MARY POPPINS Flies into Broadway San Jose, May 29 - June 10

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!  Mary Poppins is flying in to Broadway San Jose May 29 – June 10!  Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand-new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, Mary Poppins is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show! So get swept up in the fun of this high-Flying Musical the whole family will enjoy!

Mary Poppins tells the story of Jane and Michael Banks, children of Mr. and Mrs. Banks, who have driven away every nanny their parents hire.  They are not bad children, but they have bad nannies that just aren’t very nice.  When they write down what they truly want in a nanny, fate intervenes and Mary Poppins flies in to the family’s rescue.  Through their journey they meet one of Mary’s old friends Bert who is a chimney sweep with a heart of gold.  Mary helps the children and their parents to love and cherish each other and when her job is done she flies off to help another family in need.

What to look for from Nick - Mary Poppins is one of Disney's most beloved movies of all time.  I think that anyone who goes to see this show should expect to feel like a kid again; to have the show remind them of how much fun it was to be a kid.  Mary Poppins was not only a nice nanny, but she was stern when needed to be.  I am looking for a well rounded Mary from the actress who plays her and not just a happy, perfect Mary.  Remember, she's practically perfect in every way.

What to look for from Linda – Unlike the 1964 Disney film, the musical features elements from the original book as well as the film so you have to let the musical adaptation stand on its own.  The Poppins character has to find just the right balance between nanny-like sternness and magical “Mary-ness,” in order for the audience to be won over.  A slightly darker storyline makes this show intriguing for adults so staging and comedic timing becomes very important.  Tilt too much into the brimstone and treacle and you lose the audience.  Favorite new number, “Anything Can Happen If You Let It.”

From both of us:  This interpretation of the Disney movie is fun, fantastical and magical.  Take the kids if you have them, but go on your own if you don’t.  This show is sure to inspire you! A note about seeing the show at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts:  It is modern and gorgeous with extremely comfortable seats in a state-of-the-Art Theatre.  You’ll have a wonderful time there!

Have your own mini-Jolly Holiday

Take a day off and visit Guadalupe River Park Conservatory which sits in the heart of downtown San Jose and hosts a wealth of amazing Mary Poppins park activities. www.grpg.org

Release your playful side at the Children's Discovery Museum - This dynamic cultural and educational institution offers more than 150 interactive exhibits for young children in the areas of science, humanities, technology and arts.  www.cdm.org

Visit the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo – featuring thespectacular Keep-Around-Carousel that features endangered species characters, Pacific Fruit Express Family Roller Coaster, and an “Extreme Make-Over” of the beloved Danny the Dragon Ride. http://www.hhpz.org/index.cfm/id/1/Home/

Go Fly a Kite! – Okay, this one won’t be happening for a few months, but it’s a nice follow-up to the show!  Berkeley Kite Fest July 28-29 2012 is the largest kite fest in the country! This annual festival features giant creature kites as big as houses, high flying kite fights, plus free kite making and candy drop for kids.

http://www.highlinekites.com/pages.php?pageid=21

Restaurants that Mary and Burt would love

The Brit – San Jose’s Premier British Pub – If you are looking for a wild and adventurous British night out then The Brit is the place for you.  Great drinks, good food, and a host of different events, this pub is the place to be.  Disclaimer – Not ok for kids.  www.britanniaarmsdowntown.com

Linda Hodges is a freelance writer who has been covering the vibrant and exciting San Francisco Bay Area theater scene for the past two years. A dedicated theater aficionado, Linda first became involved in the dramatic arts while in college, becoming one of the first “techies” at her school to be voted into Delta Psi Omega, the National Theater Honor Society. She holds a Masters in Theological Studies from Pacific School of Religion and maintains that theater, at its best, is a religious experience! Linda is currently working on her first novel and, as always, is looking forward to another opening night. Nick Hodges has performed in theater since the fifth grade and his passion for the arts has only continued to grow. He studied acting for three years at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco as well as the Berkeley Repertory Theater and Dance 10 Studio. Through these rich and varied experiences he has gained a deeper and thorough perspective of what it truly takes to make a theatrical production successful. Nick is 23 and is currently living in the San Francisco bay area. He is thrilled to be working with BroadwayWorld!

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