Mary Poppins JR.
Show Dates: January 15-17 & January 22-24
The jack-of-all-trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones she profoundly affects. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."
Casting Policy
Wonder Theatre Academy has a new policy that outlines the audition & casting process for our student productions. Please read the required casting policy (CLICK HERE). We thank you for your interest in being a part of Wonder Theatre Academy Auditions!
For other questions, please visit our FAQ page.
Audition Info
AUDITION DATES: August 23rd and August 30th
Auditions are open to performers in 1st grade to 12th grade
You do not have to be a current student at the Wonder Theatre Academy to audition
We will be forming TWO casts for this show.
Production Team:
Sara Smith (Director)
Antonio Cruz (Music Director)
Cynthia Frias (Choreographer)
AUDITION PROCESS:
Vocal Audition
To audition for Mary Poppins: The Spoonful of Sugar track will begin playing music at Measure 4. Students will begin singing at measure 6 with "and ev'ry task you" and sing until Measure 30, ending with the word "way"
To audition for Bert: The Jolly Holiday track will begin playing music at measure 8. Students will begin singing at the end of measure 9 with "why...It's a jolly 'oliday with Mary" and sing until measure 25, ending with "big brass band"
To audition for Jane OR Michael: The Perfect Nanny track will start at the beginning of the song, and students will begin singing on measure 4 with "If you want this choice position" and sing until measure 23, ending with "sing songs, bring sweets." It does not matter if it says "Jane" or "Michael" on the vocal part. Everyone will sing all the words there.
To audition for George Banks: A Man Has Dreams track will begin at Measure 11. Students will start singing at Measure 15 with "A man with" and sing until Measure 28, ending with "Deserves a chance..."
If you are not specifically auditioning for one of these roles, please choose any of the 4 songs that you feel most comfortable with.
Dance Audition
Students will be asked to take part in a short dance call at the beginning of their audition block. They should dress in dance shoes if they have them and clothing that is comfortable to move in.
Rehearsal/Show Dates
Rehearsals: October 10th - January 9th (possible pick-up rehearsal on January 16th)
Tech/Dress Rehearsals: January 11 - January 21
Shows: January 15-17 & January 22-24
All students wishing to participate in a production must be able to commit to the majority of rehearsals, ALL tech/dress rehearsals, and ALL shows. Conflicts with tech rehearsals and shows are not permitted. Any student with excessive absences will have roles reassigned and may be dismissed from the production without a tuition refund.
Tuition
Tuition is $450 if paid in full; $475 if paid in installments.
Upon casting, payment is required if you accept your role and wish to participate. Please reach out to Nathan at nathan@wondertheatre.org if you have any questions or in need of any assistance. Tuition must be paid in full by the 4th rehearsal.
Should a family accept, and then choose not to participate after the first rehearsal, a partial refund of 75% is applicable but must be communicated to Academy Administrator BEFORE the 2nd rehearsal. No refunds are applicable after the second rehearsal.
Attendance is crucial. Excessive absences and or missing a tech rehearsal may result in reduced roles, having roles reassigned, or being excused from the production with no refund.
Character Breakdown
Bert: The narrator of the story is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert is a chimney sweep and a sidewalk artist, among many other occupations. With a twinkle in his eye and a skip in his step, Bert watches over the children and the goings-on around Cherry Tree Lane. He is a song-and-dance man with oodles of charm who is wise beyond his years.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: B2
George Banks: Husband to Winifred and father to Jane and Michael, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pip-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that Miss Andrew, his cruel, strict childhood nanny, gave him the perfect upbringing. George's emotional armor, however off-putting, conceals a sensitive soul.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Winifred Banks: George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. She is a loving homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's social aspirations while striving to be a model wife and mother. Cast an actor who can portray a great warmth and depth of feeling.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Jane Banks: The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Banks, bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Michael Banks: The cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and longs desperately for his attention. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents. Michael should be a great actor and singer. Ideally, he reads onstage as younger than Jane.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Mrs. Brill: The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked, she’s always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath.
Gender: female
Robertson Ay: The houseboy to the Banks family. Forgetful and clumsy, he often bungles simple tasks. Note: his last name is pronounced like “eye.”
Gender: male
Mary Poppins: Jane and Michael Banks’s new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet very particular, and sometimes a little frightening, but she is always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Ensemble Groups & Featured Roles
Katie Nanna: Katie Nanna is Jane and Michael’s nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children.
Gender: female
Park Strollers: The Park Strollers are citizens of London who go from drab and dreary to bright and colorful as they get swept up in Mary Poppins’s adventures in the park.
Gender: any
Statues: The Statues are stone sculptures. Thanks to Mary Poppins, these works of art come alive and dance with Bert and the Park Strollers.
Gender: any
Neleus: Neleus is a statue who, once brought to life by Mary Poppins, is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael.
Gender: any
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: Bb4
Bird Woman: The Bird Woman is covered in a patchwork of old shawls, her pockets stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell the crumbs to Passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn’t exist.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Honeybees: The Honeybees are conjured by Mary Poppins to help teach the children the benefits of “A Spoonful of Sugar.”
Gender: any
Clerks: The Clerks, like George, are employees at the bank. These roles require actors who can sing.
Gender: any
Miss Smythe: Miss Smythe is the bank Chairman’s humorless secretary.
Gender: female
Chairman: Chairman, the head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed shirt.
Gender: male
Von Hussler: Von Hussler is a businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. This is a great character role for a fantastic actor who can command the stage with pomposity.
Gender: male
John Northbrook: John Northbrook is an honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Vagrants, Buskers, and Passerby: Vagrants, Buskers, and Passerby are citizens of London.
Gender: any
Mrs. Corry: Mrs. Corry owns a magical Talking Shop. She is a mysterious woman of indeterminate age, but has plenty of spirit and is sharp as a tack.
Gender: female
Vocal range bottom: C#4
Customers: The Customers are bright, colorful British citizens visiting Mrs. Corry’s Talking Shop.
Gender: any
Miss Andrew: Miss Andrew is George’s overbearing and scary childhood nanny. With her bottle of nasty- tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things: her way.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: G#3
Kite Flyers: Kite Flyers consist of families flying kites in the park.
Gender: any
Chimney Sweeps: Chimney Sweeps (including Sweep 1, Sweep 2, Sweep 3, and Sweep 4) are Bert’s cheerful, friendly, and agile friends who keep London’s chimneys in working order.
Gender: any
Policeman and the Messenger: The Policeman, a neighborhood patrol officer, and the Messenger, who delivers a summons to George from the bank.
Gender: any