MAD announces auditions for Mary Poppins
The Broadway Musical by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh
Based on the books by P. L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney Film
Director: Jon Gardner (jongreenbelt@yahoo.com).
Orchestra Director: Susan Breon
Vocal Coach: Randy Barth
Choreographer: Lauren Ward
Produced by Dave Buckingham, Eliot Malumuth and Linda Pattison
MAD invites you to auditions for Mary Poppins on Sunday, July 14 at 2pm in the Building 3 Auditorium, or Monday or Tuesday, July 15 & 16 at 7pm in the Goddard Visitor Center, 9432 Greenbelt Road. Call backs will be Thursday, July 18, if needed, in the Visitor Center.
MAD welcomes participation in Mary Poppins by people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, ages and abilities. No experience necessary. The show has an expandable chorus including parts suitable for beginners. This is a great opportunity to get involved in a play!
Audition form: https://forms.gle/DM7z8MFk1pwusz7U9
Conflict form: https://forms.gle/pgHbD5HRCDb5ouP7A
If you wish to audition, please fill in the online audition form and conflict sheet no later than one day before you audition. In addition, you may email a theatrical resume and headshot to Jon Gardner at jongreenbelt@yahoo.com.
If you do not have a NASA, Goddard or MAD badge, you are welcome to audition on Monday or Tuesday at the Visitor Center. To audition on Sunday in the Building 3 Auditorium, you must have a badge or must fill in the form by Thursday, July 4, so we can arrange for a 1-day badge.
Auditions will consist of performing a song, learning a dance, and reading selections from the script. Audition materials, including songs, dance videos, and selections from the script, will be available soon in the Members section of the MAD website: https://www.madtheaterarchive.org/mem/. For login information, contact Jon Gardner at jongreenbelt@yahoo.com.
Rehearsals will begin with read-through on Sunday, August 18, and actors will be called up to four times per week, depending on their role. Show dates are Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees from November 1 through 23, with the addition of a show on Thursday, November 21. There are 12 performances; double-cast actors will perform 6 times each. If you want to audition and cannot make the audition dates (or have any other questions), contact Jon Gardner at jongreenbelt@yahoo.com to arrange an early or alternate audition. Additional information will be available from the MAD website.
Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers and astonishing stagecraft, as the beloved Disney film is brought to life on stage.
CHARACTERS:
Mary Poppins (Lead) – Jane and Michael Banks’s new nanny. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is the key.
Bert (Lead) – The narrator of the story, he is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. He should be able to sing and move well.
George Banks (Lead) – The father to Jane and Michael Banks, he is a banker to the very fiber of his being. George may speak-sing as necessary.
Winifred Banks (Lead) – George’s wife and Jane and Michael’s mother. She has great warmth and simplicity to her singing tone.
Jane (Lead) – The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks; she is bright and precocious but can be willful.
Michael (Lead) – The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks; he is excitable and can be naughty.
Mrs. Brill (Feature) – The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. She has a strong personality with well-defined opinions. Some solo singing lines.
Robertson Ay (Feature) – A servant for the Banks family. He is clumsy, which will be portrayed through slapstick, movement, and falling. He has a few solo singing lines.
Miss Andrew (Feature) – George’s overbearing and scary former nanny. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range. Sings, “Brimstone and Treacle.”
Bank Chairman (Feature) – The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary.
Bird Woman (Featured Singer) – A homeless person who sings “Feed the Birds.”
Mrs. Corry (Featured Singer) – Owns a magical gingerbread shop and sings “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
Neleus (Featured Dancer) – A statue in the park that comes to life to dance and sing.
Valentine (Featured Dancer) – A toy clown doll who comes to life to dance and sing.
Additional Featured Dancers – Based on the dance auditions, we may cast additional featured dancers from within the ensemble, who will dance solo or in small groups.
Mary Poppins has a large and expandable Ensemble who will sing and dance as Park Strollers, Bank Employees, Conversation Shop Customers, Kite Flyers, Toys, Chimney Sweeps, and Stars and Moon.
The ensemble also includes the following roles, in order of appearance:
Katie Nanna, Policeman, Miss Lark, Admiral Boom, Park Keeper, Queen Victoria, Miss Smythe, Von Hussler, John Northbrook, Annie, Fannie, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, & Doll.
Note: not every member of the ensemble will appear in every ensemble song.
If you are not interested in acting but want to be involved with the artistic staff, production council or running crew, contact Jon Gardner at jongreenbelt@yahoo.com.
Mary Poppins is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com