Fairfield Youth Performing Arts to hold auditions for ‘Mary Poppins Jr.’

FAIRFIELD – Fairfield Youth Performing Arts is putting on the musical “Mary Poppins Jr.” this summer, and auditions are this weekend.

Auditions will be held at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary (former First Presbyterian Church) at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 9 and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. Local youth can pick one day or the other to try out.

The show itself will be performed three times from July 25-27 at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. The first two shows, Friday and Saturday, will be at 7 p.m., and the Sunday matinee will be at 3 p.m.

Mary Poppins Jr. is being co-directed by Tommy Brower and Phoenix Haessler, two thespians who bring a wealth of experience in stage performance. They said they are looking for children of all ages to portray characters in Mary Poppins Jr., which includes 19 speaking and singing roles. In particular, they’re looking for actors in grades K-12, who have not yet graduated high school.

The lead and titular role of Mary Poppins, played by Julie Andrews in the 1964 film, will carry the most responsibility since she’s in nearly every scene and sings in 13 songs. The lead male character, Bert, played by Dick Van Dyke in the film, has nearly as many lines and sings in 11 songs. The other two main roles are the brother and sister pair Jane and Michael Banks. Then there are roles for the children’s parents, George and Winifred.

Haessler and Brower said the largest roles will likely go to kids who have some experience performing, but they noted that the mission of Fairfield Youth Performing Arts is also to give inexperienced youth a chance to try something new.

“Those without experience are welcome equally as those with experience,” Brower said.

Fairfield Youth Performing Arts has already picked out its winter show, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood,” which will be performed in mid-December.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com