Spotlight on “Mary Poppins”: Lead Roles

Posted on January 29, 2016

Eddie Bell, Reagan Stohler, Broderick Balsley and Alyssa Chambers are the leads in “Mary Poppins.”

Penn High School student Kennedy Parker offers an insider’s look at the spring musical, “Mary Poppins.”

    Penn’s spring musical this year is “Mary Poppins”! The performances are Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 6, at 3 p.m., all in the Penn Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance or $12 at the door. Pre-sale tickets are available Tuesday-Friday March 1-4 during all lunches.

Students and directors are hard at work preparing for the performances. Over the weeks leading up to the show, I will be writing about different aspects of the show to give you a sneak-preview.

 

Enjoy, spotlight on “Mary Poppins”!

 

  • Mary Poppins: “Jane and Michael Banks' new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says.”

  • Played by: Reagan Stohler

  • Penn Senior

  • Her second Penn musical

  • She has been doing theatre since 5th grade. Her first role was Ariel in the Little Mermaid.

  • She started doing shows because she is always happiest when she’s performing. From a young age, she has been singing and dancing for her family.

  • She is most excited to perform for her peers. “Everyone has been so supportive of me throughout this experience,” she said. “so I can’t wait to pay them back with an exciting performance.”

  • Theatre has taught her confidence, made her more well-rounded, and helped her learn more about herself.

  • Stohler said it’s unreal to know that this is her last Penn show, and that in almost a month, she “will be performing with my best friends for the last time.”

  • She is thrilled about her opportunity to play Mary Poppins, she is working hard to prepare for this performance.

 

  • Bert: “The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent and is a song-and-dance man.”

  • Played by: Broderick Balsley

  • Penn Senior

  • Fourth Penn Musical

  • He has been participating in theatre productions his whole life, starting with small church productions, moving to community theatres, and even musicals that travel across the country.

  • He began to do shows because the first show he saw touched him so deeply. The very first musical he went to was Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Round Barn Theatre. He experienced the magic of musical theatre, and realized the impact that performances can have on an audience.

  • He’s most excited for this show’s special effects. “Gravity isn’t exactly a law in this show” he said. He’s also looking forward to the energetic dance numbers.

  • Theatre has given the Penn senior purpose. He enjoys the opportunity to impact people, and change their lives “…even just for a few hours” he said. Performing removes all distractions and worries, “that’s what makes it so magical.”

  • It’s hard for him to know that this is his last Penn musical. He will miss the people especially. However he is excited to move on to bigger things, and he hopes to pursue professional musical theatre after high school!

 

  • Jane Banks: “The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness.”

  • Played by: Alyssa Chambers

  • Penn Freshman

  • First Penn musical

  • She’s been doing theatre since she was in first grade, starting with school musicals, and then continued on to do Mainstage Inc. shows.

  • She began doing shows because she loves the combination of singing, acting, and dancing.

  • She’s most excited to fly in this show because it’s something she’s always dreamed of doing.

  • She has gained confidence in herself and her abilities through theatre, and also she has become more comfortable around people and being in front of crowds. She’s thankful for these skills as she knows they will benefit her now and in the future.

  • She’s enjoying the new perspective of being in a Penn show compared to the other shows she has been apart of. She’s also excited to have her first lead role! She’s working hard to balance school, swimming, and the musical, but she knows all of her effort will pay off.

  • Michael Banks: “The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents.”

  • Played by: Eddie Bell

  • Schmucker 6th grader

  • First Penn musical

  • Eddie has been doing theatre for 2 years.

  • He did his first production in 4th grade at Prairie Vista, and he enjoyed it so much he decided to continue.

  • The aspect of this show he’s looking forward to most is getting to fly!

  • Theatre has helped Eddie gain confidence and improve his public speaking ability, both of which are valuable life skills that will certainly benefit him in the future.

  • He’s very excited about his rare opportunity to be in a high school show as a middle schooler.

Character descriptions: http://www.mtishows.com/disney-and-cameron-mackintoshs-mary-poppins

 

Last Modified January 12, 2022