Polson students perform in Mary Poppins Jr.
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POLSON — Students from grades five through 12 strutted their stuff on stage last week in the Polson High School Theater Department’s rendition of Mary Poppins Jr.
A Disney and Cameron Mackintosh show, the one act play acts as a shortened version of the classic Broadway Marry Poppins tale. While the story is a classic, bringing in a cast of 30 students of such different ages is something new for the theater department.
“I knew I wanted to bring another musical to the high school – last fall we did the Addams Family with just high school – and I knew I wanted to do a Broadway Disney Junior, so I thought it would be fun to incorporate some younger grades to try and build the program,” Director Brittany Simonich explained. “I know Neal and Karen Lewing have done such an excellent job with their children’s programming, but we wanted to offer another option to middle schoolers this year.”
While the Lewings of the Port Polson Players offers a children’s theater program that’s now returned from COVID-19, there has been little other theater experience offered to Polson School’s middle and grade school students. Simonich said that she and co-director Bob DiGiallonardo are working to expand the opportunities and varieties of theater experiences available to students. With the possibility of a dinner theater in the future, as well as exploring musicals, comedies, and dramas, the teachers are working to increase their students’ interest by letting them vote on the plays they tackle and getting them excited about future performances.
“This year we’re actually very fortunate to be working with a vocal coach, Sarah Larkin, who’s new to the area … she’s a true professional,” Simonich commented. “She’s been giving vocal lessons, she’s been working one on one, (and) she’s just been a huge asset to the show.”
Additionally, the department has been working with choreographer JoLeah Nicholas, who has helped the cast choreograph both “Step in Time” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” “We’re trying to bring a lot more expertise and professionals to make this as well done as possible,” Simonich said.
As for any students considering whether or not to get involved in the theater program, Simonich had a simple answer: “Do it.”
“There’s a place for everyone in theater,” Simonich stated. “Whether it’s makeup, costuming, helping with choreography, helping with set and prop construction, there’s something for everyone. It’s such a welcoming environment (even for) students who maybe had their niche somewhere else in high school activities, there’s always a place for them in the theater department.”
