Mary Poppins
Casting Notice

Cameron Mackintosh & Disney’s Mary Poppins

 

Director: Ray Crozier
Music Director: Tom Pulcinella
Choreographer: Hayley Hughes

 

Wilmington Drama League is hosting auditions for its upcoming production of Mary Poppins, which will perform
December 13th - 29th.

 

Rehearsals will tentatively begin September 23rd. The initial rehearsal cadence will be 3 days a week, Monday/Tuesday/Thursday. However it is subject to change following casting, based on everyone’s availability.

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We are seeking a dynamic and diverse ensemble of actors for WDL’s production of Mary Poppins.

 

Wilmington Drama League is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusivity in its work and encourages performers of all ethnicities, races, backgrounds, gender expressions, and ages to audition.

 

WHEN

Monday August 26th 6:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.
Tuesday August 27th 6:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.
Callbacks September 4th 6:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M

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WHERE
Wilmington Drama League
10 W. Lea Blvd. Wilmington, DE 19802

 

WHAT TO PREPARE

Please prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show or any song you feel most comfortable with. We just want to see something that you love to sing and makes you happy, which will make us happy.

 

Please bring sheet music as an accompanist (Krista Thomas) will be provided.

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If you are unable to attend auditions in person or on the scheduled dates, please reach out so we can figure out an alternative.

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ROLES TO BE CAST

We are seeking a dynamic and diverse ensemble of actors of various ethnicities and backgrounds for WDL’s production of Mary Poppins. Wilmington Drama League is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusivity in its work and encourages performers of all ethnicities, races, backgrounds, gender expressions, and ages to audition. Character descriptions are courtesy of Music Theatre International.

 

Mary Poppins, Jane and Michael Banks's new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet, sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction are the key.

 

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.

 

George Banks, the father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul.

 

Winifred Banks George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's desire to only associate with "the best people" as well as be the model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she's not up to the job of "being Mrs. Banks," yet, she is, and more. She has great warmth and simplicity to her tone.

 

Jane, the high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness.

 

Michael, 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 to get the attention of their parents.

 

Katie Nanna, Jane and Michael's nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children.

 

Police, A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat.

 

Miss Lark, the haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if her were child.

 

Admiral Boom, a retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark.

 

Mrs. Brill, the housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she's always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn't have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular.

 

Robertson Ay, the houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. Needs to be able to do physical comedy.

 

Park Keeper, Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood.

 

Neleus, the statue of a young boy posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. Needs to be a strong dancer.

 

Queen Victoria A statue in the park.

 

Bank Chairman, the head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed shirt.

 

Miss Smythe, the Bank Chairman's humorless secretary.

 

Von Hussler, A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent.

 

John Northbrook, an honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England.

 

Bird Woman, covered in a patchwork of old shawls, and her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings "Feed the Birds."

 

Mrs. Corry owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic).

 

Miss Andrew, George's overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way.

 

Ensemble

Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Park walkers, Mrs. Corry’s customers and Chimney sweeps.