Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” and this fall, it’s helping the magic rise right here on Hilton Head Island. At Hilton Head Preparatory School, students are bringing the timeless tale of Mary Poppins to life onstage, complete with all the charm, whimsy, and unforgettable music that has made it a beloved favorite for generations. From chimney sweeps to flying umbrellas, audiences will be swept away into the world where anything can happen if you let it.
Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers, and the astonishing stagecraft designed by Hilton Head Prep alum Trey Middleton (Class of ’23) and built by an incredible team of Prep Arts Guild volunteers. This production will feature the iconic costumes and specifically designed magic props from New York.
Calvin Middleton plays Bert, the jack-of-all-trades, and Lola Chambers plays the part of everyone’s favorite nanny, Mary Poppins.
The story follows jack-of-all trades Bert (Calvin Middleton, ’26) as he introduces the audience to the troubled Banks family in England in 1910. Young Jane (Ashlyn Sotolongo, ’31) and Michael (Renzo Lossada, ’32) have sent many a nanny running for the hills before Mary Poppins (Lola Chambers, ’26) arrives at their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, Mary teaches the Banks family how to value one another.
While Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical adventures, they aren’t the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that “anything can happen if you let it.”
Hilton Head Prep’s performing arts directo Patti Maurer performed in the musical at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina in 2015, and wanted to bring that same Disney magic to the Prep stage. To prepare for this magical adventure, Maurer brought in Nic Thompson (from the first National Tour of Mary Poppins) for a Broadway Boot Camp this summer, preparing students for choreography to “Supercalifragilistic” and “Step in Time.” They worked on scenes using British dialects and ended the week with a tumbling class.
Maurer is thrilled to have Cynthia Cullen as the music director for this cast of sixth- to twelfth-grade students. The production is led by stage manager Emerson Doyle (’26), who also plays dual roles on stage as Mrs. Brill and Mrs. Corry.
Audiences can get a firsthand look at musical numbers of this amazing show at the Crescendo Kick-off Party from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. October 14 at Shelter Cove Community Park. This event is presented by the Office of Cultural Affairs of the Town of Hilton Head Island.
Mary Poppins will be onstage at Hilton Head Preparatory School’s Main Street Theatre, 3000 Main Street, October 15-16 at 7 p.m., October 17-18 at 8 p.m., and matinee performances October 18-19 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available at hhprep.org under the “Arts” tab.
Join us for one of the most popular Disney movies of all time that will capture your hearts in a whole new way, as a practically perfect musical.
