Students from all four Allen County Schools will be on the stage next weekend in the production of the Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s “Mary Poppins, The Broadway Musical.” The three-day production---sponsored by the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) through a grant from the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation (LGTCF)----is the capstone event of months of planning and preparation.
The idea for the musical featuring students from across the district was birthed last year as Allen County School administration discussed with SKyPAC educational staff ways to further incorporate performing arts into the ongoing partnership between the district and SKyPAC---a partnership made possible through a grant from the LGTCF. Officials with SKyPAC provided the financial and technical support as District fine arts educators Maegan Renick, Kadi Burden, and Megan Puckett began to bring the musical dream into reality.
Earlier in the school year, a casting call went out seeking performers and support personal from across the school district. The musical screen play calls for children of all ages which opened the casting call to anyone of the 3,000 students in the school district.
“Our kiddos have worked really, really hard on this,” noted high school drama teacher Maegan Renick.
Allen County-Scottsville High School sophomore Abigail Keen earned the role of Mary Poppins in the production.
“I love the role,” Keen said. “I really like working with the kids. They always want to come up to me and talk or hug me. They actually think I’m Mary Poppins. It’s really special.”
Keen adds that the preparation has been challenging, yet educational.
“I knew it was going to be quite a bit of work,” Keen added. “But, I didn’t know how many lines I would have to memorize and how intensive it would be. It’s very special.”
Bazzell Middle School eighth-grader Damion Stone is cast in the role of Burt. Stone is quick to point out that, “It’s fun to be someone else,” Stone explained. “I have not really had an actor role before this so it’s fun. I do like to work with the other kids. It is a growing experience. It’s definitely demanding but I will say it’s going to be rewarding in the end just to see people smile because of what you have done and you worked hard at to bring joy and experience to others”.
The musical does involved children of all ages which has been both challenging and rewarding for the group.
“We have 35 in the cast with a backstage crew of around eight,” Bazzell Middle School and AC-S choir director Megan Puckett added. “The kids range from kindergarten students to 12th grade. We wanted to have as much involvement as we could from all ages.”
The performance will be held on three dates: Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is $5.00 for adults, and $3.00 for senior citizens and children 5 and under.