Mary Poppins Lands at Dos Pueblos High

And you know the rest: expialidocious. Mary Poppins, one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time, has received the full West End/Broadway musical-theater treatment, courtesy not only of Disney Theatrical but also of the P. L. Travers estate, and now, the Dos Pueblos High School Theatre Company. The intrepid Clark Sayre and his devoted cast and crew were chosen as one of only six high school theater groups in the country given the green light to pilot this first round of high school productions. Director Sayre describes the production, which will run April 25-May 3 at the Elings Performing Arts Center at Dos Pueblos, as the biggest show he’s ever done, citing “costumes, sets, dialect, light cues, and projection cues” as just some of the concerns as he and his team prepare for this high-profile opening. Executives from the Walt Disney Company will join DP family, friends, and theater buffs in the audience when Mary Poppins hits the stage on Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m.

When asked about the appeal that won him over to this show, Sayre said that he loves “the kid-like sense of wonder” that the show creates. “I want the adults in the audience to remember that feeling, and I want the young people to experience it.” He acknowledged that “any time you create a play version of an iconic movie, it’s bound to be a challenge” but ended by insisting that “the play script refocuses the story on what’s really important to the Banks family.” Speaking of family, the director has got plenty of his own involved this time, as well — all four Sayres are working on the production. Sayre’s son, Blaine, will play Bert; his daughter, Kailey, will perform in the ensemble; and his wife, Sharon, has been an integral part of the production team since day one. For tickets and information, visit dptheatrecompany.org.