MARY POPPINS

About This Show

Performs March 6–15, 2026
The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that “Anything can happen if you let it.”

Your Commitment

CAST: All who audition will be cast. By registering, you agree to attend ALL Rehearsals, Work Days and Performances.

CONFLICTS—including late arrival or leaving early—are VERY disruptive. Conflicts may result in casting changes.
This promises to be a fast and intense production schedule and your commitment must be absolute.

There will be no conflicts allowed after Sunday, February 15, 2026
PARENT LEADERS & VOLUNTEERS: Your commitment is critical to the success of this production. Please understand what is expected of you.
Be clear on these requirements before committing yourself to this production.
Registration is limited by age group. Most age groups are filled, but you are welcome to join the Waitlist.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION
There are several requirements for family volunteer work. Pre-Show hours, Tech Week hours, and Run-of-Show. In addition, there are three mandatory production Work Days: Nitty Gritty Day, Load-In Theater and Strike:

  • PRE-SHOW VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT
    Up through February 27, families are needed to support the production with:
    •  One participating child: 15 hours of work
    •  10 additional hours are required for each additional child: Two children pre-show requirement is 25 hours. Three children pre-show requirement is 35 hours.
    •  Adults with no children in the show: requirement is 5 pre-show hours. AND 2 shows or 6 hours of concessions
  • TECH WEEK March 1–5
    10 volunteer hours are required of each family during Tech Week.
  • RUN-of-SHOW March 6–15:
    Each family is required to work four of the seven shows—backstage or front-of-house.

Note: In lieu of fulfilling the pre-show work requirement, we accept a limited number of production donations to offset production costs. Please email volunteer_coordinator@piedpiperplayers.org with questions or to request a buy-out of the pre-show volunteer hours requirement.

REQUIRED PRODUCTION WORK DAYS

  • Nitty Gritty Day: Saturday, Feb 28—Mandatory for all. An adult from each family must attend
  • Load-in Theater: Sunday, March 1—Mandatory for all.
  • Strike: Sunday, March 15—Mandatory for all. Immediately following the final performance.

PERFORMANCES
Performances: March 6–15, 2026
School Show: 10am, Thursday, March 12

AUDITIONS
Auditions: December 16–17. A link to available audition time slots will be sent to you via your confirmation email once you have registered. Dance Auditions: December 13.

  • MONOLOGUE/VOCAL
    Prepare a one-minute dramatic monologue. Also prepare 16 measures of a classic musical theater selection (Ballad–Where is Love, Don’t Rain on My Parade, On My Own). Bring photocopied sheet music, taped together and marked with the start/end for the accompanist.
  • CALLBACKS December 18–19

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Parent Meeting: Saturday, January 10, 10am
First All-Cast Rehearsal: January 10
No Conflicts allowed after Sunday, Feb 15, 2026
In general, rehearsals will be:

  • Wednesdays 6–8:46pm depending on role
  • Fridays 6–8:45pm
  • Saturdays 10am–5pm
  • Sundays 1–6pm

Each cast member’s call times will depend on their role, but will likely fall within these times.

TECH WEEK—mandatory for all
Cast call times estimated to be:

  • Sunday, March 1 from 11am–6pm
  • Monday, March 2 from 5–10pm
  • Tuesday, March 3 from 5–10-pm
  • Wednesday, March 4 from 5–10pm
  • Thursday, March 5 from 5–10pm

REFUND POLICY
Refund requested by Dec 9, 2025: 100% refund less $75 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after auditions begin.

QUESTIONS?
First time auditioning, or new to community theater? We’re happy to answer your questions. Please contact us at administration@piedpiperplayers.org.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Ages refer to age of the character—not the actor. The actor must be able to believably play the age of the character.

IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Again, a role of an “adult character” could be open for a tween-teen although they still must play ‘age appropriately’.

*Bert – Baritone: Dancer: He is a friend of Mary Poppins. Charming and warm, storyteller. Quick with a wink and a handshake. Cockney accent. Vocal range top: F#4 / Vocal range bottom: B2

Michael Banks – Treble/Boy Soprano, Dancer: George and Winifred’s son. A “noisy, mischievous, troublesome little boy.” who longs for attention from his father. Vocal range top: E5 / Vocal range bottom: A3

Jane Banks – Soprano, Dancer: George and Winifred’s daughter, older sister of Michael. A “thoughtless, short-tempered and untidy” girl. Vocal range top: F#5 / Vocal range bottom: A3

Mary Poppins – this role has been pre-cast. A “practically perfect” nanny blown in by the wind. Pragmatic but caring, sensible but “tricky,” “spit spot, spic and span.”

George Banks – Baritone: Head of the Banks household. Banker by profession; orderly, efficient, authoritative, irritable – but a kindness and warmth “underneath”. Vocal range top: Eb4 / Vocal range bottom: Bb2

Winifred Banks – Mezzo-Soprano: Wife to George, mother of Jane and Michael, former actress. In charge of all domestic responsibilities of the Banks household; expected by George to “do charity work and entertain.” Vocal range top: D5 / Vocal range bottom: A3

Mrs. Brill – Alto: The cook and housekeeper at the Banks’s home. Overworked and feeling underappreciated! Vocal range top: D#5 / Vocal range bottom: F#3

Robertson Ay – Tenor, Physical Comedy: The Banks’s houseboy. Clumsy and dense. Vocal range top: G#4 / Vocal range bottom: F3

Bank Chairman – Baritone: George Banks’s boss. Gruff and pompous.

Von Hussler – A dubious businessman applying for a loan from the bank (“a good idea”). Shifty, demanding and threatening.

Northbrook: An honest gentleman applying for a loan to construct a factory (“a good man”). Soft-spoken, philosophical.

Miss Andrew – Soprano: George Banks’s old nanny. Menacing and meanspirited woman who does not ‘spare the rod’. Vocal range top: F5 / Vocal range bottom: Gb3

Neleus – Tenor, Dancer: A statue of a boy in the park who ‘comes to life’. Spirited and cheerful.

Mrs. Corry – Soprano: Fanciful and exotic. Magical.

The Park Keeper – Tenor: Officious.

The Bird Woman – Alto: Kind, compassionate, soulful. Vocal range top: C5 / Vocal range bottom: Gb3

Ensemble: SATB / Statues/Park Goers, Bank Clerks, Toys, Customers, Kite Flyers, Chimney Sweeps, Board of Directors, Stars, Messenger, Policemen

Other roles which are part of ensembles:

Katie Nanna: Non singing role. Frazzled and fed up.

Miss Lark: A townswoman who has a little dog named

Willoughby. Sweet and neighborly

Admiral Boom: A townsman who always speaks in nautical terms. Likes to run a tight ship!!

Valentine, Teddy Bear, Doll, Mr. Punch – Singer/Dancer: The children’s toys who come to life. Zombie-like, fierce and focused on revenge.

Miss Smythe: The Bank Chairman’s secretary. Sweet and orderly

Fannie and Annie: Mrs. Corry’s daughters. Whimsical and glib.