Mary Poppins Delivers a "Spoonful of Sugar" to the Special Needs Community

Annandale Village had a “practically perfect” visit this week from the cast of Mary Poppins! Residents enjoyed such favorite songs as “Spoonful of Sugar”, “Chim Chim Cher-ee”, and everyone’s favorite “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. For the finale, everyone was invited to sing along with “Let’s Go Fly a Kite”. The nationally-recognized nonprofit organization serves 172 individuals with intellectual disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, as well as those with traumatic brain injuries.

Annandale Village often has volunteers come to perform or spend time with residents, but this visit marks their first musical theater performance. “They have talked about it all day” exclaimed Hannah Bush, Music Instructor, as she set up the stage for the performance. “This type of visit provides a wonderful opportunity for our residents to enjoy live theater and interact with the phenomenal cast. That is very special for the residents – to get to say that they met the cast of Mary Poppins!”

“We’re all excited, we love having people come to visit,” said Diane M., resident and Village Council President, “I love the movie. My favorite song is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, but I love them all!” Natalie B., another resident, agreed “I liked it because it was cheerful. I’m an artist, and they were so colorful the way they sang the song with all the hand motions.”

The Broadway style musical is a collaborative effort by award-winning children’s theater programs Play on Players and Riverwatch Middle School June 11-13. The full production will feature more than 70 actors ages 10-22 from more than 25 area schools, singing and dancing onstage at the Lambert High School Theater. Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Disney film, the musical tells the story of the Banks family and their interactions with the peculiar flying nanny.

The cast is excited about the opportunity to bring the show to the special needs community. “My favorite line in the show is that ‘anything can happen if you let it’” said Tess Luman who plays Mary, “and no one knows that better than people with special needs.” In addition to the visit to Annandale Village, the cast will be opening the final dress rehearsal on Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. as a “preview” show free of charge to children and adults with special needs. “We wanted to provide an opportunity to those who may not feel comfortable attending a regular show, because they need to move around or make noise” said Miriam Reynolds, who is co-director of the show and teaches drama and chorus at Riverwatch Middle School.

The production stars Tess Luman and McKenzie Rivers alternating as Mary Poppins, Riley Smith and Jordan Fugatt as Bert, Tucker Buffington as George Banks, Emily Crabtree as Winifred Banks, Kailey Souder and Callie Skipper as Jane Banks, Jesse Hanks and Jonathan Ingram as Michael Banks, and Emily Combs and Fiona Hare as Miss Andrews. Directed by Miriam Reynolds and Carly Berg.

Mary Poppins is produced by Play on Players and Riverwatch Middle School Theater, and will be performed at Lambert High School Theater, 805 Nichols Road, Suwanee GA 30024. The special free “preview” showing for the special needs community is Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. Regular show dates areThursday, June 11 at 7 p.m., Friday June 12 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Saturday June 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. No tickets are needed for the special needs performance; tickets for the other shows are available at www.showtix4u.comand at the door, and run $10-$15. For more information, contactetmtickets@gmail.com.

Photos:

1) Jordan Fugatt (Bert) and Tess Luman (Mary Poppins) perform Chim Chim Cher-ee for the residents of Annandale Village

2) Annandale Village residents listening to “A Spoonful of Sugar”

3) Play on Players / RMS performers sing ”Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” for Annandale Village residents

4) Annandale Village resident Natalie B. enjoying the performance

5) A lively performance!

6) Tess Luman, McKenzie Rivers, and Riley Smith interact with Annandale Village residents after the show