Lemont High School students to perform 'Mary Poppins'

LEMONT – The Lemont High School theater department is bringing a little magic to the stage with its production of "Mary Poppins," showing at 7 p.m. Thursday through May 16.

The students are performing the Broadway musical based on the 1964 Disney film.

Senior Abby Roselieb, who stars in the title role, said most people are familiar with the Disney story, but the musical also draws story aspects from the book.

“There’s a lot more of that life lesson moment in here than there was in the Disney movie,” she said.

Senior Michael Martinez, who plays Burt, said he expects the audience will enjoy the production.

“It’s going to be a fun show, for sure,” he said. “There’s a lot of big dance numbers.”

Martinez and Roselieb said the cast has done a lot of work to learn those dance numbers, the hardest of which they said was “Step in Time.”

“There’s a lot of very complex things we’re doing,” Martinez said. “We have to do all that while we sing.”

The cast also has had to learn a variety of British accents, from Burt’s dirty cockney accent to Mary Poppins prim and proper accent.

Roselieb said she has been practicing her accent by watching the movies of Julie Andrews, the star of the “Mary Poppins” films.

“She’s kind of one of my idols,” she said. “I’ve read all her books. I’ve watched all her movies.”

She said this production is unlike anything she has done while in school.

“It’s such a big, in-your-face kind of show,” she said. “There’s so much going on.”

Vocal Director Matt Doherty said the show’s story stands out for him.

“I think it’s cleverly written,” he said. “There’s a lot of nuance and detail and underlying themes and tones to the story.”

The show will be directed and choreographed by Amanda Tanguay-Zimmerman, with Terry Redford as the producer and musical director.

A live orchestra made up of students, alumni and professionals will accompany the show.

However, Doherty said the unsung heroes are the students and adults working behind the scenes in areas such as the technical department, set design, costuming and ticketing.

“A lot of times, we get wrapped up in who’s the star,” he said. “It takes a small village to produce a show.”

Tickets cost $15. For more ticket information, call 630-243-3286.