To create the magic of Newtown High School’s upcoming musical, Mary Poppins, on the school’s stage, students in the production crew have been working on the play’s scenes and props.

“I would say this is our smallest crew we’ve ever had with the largest set we have ever had,” the production’s Technical Director Janice Gabriel said, reflecting on her time at NHS.

There have been roughly thirty rotating students, ten daily, working on the set’s components. From all angles, everything is coming together for the scheduled performance dates.

NHS has scheduled performances at the school, 12 Berkshire Road, at 7 pm, Thursday through Saturday, March 21-23. Matinee performances at 2 pm are scheduled for Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and senior citizens. Tickets for the musical can be purchased online at nhsc.booktix.com. The musical Mary Poppins is based on the Disney movie by the same name and the book series by author P.L. Travers about a magical nanny and her “precocious” charges.

Ms Gabriel and NHS juniors Bobby Gaffney, the production’s assistant technical director, and Alix Lewis, the production’s construction head, designed the sets for the musical.

“The two of them are wizzes on how to digitally render a stage design,” said Ms Gabriel, adding that Bobby learned how to use the computer program SketchUp from taking a drafting class with NHS Business Ed and Applied Tech Department Chair Erik Holst-Grubbe. Ms Gabriel said the trio followed Mary Poppins Director Jane Matson’s vision for the show, “And the next thing you know, we have a house.”

As of March 7, the house was coming together on the school’s stage. It is one of Bobby’s favorite set pieces, and it is also the largest. Alix added that she is partial to the house’s nursery because, “it has a bunch of magic in it that will be cool.”

“There’s magic involved, and we’ve had to figure out how to make magic happen on stage, literally,” said Ms Gabriel.

Co-Prop Coordinators and sophomores Kate Petersen and Sammy Vertucci have helped find ways to create the musical’s magic. While holding one prop — a replica of a lark in a cage that the students are calling Edgar — Sammy said there are many “magical” props, including a cake and Mary Poppins’s infamous bag.

“There’s a lot more props for this one than Les Miserables,” said Kate, referring to the school’s 2018 spring musical, Les Miserables, School Edition.

Ms Gabriel said everyone involved in the production has been providing important work, and the cast, orchestra, band, crew, and more all deserve accolades.

“I don’t think people realize the amount of hours upon hours our students give up — to build, design, [conceptualize], light, and create the sound — for a show,” said Ms Gabriel, adding that the theater productions also rely on the support of “incredible” parents.

A full list of the cast, crew, and pit will be included in coverage of the musical in next week’s print edition of The Newtown Bee.

More Mary Poppins For Local Seniors And Children

NHS Drama is also set to hold a dinner and a special showing of the musical for senior citizens on March 20, with dinner starting at 5 pm and the show starting at 6 pm. Admission will be free for Newtown seniors, and the event is sponsored by the NHS Student Government and NHS PTSA.

A “Spoonful of Sugar Tea With Mary and Bert” is also being planned for 10 am on Saturday, March 23, in the NHS cafetorium for local children to meet the musical’s main characters, for $15. Children attending the event will have the chance to meet the characters Mary and Bert, along with other characters from the musical. They will also be able to take their picture with the characters and decorate their own kite. The NHS Culinary Department will oversee drinks and food at the event. Tickets for the “Spoonful of Sugar Tea With Mary and Bert” are also available on the website, nhsc.booktix.com.