MARY POPPINS Flies in for the Holidays at BPA Tonight

Everyone's favorite practically-perfect nanny swoops in for a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical adventure at Bainbridge Performing Arts, tonight, December 4 - 20. Disney & Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs (A Spoonful of Sugar, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Chim Chim Cher-Ee, and more), breathtaking dance numbers, and astonishing stagecraft.

One of the most popular Disney movies of all time is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a positively perfect musical! Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Disney & Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven TONY Awards, including Best Musical. MARY POPPINS includes 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, and co-creation by Cameron Mackintosh.

Director Ken Michels is joined by BPA's Resident Musical Director Josh Anderson, Choreographer Heather Dawson, and Assistant Director Zandi Carlson to lead a stellar cast showcasing both BPA newcomers and favorites, with Lisa Mandlekorn (Mary Poppins), Shannon Dowling (Winifred Banks), Matt Eldridge (George Banks), Sophie Eldridge (Jane Banks), Quinn Leibling (Michael Banks), Luke Walker (Bert), Cynthia Jacobs (Mrs. Brill), Michelle Abad (Miss Andrew), Peter Denis (Bank Chairman), Robert Craighead (Admiral Boom / Von Hussler), Lucien Caro (Robertson Ay), D'Arcy Clements (Bird Woman), Zandi Carlson (Mrs. Corry), Justin Silver (Neleus), Jeff Brown (Policeman), Wayne Purves (John Northbrook), David Rimkus (Park Keeper), Justin Silver (Neleus), Jen Carrillo (Miss Smythe), and Alex Sanso (Katie Nanna), an Ensemble featuring Nicole Billies, Scott Breitbarth, Tracy Dickerson, Mikaela Karter, Tori Konig, Autumn Prentice, Aria Rose, and a Youth Chorus featuring Evelyn Cantwell, Libby Clements, Zoe DeWitt, Ben Eldridge, Emily Fox, Katie Irvin, Renee Messinger, Josh Moff, Zac Norberg, Olivia Opalski, Delaney Taylor, and Lucia Young.

Ken Michels is familiar to Bainbridge audiences for previously directing Monty Python's Spamalot, Avenue Q, The Full Monty, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Shrek, The Musical, and The Santaland Diaries on the BPA stage. Josh Anderson has musical directed HAIR, The Drowsy Chaperone, Monty Python's Spamalot, Little Shop of Horrors, Avenue Q, Shrek, and the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for BPA. Choreographer Heather Dawson last joined us for Monty Python's Spamalot, and Director of Education Zandi Carlson is making her BPA Mainstage directing debut as Assistant Director with this production.

MARY POPPINS appears at BPA December 4 - 20, with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m., with one exception: the performance on Saturday, December 5 will be a matinee show at 3:00 p.m. A special Pay-What-You-Can Preview will be held Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m., and the Opening Night Reception will be Friday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, $27 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $19 for students, youth, military, and teachers, may be purchased online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206.842.8569 or in person at BPA, 200 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island. BPA Box Office hours are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance. MARY POPPINS is produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International and offers holiday cheer and enchantment for the whole family!

Bainbridge Performing Arts extends special thanks to its the Title Sponsor for MARY POPPINS - Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. BPA is supported, in part, by Bainbridge Community Foundation and One Call for All. Bainbridge Performing Arts is pleased to offer an "Open Doors" program. Free and reduced-cost tickets are always available to community members in need through our partner Helpline House thanks to grants from the Mabee Family and Bainbridge Community Foundations. Please contact the BPA Box Office at 206.842.8569 or Helpline House to reserve tickets today.

Find out more about BPA at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, or check us out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BPAonline and www.facebook.com/BainbridgeSymphonyOrchestra), follow Bainbridge Performing Arts on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/bainbridge-performing-arts) and Twitter (@BPAPresents). Check online for the latest on theatre and symphony auditions, complete theatre school and adult class offerings, performance listings, tickets, promos, and more. Go to "About BPA" and click on "Get Our Newsletter" to receive electronic performance announcements and behind-the-scenes news.

To post a comment, you must register and login.