"Practically Perfect in Every Way"

When Mark Edwards, USM’s Upper School drama teacher, chose “Mary Poppins” for the spring musical, he knew it would be a big production. At two hours and 20 minutes, the show requires immense collaboration between the actors, the live musicians, the set pieces, the lighting and sound technicians, and the dancers. The months of preparation resulted in three nights of magic that were “practically perfect in every way.” 

The set of “Mary Poppins” worked almost as hard as the actors. The living room, kitchen, and nursery were the musical’s three main spaces, all built by students. The large, heavy pieces were mounted on wheels so they could be spun around for a quick set change, or moved off stage. For Taylor Adams, theatre technical director, small details like trim work on the walls and a pile of logs next to the fireplace are key to making a period piece look realistic. “They just make it feel more like an actual home,” she said.

In February, prior to opening night, cast members were visited by professional actor Michael Dean Morgen, who played Mr. Banks in the first and second national tours of “Mary Poppins” and is a friend of Head of School Steve Hancock. The Waukesha, Wisconsin native talked to Upper School thespians about acting as a career and also provided dialect help.