Julie Nelson has a challenge as lead choreographer for the latest New Tampa Players show.
On one hand, it’s something most people know.
On the other hand, it’s something people don’t really know at all.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)
“I think people know the songs more than anything. I think they remember the songs more than they remember the storyline,” Nelson said.
She’s talking about “Mary Poppins,” the story made famous by the 1964 Walt Disney film, and the latest New Tampa Players production based on the Broadway musical, which runs Aug. 7-9 and Aug. 14-16 at the University Area Cultural Development Center.
While the audience will probably recall the story of the iconic nanny as it goes along, songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” are expected to be familiar from the beginning. So Nelson and her co-choreographer, Jarrett Koski, have been tasked with bringing those popular elements to life. But, they also want to let the audience follow the story, which might not be as well known to them.
For a musical, “Mary Poppins”, features a good amount of dialogue.
And, as a theater enthusiast for more than 30 years, that suits Nelson well. She prefers a play that has a healthy amount of story to supplement the singing and dancing.
“I’ve seen some shows where it’s just sing-and-dance, sing-and-dance, sing-and-dance, and there’s not enough in-between,” Nelson said. “So I do like when there’s a good ratio.”
There’s also the challenge of bridging the differences between the movie and the play, given the former is probably where most people gained a fondness for the story.
The source for both comes from British author P.L. Travers who wrote eight children’s books with Mary Poppins as the magical nanny blown by the East wind to Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane in London. She lands at the doorstep of the Banks family, where she becomes nanny to the children.
The film included scenes where live actors interacted with animation, which isn’t something a stage production would accommodate. Still, knowing that people remember the famous scene where Dick Van Dyke, who plays a chimney sweep, dances with animated penguins, Nelson wanted to give the audience a hint of what they recall from the film.
“We added a penguin-ist flair to ‘Jolly Holiday,’ a movement that resembles the penguins, just to touch on that little memory,” she said.
She also got to work on songs that might be unfamiliar to many people. “Playing the Game” is a slower-tempo number that didn’t appear in the movie, and wasn’t a part of the original Broadway show. It was a fun song to choreograph since it features children playing the roles of toys and is a little different from traditional “Mary Poppins” classics, she said.
Theater isn’t just a personal passion for Nelson, who will teach theater at Corbett Preparatory School in Carrollwood this fall. It’s more of a family affair. Her twins, McKinnley and Rylie, have roles in the current production, and “Mary Poppins” was the first Broadway play they saw in New York. Nelson’s husband, Bill, also helps out backstage.
Being in a theater family, Nelson appreciates the family friendly message and production of “Mary Poppins,” and its story of ultimately bringing a family together. She also appreciates the opportunity to share her interest in theater with the community by taking part in a performance with such well-known songs.
“I’m an educator first. I’m very passionate about theater and the arts,” Nelson said. “Even in my classroom, just sharing my love of the arts with others is always awesome for me.”
Show times for both weekends are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. The University Area Community Center is located at 14013 N. 22nd St., in Tampa. For information and to buy tickets, call (813) 386-6687, or visit NewTampaPlayers.org.
Published August 5, 2015
