By contributing writers Samantha Wheeler (’27) and Kara Barnello (’28)
The big day for Jamesville-DeWitt High School’s musical Mary Poppins is arriving! Musical producer Jordan Berger says that cast rehearsals are daily. The pit musicians with band teacher Daniel Blumenthal are practicing as well. Soon they will combine and rehearse together. The actors and pit crew will be working in conjunction with the Stage Crew Club at J-D to make sure the musical magic shines through.
”I think the past few years we’ve done shows with a lot of impactful messages and on the surface Mary Poppins may not have the same substance,” says senior Rozir Kirkland. Kirkland will be playing Bert, the deuteragonist. “But on closer look, Mary Poppins teaches one to see the magic in the world. To allow yourself to not take life too seriously because anything can happen, if you let it,” said Kirkland.
Besides Kirkland, the lead roles are senior Anna Hasegawa as Mary Poppins, freshman Jack Picciano as George Banks, junior Sharon Kim as Winifred Banks, freshman Wes Smith as Michael Banks, and lastly junior Myah Pettiford as Jane Banks. All these actors agree that the musical is running smoothly during rehearsal. They are just finishing learning lines and choreography, and will soon start full run throughs with crew and pit included.
Kirkland spoke on the importance of his role. “It’s such an honor to be able to be a part of this year’s production. I think I resonate really well with the character. It’s so fun to play someone who in a lot of ways had the same personality as me!”
Hasegawa commented on the importance of her role as Mary Poppins. “Mary Poppins drives the plot by bringing the children on many adventures,” she says. Hasegawa explains that she has always been a fan of the musical and the movie. She has a lot of background knowledge because she has viewed the film versions many times.
Set designer and set painter Jacob Brodsky explains how they are currently working on a big City of London backdrop and the Banks House interior that will eventually be able to flip around. All things like sets, crew costumes, and backdrops are starting to come together.
The opening night is Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m in the high school auditorium. You can buy tickets online at JD Music Tickets, or scan the QR code on one of the posters in the hallways, and pick your seats on the website. If that doesn’t work, musical-goers can buy tickets at the door for whatever seats are left. All tickets for all three performances will be $18. Come see the musical and support the wonderful cast!
