Disney's MARY POPPINS Begins 2/28 at Sierra Repertory Theatre

Disney's Mary Poppins arrives at Sierra Repertory Theatre February 28 with plenty of spectacle (she flies!), plenty of songs (think "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"), plenty of heartwarming comedy and drama and - of course - plenty of magic, the kind only a no-nonsense nanny can deliver. The "practically perfect" musical plays through May 3 at the East Sonora Theatre and opens Sierra Rep's 36th season.

"Not just Mary Poppins herself, but the show as a whole has an otherworldly, magical quality about it," said Scott Viets, SRT's artistic director. "Hopefully audiences will be lost in the fantasy of it all while taking home the beautiful lessons Mary helps teach about love, compassion, hope and importance of family."

Mary Poppins follows the Banks family of London's Cherry Lane. The children, Jane and Michael, are out of control and need a new nanny. They have their own ideas about what sort of person should care for them, while their father, Mr. Banks, insists on someone strict for the job.

Enter Mary Poppins and her bag of tricks. The musical, much like the beloved Disney movie, features Mary and her magic. How else would she unpack a houseful of items from her carpet bag? Restore a kitchen to order in the blink of an eye? How else would she fly?

"That's the question I get most often," Viets said. "How does Mary fly?"

Magic, of course. But even with a little trickery flying across SRT's small East Sonora stage presents challenges. That's why Sierra Rep enlisted Paul Rubin, who choreographed some of the memorable flying sequences in the Broadway productions of Wicked, Tarzan and Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan. Rubin will rig the stage, choreograph flights and teach actors how to fly.

"I start by teaching the actors body control, how to face the direction they are flying, how to flip and how to land," Rubin said. "After they learn all that, then it's time to start choreographing and creating magic and memories."

Mary, played by Megan Buzzard, is already experienced with the thrill and complexity of flying every night. Buzzard played Mary last summer at an East Coast theater.

"It's almost like being on a roller coaster," Buzzard said. "There's that first hurdle, and it's over. When you hear the audience exclaim, 'She's flying, she's flying,' it's a lot of fun."

Dan Reardon was Bert in the same production and, coincidently, is slated to play Bert in Sierra Rep's version. The two auditioned separately, but are excited to work together again.

Reardon said he enjoys Bert's tap-dancing whimsy, but also appreciates Bert's more serious task in the show.

"It's his responsibility to be sure the audience understands what Mary means for the Banks family," he said, adding that the musical treats the family's issues with more gravity than the film. "I think the audience can expect all the fun of the film, plus the added dimension of what it means to be a family."

Julian Fellowes, creator of "Downtown Abbey," wrote the script, and his treatment of the family's challenges makes for interesting characters, Viets said. Among the most compelling is Mr. Banks, who convinces himself he is a failure at business - and at life.

"He is the one who is the catalyst for all the turmoil in the family, and he is the one who goes through the biggest transformation."

Other pivotal roles include the Banks children, Jane and Michael, played by Tuolumne County children Joseph Fitzgerald and Kara Tangenberg. The two auditioned after taking part in an SRT Jr. theater workshop.

With a cast of 24, a dozen set locations, huge production numbers and special effects in almost every scene, the show is a challenge for the SRT team.

"With Paul's expertise, the flying is probably going to be easiest thing to accomplish," Viets joked. "However, she's not just a flying nanny, but a magical nanny. There are over two dozen special effects that have to happen, aside from the flying."

Viets wouldn't have it any other way.

"We continually strive to push and challenge ourselves," he said. "It keeps our theater fresh and relevant and helps motivate the artistry and passion in everyone who works at SRT. Bringing a bit of 'Broadway' to the foothills is one of our hallmarks, so bring it we shall!"

Mary Poppins opens Saturday, Feb. 28, with Sierra Rep's 2015 Gala and runs through May 3 with performances Wednesdays, some Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and some Thursdays at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $28 to $45, with senior, student and child rates available. Special discounts are available for the March 5 Ladies Night and March 27 Kids Night, and Black Oak Casino Resort is offering stay-and-play packages for March 7 and 11. For tickets and information, visit www.sierrarep.org or call the Box Office at 209-532-3120.

Parents should note that children under the age of six will not be allowed in the theatre. The show is nearly three hours long and, while family friendly, is not designed for children who cannot sit quietly for long periods of time.

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