‘Mary Poppins’ brings magic to stage at Glacier High School

Step into a world of magic, imagination, and heart with the Wolfpack Theatre Company’s production of “Mary Poppins: The Musical” at Glacier High School.  

Based on P.L. Travers' beloved stories and the iconic 1964 Disney film, this musical brings the magical nanny to life with a perfect blend of unforgettable songs, captivating dance numbers, and heartwarming moments.  

Set in 1910 England, the musical follows the troubled Banks family, particularly young Jane and Michael, who have sent many nannies packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. With a blend of magic and practicality, Mary must show the family how to value one another and rediscover the joy in life. Along the way, she takes the children on magical adventures, leaving a profound impact on everyone she meets. 

With her charming demeanor and wise guidance, Mary Poppins not only heals the Banks family but also opens their eyes to the importance of love, unity, and imagination. As Bert, the charming jack-of-all-trades, guides the audience through the streets of London, the show offers a delightful mix of humor, heart, and whimsical spectacle. 

“‘Mary Poppins’ is a story for all ages," director Sara Menssen said.  

This production is a faithful adaptation of the original Broadway musical. With a script by Julian Fellowes and new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the musical stays true to the heart of the story while adding new layers to enhance the experience. The musical features memorable songs such as “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” “Step in Time,” and the whimsical “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” 

“I’m thrilled to work on a show originally authored by a woman almost 100 years ago. While most people know the Disney version of Mary Poppins, it’s been fascinating to explore the original stories. The musical blends Travers’ version and the Disney classic, and I’m excited to share the unique take our cast has created,” Menssen said. 

Menssen said the students have been working hard on musical and dance numbers. 

“Staging this production has been a crazy process. Typically, we have about six to seven weeks to produce a musical, but with the shift in spring and winter sports and where the end of speech and debate landed, we ended up with about five solid weeks of rehearsals," she said. 

Mary Poppins is a story that reminds people of the transformative power of love, kindness, and imagination. As Mary Poppins teaches the Banks family, “Anything can happen if you let it.” 

The cast of Mary Poppins includes Zaden Stout, Jackson Presley, Sophie Johnson, Emma Presley, Daniel Cole, Parker Scherer, Theron Wilton, Megan Mikelson, Kobe Dorcheus, Isabelle McKoy, Lincoln Shumard, Gabriel Luehr, Thomas Alexander, Rachel Brannan, Tregan Blades, Eli Sanderson Strutz, Brett Pilon, Jack Boone, Myla Lamson, Grace Miller, Hilda Weber, Abigail Haley, Alyssa Conrad, Simon Lillard and Anya Rountree as Mary Poppins. 

Under the direction of Chauncey Allison, the orchestra pit includes Ava Nyberg, Jesse Kunda, Ben Weddle, Atticus Cheman, Emily Higgs, Gabe Ackerly, Max Waverek, Dane Bourriague, Gabriel Peck, Marin Colley, Micah Pichardo, Kieler Fieldhouse, Michael Pendergrass, Jaron Waldusky, Trey Harrod, Gavan Berg-Miscampbell, Abigail Harris, Ella Goodwin, Naomi Saito, Liam DeJana, Lavender Ashby and Bridget Reed. 

The tech crew, led by Ivanna Fritz, includes Ili Hoerth, Naemi Creighton, Anya Denmark, Zach Nases, Jude Sparkman, Mandie Manning, Z Belt, Noah Elliott, Tucker Buls, Fenyx Colby, Lillie Groom, Hayden Holloway, Anda Wahl, Chloe Franklin, Ayden Mintz, Calvin Casey, Noel Cantrell and Drew Crane. 

Performances will be held at 6:33 p.m. March 18, 19, 20, and 21 in the Wolfpack Theatre at Glacier High School, 375 Wolfpack Way. 

Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for children, students and senior citizens. Ticket may be purchased online at GoFan.co by searching “Glacier High School,” at Photo Video Plus, 248 Fourth Ave. WN in Kalispell and at sold at the door.   

Glacier High School is located at 375 Wolfpack Way in Kalispell. 

    Glacier students Zaden Stout as Bert and Anya Rountree as Mary Poppins in the Wolfpack Theatre Company production of “Mary Poppins: The Musical.” (Photo provided by Glacier High School)