Oak Parker Directing 'Mary Poppins' at Marriott Theatre

Under Oak Parker Michael Mahler's musical direction, a few of the most classic songs known to children of a few generations will come to life when "Mary Poppins" opens at the Marriott Theatre Oct. 30 and runs through Jan. 5.

Mahler, 32, is working with Director Gary Griffin, a nine-time Jeff Award-winner, and Choreographer Alex Sanchez, a Jeff Award nominee, according to a news release from the Marriott Theatre.

The musical adaptation is based on the original Mary Poppins books and the 1964 Walt Disney movie, said Mahler, a Minnetonka, MN, native and graduate of Northwestern University.

"It's a really cool piece. A lot of the material (is from the movie)... And then there are new songs that were written for this show... (They) really, sort of wonderfully, live in the same world," he said. "They fit in really well with the old songs."

Mary Poppins features a score including “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Feed the Birds,” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” by the Academy Award-winners Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman.

The story focuses more on the family—and the Banks parents, however, than the beloved Mary Poppins, said Mahler. "She knows the kids are going to be fine... The kids have a couple of bad habits... and she does some magic... but the parents need the most help. (So, it's as much the story of magic as it is the story of Mr. Banks... (and) how he finds that joy in life—that freedom that's kind of squeezed out of him."

The stage production was created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes (book), and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (new songs and additional music and lyrics).

Starring as the “practically perfect” nanny in the Marriott Theatre production of Mary Poppins will be multi Jeff award-winner Summer Naomi Smart (National tour of Wicked; Jeff Award-winner for The Light in the Piazza at Marriott Theatre and Sweet Charity at Drury Lane Oakbrook).

The cast also features Bernie Yvon as “Bert” (Broadway and National tours of Ragtime; The Music Man, Hairspray, Joseph..., Beauty and the Beast at the Marriott Theatre); Rod Thomas as “George Banks,” Susan Moniz as “Winifred Banks,” Johnny Rabe and Brady Tutton sharing the role of “Michael Banks,” and Caroline Heffernan and Madison Gloria Olszewski sharing the role of “Jane Banks”. The cast also includes Paula Scrofano, John Reeger, Matthew Crowle, Rebecca Finnegan, Johanna McKenzie Miller, William Carlos Angulo, Lauren Blane, Jaclyn Burch, Jameson Cooper, Devin DeSantis, Raymond Interior, Ericka Mac, Adam Rogers, Sam Rogers, Amanda Tanguay, Brandi Wooten and Melissa Zaremba.

The production team is led by the Marriott Theatre’s lead artistic director Andy Hite. The design team includes Set Designer Tom Ryan, Projection Designer Mike Tutaj, Costume Designer Nancy Missimi, Lighting Designer Diane Ferry Williams, Sound Designer Bob Gilmartin and Properties Designer Sally Weiss. The Marriott Theatre orchestra is conducted by musical supervisor Patti Garwood.

The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

From December 26-January 5 there will be a special family-friendly Holiday schedule. Ticket prices range from $40 to $48, excluding tax and handling fees. Students 17 and under and senior citizen 62 and older receive $5.00 off a full price theatre ticket for Wednesday Matinee, Saturday Matinee, Sunday Matinee and Sunday Afternoon performances.

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings a limited number of Dinner and Theatre tickets are available for $55.00 per person. For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening dinner reservations in The King's Wharf or Fairfield Inn, please call 847-634-0100. Free parking is available at all performances.

For more information about Mary Poppins, go to www.MarriottTheatre.com.

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