Mary Poppins Jr. sweeps into town at the Holland Theatre this weekend.
The musical, written by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, features a cast of more than 50 local students in grades five through eight.
Performances are set for 9 a.m. and noon today for local pupils, then Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at http://thehollandtheatre.org.
Benjamin Logan Schools eighth-grader Izik Cox, who plays George Banks, is excited to be a part of the first junior show in the newly renovated theater and grateful to be a mentor to younger actors and actresses.
“From me being in their position when I young, it’s just an unbelievable experience for us and we try to make it an unbelievable experience for you,” Izik said.
Meantime, West Liberty-Salem Schools eighth-grader grader Anna Byrd, who portrays Mary Poppins, said the song “Playing the Game” is her favorite part of the show for bittersweet reasons.
“It’s just really sentimental since I’ve been at the Holland Theatre for so long and the lyrics to that song… it’s pretty much me saying good-bye to this place that I love,” she said.
The show includes all the traditional Mary Poppins numbers including “Step In Time,” “Spoon Full of Sugar,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” and “Feed the Birds.”
The show’s directors are Tom Stoner, Suzanne Dennis, Laura Atwood, Linda MacGillivray and Kris Swisher.
In addition to Anna and Izik, the cast is led by Bert, played by Will Browning (Ridgemont); Winifred Banks, played by Ruby Styer (Kenton); Michael Banks, played by Tyler Barnes (Benjamin Logan); Jane Banks, played by Riley Ross (Indian Lake); Mrs. Brill, played by Hannah Metzger (Indian Lake); and Robertson Ay, played by Mason Swisher (Indian Lake).