Next up: I play the irascible George Banks in the regional premiere of MARY POPPINS at Musical Theatre of Wichita. The Disney Company, in partnership with Cameron Mackintosh, has agreed to allow MTWichita to be one of the first theatres in the world to develop its own production of this all-family classic. The beloved songs from the film, including “Chim Chim Cheree,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Feed the Birds,” and “A Spoonful of Sugar,” have been expanded and enhanced with new material from George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (the creators of HONK!).
Music Theatre of Wichita’s production of
Disney’s and Cameron Mackintosh’s
MARY POPPINS
August 9 – 11 and August 14 – 18
Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center
225 W Douglas Ave Wichita, KS 67202
A Musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film
Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Book by Julian Fellowes, New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh, Originally Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher for Disney
UPDATE: The Wichita Eagle's Bob Curtright writes of the production:
For a "Sneek Peek" of the cast, visit MTWichita.org.
"And this super—okay, okay, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius”—production that caps the 42nd season for Music Theatre of Wichita, cheers and enthralls the kid in all of us with its colorful, whimsical imagination...but it also touches our hearts in a satisfying way that the film often glossed over in favor of surface fun... Directed with exuberant flair but an underlying emotional sensitivity to the subtler themes by MTW’s Wayne Bryan, this show is a regional premiere and one of only eight productions this year licensed by Disney."
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| Photo: © Christopher Clark Designer Portraits |
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| Edward Sturm as Michael Banks, Damon Kirsche as George Banks, Claire Gerig as Winifred Banks, Londen Peebler as Jane Banks. Photo: © Christopher Clark Designer Portraits |
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| Mary Poppins (Lindsey Bliven) arrives at #17 Cherry Tree Lane. Edward Sturm and Londen Peebler as Michael and Jane Banks, Claire Gerig and Damon Kirsche as Winifred and George Banks in Music Theatre of Wichita's production of MARY POPPINS (Photo: Jaime Green / The Wichita Eagle) |
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| Karen L. Rob as The Birdwoman, Lindsey Bliven as Mary Poppins, David Elder as Bert in MTWichita's MARY POPPINS. (Photo: Jaime Green / The Wichita Eagle) |
