CAST INFORMATION
THE CAST
Finally, if you want to be the MOST prepared for participation in the summer show, my best advice is to go online and watch a production. The musical differs a little from the movie, so you might want to note some of the changes. Below is a breakdown of each character - who they are, what they’re like, what the vocal requirements are, etc. Gender is not specific to a character unless noted. Ages are also fluid - the directors will make the best determination they can based on who auditions.
Mary Poppins
Jane and Michael Banks's new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is key.
Gender: Female Vocal range top: C6 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Bert
Also the narrator of the story, Bert is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings-on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent and is a song-and-dance man.
Gender: Male Vocal range top: F#4 Vocal range bottom: B2
George Banks
The father to Jane and Michael Banks is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary.
Gender: Male Vocal range top: Eb4 Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Winifred Banks
George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's desire to only associate with "the best people" as well as be the model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she's not up to the job of "being Mrs. Banks," yet, she is, and more. She has great warmth and simplicity to her tone.
Gender: Female Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Jane
The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks, Jane is bright and precocious but can be willful and occasionally inclined to snobbishness.
Gender: Female Vocal range top: F#5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Michael
The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents.
Gender: Male Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Katie Nanna
Jane and Michael's nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children.
Policeman
A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat.
Miss Lark
The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if he were a child.
Admiral Boom
A retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. He carries himself large and confident; he is a man with a loud and booming voice. He speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed.
Gender: Male
Mrs. Brill
The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harrassed, she's always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn't have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular.
Gender: Female Vocal range top: D#5 Vocal range bottom: F#3
Robertson Ay
The house servant to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. There is some physical comedy as part of the role.
Vocal range top: G#4 Vocal range bottom: F3
Park Keeper
Uniformed and officious, the park keeper makes sure no one breaks park regulations. Their life is defined by rules, but they secretly hanker after their childhood.
Neleus
The statue of a young child in the park. Neleus was separated from their father and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, Neleus is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. This role has an opportunity to feature a dance role, if a strong young dancer auditions.
Queen Victoria
A statue in the park, representing the late Queen.
Gender: Female
Bank Chairman
The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. Very arrogant, used to being in charge and getting his way. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary.
Gender: Male Vocal range top: D4 Vocal range bottom: C3
Miss Smythe
The Bank Chairman's humorless secretary.
Gender: Female
Von Hussler
A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent.
John Northbrook
An honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community.
Bird Woman
Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings "Feed the Birds." There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life. An extremely tender moment in the show, this character draws empathy and heartache.
Gender: Female Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Mrs. Corry
Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who seems worldly and exotic.
Miss Andrew
George's overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range.
Gender: Female Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Ensemble Spoken Roles
Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll
Ensemble Singing/Dancing Roles
Parkgoers (Jolly Holiday), Kite Flyers(Let’s Go Fly a Kite), Dancing Toys (Playing the Game), Chatterboxes (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious) Clerks & Secretaries (Precision & Order), Starlighters (Anything Can Happen) Chimney Sweeps (Step in Time) - TAP DANCERS NEEDED - please let us know if you have tap experience!