‘Mary Poppins’ opens at Rancho Bernardo High next week

Familiar tunes and fancy footwork will bring the musical “Mary Poppins” to life on the Rancho Bernardo High School stage next week.

It can be seen at 7 p.m. April 25 to 28 plus 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 in the Rancho Bernardo High School Performing Arts Center, 13010 Paseo Lucido.

General admission tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults. Premier seating is $15. Reserved tickets can be purchased at rbhsmarypoppins.ludus.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door, starting 30 minutes before each show.

The Disney and Cameron Mackintosh musical that debuted on Broadway in 2006 combines new songs and elements with well-known and beloved songs from the 1964 Disney film. Both were inspired by P. L. Travers’ Mary Poppins children’s books. It features the movie’s original music by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman plus new songs, music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

Among the original tunes are “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Jolly Holiday,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Feed the Birds,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” and “Step in Time.” New songs include “Practically Perfect” and “Brimstone and Treacle.”

“I was looking for something people know and the show is appropriate for younger audience members as well,” said Director Terri Rogelstad. “It’s popular now, with a lot (of theaters) doing it and there is a new movie coming out.”

The story revolves around the Banks family — father George (Myles Davis), mother Winifred (Alyssa Tivadar) and their two children, Jane (Michayla Shields) and Michael (Reilly Hutchison) — and the life-changing shift in their family dynamic due to the presence of their magical nanny, Mary Poppins (Nicole Lenos). She not only teaches the naughty, out-of-control Banks children how to behave, but imparts on their parents — especially George — some very important lessons as the children go on various outings, often in the presence of jack-of-all-trades (including chimney sweep) Bert (Roman Saward).

“A lot of the magic we obviously can’t do (like making Mary fly), but I told (the cast) it will be believable by your reaction. That’s what makes it theater. The acting and reacting.”

The show has many dance numbers that Rogelstad said were choreographed by freshman Camryn LaFreniere. “She has done an amazing, great job with the big dance numbers,” Rogelstad said. Knowing LaFreniere is on the school’s hip hop dance team, Rogelstad said she asked her to choreograph the chimney sweeps’ dance, “Step in Time.”

“When I saw what she did, I asked her can she do everything else?” Rogelstad said.

This show also required building a more extensive set than most shows the school produces, she said.

“The set was a challenge, building a house (with) stairs and balcony,” Rogelstad said. “Technical theater teacher Kurt Trecker really pulled it out and did a lot of research.” Students built the sets he designed.

“The students have worked so hard (on this show) for a really long time,” Rogelstad said. “I’m excited to see it all come together.”

Other cast members are Reeza Abadi (bird woman), Gabriela Alter (Miss Lark), Jeffrey Atterbury (Von Hussler), Andrea Canales (Mrs. Corry), Devon Channell-Smith (bank chairman), Jimmy Hernandez (Robertson Ay), Matthew Knight (Admiral Boom), Camryn LaFreniere (Valentine), Rachel Leete (Queen Victoria), Daria Levchenko (teddy bear), Ethan Lopez (Neleus), Kailey Lyche (Katie Nanna), Nilsa Marsh (Miss Andrew), Jaycee Nichol (doll), Josh North (policeman), Alexis Rivkin (Mrs. Brill), Paxti Rizzo (Northbrook) and Lesley Valenzuela (Punch). The ensemble also includes Tara Farrokhi, Hanna Hagshenas, Caroline Pike and McKayla Roberts.

Others involved with the production are Lisa Friedrichs (musical director), Clifford Harrison (lighting and sound design), Mariah Salvadori (assistant student director), Kiley Velasquez (stage manager) and Ryan Connolly (costume assistant).

Email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com