Mary Poppins
by Fredericksburg Theater Company (FTC)
Apr. 02 - Apr. 03 (2022)
One of the most popular Disney movies of all time is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a practically perfect musical! Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Disney and 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.
Auditions for FTC’s Summer Musical Disney "Mary Poppins" have been extended and will be held Saturday, April 2nd at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 3rd at 6:30 p.m. at the Steve W. Shepherd Theater, located at 1668 Highway 87 South in Fredericksburg. The production will be directed by Jeryl Hoover.
Only adult actors, age 18 or older, are requested for this audition. Dancers and/or actors with strong dance backgrounds are especially needed to fill multiple roles. Actors must sign up in advance for a 5-minute time slot. To reserve a time slot, call the theater office at 888-997-3588.
For auditions, you will need to prepare 32 bars of a show tune, or a verse and chorus. You may choose a song from the show or another song that best shows your vocal range and abilities. A CD player and MP3 hookup will be available. A keyboard and accompanist will also be present. No acapella auditions please. There will be a brief dance/movement auditions, so please dress accordingly. Actors will also be asked to read scenes from the script. Scripts will be available to be checked out from the FTC Box Office.
Video auditions may also be submitted. All video auditions must be sent to Executive Director Steve Reily at fbgtheaterco@veizon.net with the subject line “Mary Poppins Audition”.
If you have any questions, you can email the theater office at fbgtheaterco@veizon.net with the subject line “Mary Poppins Auditions”.
Schedule:
Rehearsals are typically Monday through Friday, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
June 13 -16 are Technical/Dress Rehearsals. For the success of the production, attendance at these rehearsals and at all performances is mandatory for the entire cast and crew.
Performances:
Thursday, June 16 at 7:30pm (Preview)
June 17, 18, 24, 25, and July 1, 2 at 7:30 p.m. – June 19, 26, and July 3 at 2:00 p.m.
Principal Character Breakdown:
Mary Poppins
Jane and Michael Banks's new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. 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.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: C6
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Jane and Michael Banks's new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. 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.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: C6
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Bert
The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings-on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent and is a song-and-dance man.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: B2
The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings-on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent and is a song-and-dance man.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: B2
George Banks
The father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
The father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Winifred Banks
George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's desire to only associate with "the best people" as well as be the model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she's not up to the job of "being Mrs. Banks," yet, she is, and more. She has great warmth and simplicity to her tone.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's desire to only associate with "the best people" as well as be the model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she's not up to the job of "being Mrs. Banks," yet, she is, and more. She has great warmth and simplicity to her tone.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Katie Nanna
Jane and Micahel's nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children.
Gender: Female
Jane and Micahel's nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children.
Gender: Female
Policeman
A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat
Gender: Male
A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat
Gender: Male
Miss Lark
The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if her were child.
Gender: Female
The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if her were child.
Gender: Female
Admiral Boom
A retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed. If Admiral Bloom doubles as the Banks Chairman, he can be a baritone.
Gender: Male
A retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed. If Admiral Bloom doubles as the Banks Chairman, he can be a baritone.
Gender: Male
Mrs. Brill
The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harrassed, she's always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn't have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: D#5
Vocal range bottom: F#3
The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harrassed, she's always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn't have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: D#5
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Robertson Ay
The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy, and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. He doesn't do a lot of singing, but his "Spoonful" solo can be a fun surprise.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: F3
The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy, and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. He doesn't do a lot of singing, but his "Spoonful" solo can be a fun surprise.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: F3
Park Keeper
Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood.
Gender: Male
Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood.
Gender: Male
Neleus
The statue of a young boy posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael.
Gender: Male
The statue of a young boy posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael.
Gender: Male
Queen Victoria
A statue in the park.
Gender: Female
A statue in the park.
Gender: Female
Bank Chairman
The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: C3
The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Miss Smythe
The Bank Chairman's humorless secretary.
Gender: Female
The Bank Chairman's humorless secretary.
Gender: Female
Ensemble
Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Parkgoers.
Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Parkgoers.
Von Hussler
A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent.
Gender: Male
John Northbrook
An honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England.
Gender: Male
A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent.
Gender: Male
John Northbrook
An honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England.
Gender: Male
Bird Woman
Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings "Feed the Birds." There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings "Feed the Birds." There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Mrs. Corry
Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic).
Gender: Female
Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic).
Gender: Female
Miss Andrew
George's overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
George's overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
