Casting Call: 'Mary Poppins'

Yardley Players of Kelsey Theater will hold auditions for the musical "Mary Poppins" at the beginning of December.

Auditionees should prepare a song from or in the style of the show, a completed audition form (more information below), a recent picture, and a resumé; and be prepared to dance and read from the script. Tap is required for many roles; tap dancers should come prepared to do so at the audition. Those cast as Mary Poppins, Bert, and Miss Andrew will be flown during the show and should be comfortable with heights. Audition appointments are required.

Mary Poppins (20-30, Gb3-C6)	Jane and Michael Banks' new nanny is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and 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 is the key.
Bert (30-39, B2-F#4)	The narrator of the story and 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 (40-45, Bb2-Eb4)	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. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary.
Winifred Banks (30-40, A3-D5)	George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother is 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 (11, A3-F#5)	The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks. Bright and precocious, but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness.
Michael (9, A3-E5)	The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks is excitable and naughty. He adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents.
Katie Nanna (30-40 yrs old, none)	Jane and Michael's nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children.
Policeman (30-50, none)	A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat.
Miss Lark (30-40, none)	The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if he were her child.
Admiral Boom (50-60, none)	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. He can be any vocal range as needed. If Admiral Bloom doubles as the Banks Chairman, he can be a baritone.
Mrs. Brill (50-60, F#3-D#5)	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. Does not have to be a strong singer.
Robertson Ay (20-30, F3-G#4)	The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. He doesn't do a lot of singing, but his "Spoonful" solo can be a fun surprise.
Park Keeper (40-60, none)	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 (16-20)	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.
Bank Chairman (50-60, Range: C3-D4)	Head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed. An Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary.
Miss Smythe (40-50, none)	The bank chairman's humorless secretary.
Bird Woman (50-60, Gb3-C5)	Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds, which she tries to sell to passersby who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings "Feed the Birds." There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life.
Mrs. Corry (40-50, none)	Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with an exotic accent, such as Caribbean.
Miss Andrew (40-60, Gb3-F5)	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. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range.
Ensemble (all ages)	Plays chimney sweeps, bankers, kite flyers, and park strollers.

Auditions will occur from 6-9 p.m. December 2 and from 12-4 p.m. December 5 and 6. If needed, callbacks will be held September 9. A few rehearsals will be held 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 2-6 p.m. Sundays in December, to dole out scripts and work on some music and choreography. Performances will occur Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays April 16-May 1, including at 10 a.m. April 22.

To schedule an appointment, contact ypmarypoppins@gmail.com, being sure to include name, age, role desired, and preferred method of contact. The audition form is available in HTML, PDF, and Microsoft Word. Auditions, rehearsals and performances will be held at Kelsey Theatre on 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.