'Mary Poppins' flies onto the stage at Bryn Athyn's MPAC

When the Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools student production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins comes to the stage in Bryn Athyn this April and May, audiences won’t believe their eyes! Singing! Dancing! Flying!

Wait. Flying? In a high school student production?

Well, of course. As Mary Poppins has said, “Anything can happen if you let it.” Members of the cast are going to be airborne for several scenes, thanks to fantastical aerial effects created by theatrical flight service Flying by Foy, the international company that put four Peter Pans in the air over Broadway stages beginning in 1950 and has “flown” thousands of performers since then.

And it’s going to be magical.

“We’ve worked with Foy twice in the past,” says Sarah Cooper Waelchli, producer of the school’s spring musical. “Our Bert has been rehearsing his tap dancing all spring break in preparation for his flying tap dance scene.

“The students were very excited to work on Mary Poppins. It’s a show they’re all familiar with, the flying is thrilling and slightly terrifying, and while the music has been challenging for our actors and pit orchestra, the songs are just so much fun.”

Cooper Waelchli also noted that Mary Poppins gives the cast and audiences more light-hearted fare, after the more intense Oliver! that was last year’s well-received spring musical.

One of the most popular Disney movies of all time, Mary Poppins tell the story of young Jane and Michael Banks in 1910 England, their friend Bert and nanny extraordinaire Mary. Through magical adventures and common sense lessons, Mary helps reconnect the children and their father and teaches the Banks family members to value each other again.

For audiences of all ages, ANCSS’s magical Mary Poppins at Mitchell Performing Arts Center(MPAC) in Bryn Athyn blends irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers and astonishing stagecraft.

Declan Durand, ANCSS junior from Bryn Athyn, who took flight above MPAC’s stage once before as Peter Pan in 2015, plays the singing, dancing, jack-of-all-trades Bert. Brianna Salvatori, a senior from Maple Glen, is Mary Poppins, flying in by umbrella to serve as the children’s nanny. Freshman Hayden Hoffman and sophomore Serena Boyesen, both from Bryn Athyn, are Michael and Jane Banks.

The show opens at 8pm on Friday, April 28, and continues with four more performances: 7pm Saturday, April 29; 2pm Sunday, April 30; 8pm Friday, May 5; and 7pm Saturday, May 6.

Tickets are $15, $12 for students and children. Purchase online at www.ANCSS.org, by phone at 267.502.4810 or at the door. Use the coupon code “FirstFridayMP16” at checkout for a $4 discount on each opening night ticket. MPAC is at 800 Tomlinson Rd, Bryn Athyn 19009.

This year’s production of Mary Poppins is directed by Sarah Gladish & Chris Waelchli, with choreography by Sarah Gladish assisted by Rachel Boyce. Chris Waelchli is Music Director, assisted by Simon Daum. Donna Bostock is Pit Orchestra Director. Set Design & Construction is by ANCSS StageCraft Class (taught by Chris Waelchli) and Costume Designer is Judy Merrell. The show is produced by Sarah Cooper Waelchli.

Performing Arts at ANC
The Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools’ robust arts program includes not only classes in instrumental, choral and dance but also two plays a year, a year-round dance team, two-week summer acting camp for middle-schoolers and an intensive Performing Arts Portfolio class taught by the co-directors.

Students interested in the backstage aspects of theater can take courses in set design or costuming. They can also participate as members of the stage crew or by joining the sound and lighting team.

In photo: Good friends Bert (Declan Durand, junior, Bryn Athyn) and Mary Poppins (Brianna Salvatori, senior, Maple Glen) size up each other during rehearsal for Mary Poppins. Credit: Sarah Cooper Waelchli for ANCSS