ensemble - Singers and dancers in a variety of supporting roles, both adult and children.
