Mary Poppins play will turn heads this week in O’Fallon

Up, up and away.

Usually a phrase associated with the iconic character Superman, but at the O’Fallon Township High School (OTHS) is referring to Mary Poppins and Bert going vertical in O’Fallon’s first-ever flight during the theater production, which starts tonight and continues through Saturday.

“We have an amazing facility here (at the Milburn campus) already. “(This production is just) going to add this new element of flight brings our productions to the next level, and I know it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students who get to do it. It’s going to be thrilling for the audience who get to participate in watching it,” Chrissy Nordin, head musical director, said.

“Mary Poppins” is a Flying Production done by On the Fly Productions, capturing the classic story with a new twist. Many of the songs and timeless moments are recognizable, but there are also many new and exciting moments too, Artistic Director Terry Pattison said.

However, safety comes first, Nordin said.

“The install for the equipment was extensive, and I have a multiple safety check list to adhere to before each and every flight because you gotta think, these kids are going 20 feet into the air and being suspended there, and we want them to come down in one piece, and have fun doing it, too,” Nordin said.

On the Fly, a local St. Louis, Mo. company, reached out to Nordin.

Almost everything on the set, including the set construction, props and costumes, that wasn’t rented from First Baptist Academy, was either recycled materials from other productions or donated to the school.

“This allowed us to keep our budget low so we could afford the On the Fly equipment and extensive installation for the flying component,” Nordin said.

Since graduating from Millikin University, Nordin spent a year teaching in Edwardsville before coming to O’Fallon as vocal director in 2009.

The leading role of Mary Poppins, personified by Heidi Buch, in the upcoming play, will be doing an over-the-stage flight, and Cameron Bopp, casted as Bert, will be tap dancing on the ceiling.

“We have a great group of students, about 45 involved with the production,” Eve Knipp, drama director, said. “The kids, all of them, have worked so incredibly hard on the show, starting back in January after auditions, with lots of late nights, long (theater) and vocal rehearsals. They’re all so extremely talented, attentive and focused, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Focusing on the two lead roles, Knipp said Buch and Bopp are not only fantastic skillfully speaking, but also doing a fabulous job at surpassing the directors’ expectations.

“Heidi is awesome, and truly embodies (the character) Mary Poppins, and Cameron is also an extremely fantastic portrayal of Bert, the very lighthearted, easy going kind of guy that we all expect his character to be,” Knipp said.

With a master’s degree in performance art, Knipp said this is her second production she’s been involved in at OTHS, but she said she’s been directing for about 15 years with well over 30 years theater experience under her belt. She is also the OTHS fall play director.

“It sets the bar for future productions,” Knipp said. “We have this wonderful state-of-the-art facility allowing us the opportunity to do really professional theater as opposed to other schools in the area who may not have resources available to them, and unfortunately that is just the nature of public schools, (which) is a shame.”

In charge of lighting for the musical is Becca Jones-Scales, who said her job is a complicated one, but one she enjoys.

“Last Saturday, we spent over 14 hours programming set cues for all of the different lights,” Jones-Scales said.

“It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it. I think there’s a whole new dimension to the show now. A lot of shows are very two dimensional and don’t have all the colorful lighting we have or the different dynamics (like flight); they’re all on the ground with actor-audience, but this is more interactive between the actors and stage crew, as well as the audience.”

Set construction was done by Kevin Vosse and Greg Churchill.

OTHS senior Maddie Wilcox, one of the technical lighting crew members on one of the two spotlights, is looking forward to opening day.

“This is going to be our best show, yet,” she said.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Mary Poppins play will turn heads this week in O’Fallon."