Community & Creativity Bring ‘Mary Poppins’ to the Fox Valley

Mark your calendars for a “Jolly Holiday” with Your Performing Arts Center and its spring Broadway production “Mary Poppins.”

The vision for the show embraces creativity and hard work, according to Beth Jackson, Your Performing Arts Center (YPAC) theatre director.

“This is an incredibly big show with many songs,” she said. “We wanted lots of color and for the audience to watch the Banks Family grow together as they learn from Mary Poppins what a little imagination – or 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' – can do!”

The show features both youth, ages 5 years to 15 years, and community adults, all of whom have been working closely together on the complex show since January.

“This show is our Spring Broadway production,” said Jackson. “We invite adults to join our show and work alongside the students. The youth get to learn from the adults and also grow necessary skills to work well with different kinds of people.”

The 44 youth and seven adults represent several communities, including Yorkville, Newark, Sugar Grove, Big Rock, Plainfield, Plano, Montgomery, Oswego, and Sandwich.

“‘Mary Poppins’ is full of magic and excitement with fun characters and choreography,” said Jackson. “Our actors have been working on the rather hard vocals, and they look and sound fantastic. We have an eye catching set with a few surprises too.”

In addition to Jackson, the YPAC theatre team for “Mary Poppins” includes creative director Mia Beale, who also stars as Mary; choreographer Amanda Arnold; stage manager Emily Schreiber; and two teen apprentices Layla Bohl and Shaheen Kapambwe.

“We have a program at YPAC that is called The Learning Experience,” said Jackson. “We take students who have shown great leadership in their classes, along with a love and interest in learning the ropes behind the scenes, and we equip them to run a show from beginning to end! We even have one student at this time working as an Assistant Choreographer.”

“Mary Poppins” marks the 10th YPAC theatre production since the arts center was opened in Yorkville by Brian and Emily Weber. In addition to co-owner, Brian also takes the stage as Bert in this Broadway-style production.

The student and adult actors, YPAC staff, community parents and volunteers all play a crucial role in every show, added Jackson.

The YPAC “Mary Poppins” performances are 6 p.m. Saturday, May 20 and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21 in Plainfield. YPAC is partnering with Community Christian Church to host the production at 24035 Riverwalk Court. To order tickets through May 17 online, visit www.tututix.com/client/yorkvilleperformingartscenter and they also will be available at the door. To learn more about YPAC programs in music, dance and theater, visit ypacarts.com.