Mary Poppins
JULY 5 – 13
Based on one of the most popular films in history, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way. Transporting audiences by umbrella to London at the turn of the last century, this Tony Award-winning stage adaptation features a carpet bag full of classics, including “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Step in Time,” “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
Sponsored by
Supporting Show Sponsors
Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman
New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe & George Stiles
Book by Julian Fellowes
Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh
A Musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film
Cast
Jeanna de Waal
Mary Poppins
most recently originated the title role in Diana, The Musical on Broadway and Netflix. On Broadway, de Waal starred in Kinky Boots (Lauren) and American Idiot (Heather). Jeanna originated the role of Dawn in Waitress by Sara Bareilles, and the role of Mary Barrie in Finding Neverland, both directed by Diane Paulus, at American Repertory Theater. Off-Broadway, she co-starred in the two-hander play, Orwell in America (59E59 Theater) and played Chris Hargensen in MCC Theatre’s reimagined production of Broadway’s Carrie. de Waal made her West End debut in the Queen musical We Will Rock You. Other notable credits include the national tour of Wicked (Glinda) and The Rocky Horror Show (Janet) at The Old Globe.
Corbin Bleu
Bert
Popular for his role in Disney’s High School Musical franchise, Corbin Bleu has established himself as versatile stage performer, songwriter, recording artist, television personality and producer. Muny: Singin’ in the Rain (Don Lockwood). Broadway: Kiss Me, Kate (Lucentio/Bill Calhoun), Holiday Inn (Ted Hanover, Chita Rivera Award), Godspell (Jesus), In the Heights (Usnavi). Other highlights: Hairspray (Seaweed) and Mamma Mia! (Sky) at The Hollywood Bowl and Anything Goes (Billy Crocker) at Arena Stage. He won the 2018 Tremaine Entertainer of the Year Award for his work in dance. TV/Film: Love, For Real; A Christmas Dance Reunion, To Write Love on Her Arms, Nurse 3D, The Monkey’s Paw, Dynasty, Supergirl, Chicago Med, The Middle, The Fosters, Castle, Psych, Franklin & Bash, Blue Bloods, Dancing with the Stars. Most recently, Bleu and celebrity chef Cat Cora placed first on The Real Dirty Dancing, a one-of-a-kind competition featuring celebrities reliving moments from the classic film. This fall, Bleu returns to familiar territory for Disney+, guest starring as himself in the third season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Dedicated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Starlight Children’s Foundation and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Corbin also chairs the National Advisory Board of the Looking Ahead Program, helping young performers thrive while working in the entertainment industry.
Erin Davie
Winifred Banks
Broadway: Diana (Camilla Parker Bowles), Sunday in the Park with George (Yvonne/Naomi), Side Show (Violet Hilton), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Rosa Bud), A Little Night Music (Countess Charlotte Malcolm), Grey Gardens (Young Little Edie, Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut), Curtains (Niki Harris). Off-Broadway: The Glorious Ones (Lincoln Center Theater), Applause (Eve Harrington; NY City Center Encores!). Tours: Swing!; The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Guys and Dolls. She can be heard on cast albums: Diana, Sunday in the Park with George (2017 revival), Side Show (revival), Grey Gardens, A Little Night Music (revival), The Glorious Ones. TV: The First Lady, The Hunters, Tales of the City, Orange is the New Black, Law & Order, The Good Wife. Film: Angelfish, King Jack. Loves getting to play opposite real life partner (Mr. Banks) Nehal Joshi.
Nehal Joshi
George Banks
Broadway: All My Sons, Flying Over Sunset, Gettin’ the Band Back Together, School of Rock, Les Misérables, The Threepenny Opera. Additional New York theatre: Cyrano (w/Peter Dinklage), Grand Hotel (NY City Center Encores!), Working (59E59/Prospect Theater Company, Drama Desk Award for Ensemble Performance), Falling for Eve (York Theatre). Regional credits include Row (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Fly (La Jolla Playhouse), Oklahoma!; Disgraced, Mother Courage and Her Children (all at Arena Stage), Peter and The Starcatcher (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Les Misérables (Dallas Theater Center), Disney’s The Jungle Book (Goodman Theatre and The Huntington), Man of La Mancha (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Mister Roberts (The Kennedy Center). Video Game: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Film/TV: New York, I Love You; Search Party, Law & Order: SVU; Blackout, The Wire. He would like to thank Erin Davie (Mrs. Banks) for being his on-stage partner tonight, and for being his off-stage partner for all this time.
Laila Fantroy
Jane Banks
is excited to be making her Muny debut! Laila will be starting the eighth grade at Christ the King School this fall and she studies dance at Best Dance and Talent Center. Laila has participated in many community events in St. Louis such as the Annie Malone May Day Parade festivities, America’s Birthday Parade (St. Louis), and she performed in the citywide COVID-19 memorial service, Requiem of Light. Laila would like to thank her Mom and Dad for all of their continued support as she pursues her dreams and her mentors Judy Best-Person and Dr. Philip Woodmore.
Gabe Cytron
Michael Banks
is excited to be back on the Muny stage. Previous Muny experience includes The Little Mermaid, Newsies (Les), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (Michael Darling) and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Other theatre experience includes Shooting Star Productions, Spotlight Theatre, Variety Theatre St. Louis, Arch City Theater Troupe, MBU Theatre and CBC High School. When not on stage, Gabe enjoys playing tennis and baseball. Special thanks to Mike, Michael, Tali and the rest of the Muny staff for this amazing opportunity. Appreciative to the directors and cast of Mary Poppins for this incredible experience. Grateful to Lisa Fahey, family and friends for their ongoing support.
Zoe Vonder Haar
Mrs. Brill
is unbelievably happy to finally bring Mary Poppins back to life! After touring two years in the first international company of A Chorus Line, Zoe returned to St. Louis to raise her family and the journey began! Muny: My Fair Lady (Mrs. Higgins, Kevin Kline nomination), Meet Me In St. Louis (Katie), Into the Woods (Jack’s Mother), Guys and Dolls (General Cartwright) and most recently, Kinky Boots. Stages: Always Patsy Cline (Louise, Theatre Circle and Broadway World Awards), Gypsy (Rose), Hello, Dolly! (Dolly Levi, Kevin Kline Award), Oklahoma! (Aunt Eller), A Little Night Music (Madame Armfeldt), The Full Monty (Jeanette, Theatre Circle Award). The Rep: Sunday in the Park with George (Mother), Urinetown (Pennywise, Kevin Kline nomination), Follies (Hattie). Favorite regional: It Shoulda Been You (Judy), The Cake (Della), A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Anne-Marie). Zoe teaches and directs through both The Muny in Schools and Stages Outreach Programs.
Barrett Riggins
Robertson Ay
is an actor, composer and lyricist, most recently seen as Fritz in the New York premiere of Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s Harmony, directed by Warren Carlyle. Regional credits include Camelot, All Shook Up (The Muny), Memphis, Beauty and the Beast (TUTS), Dogfight (Farmers Alley). Original musicals (co-written with Graham Techler) include The Moderators (Originals Theatre Festival, New York) and Sound Choices (Academy of Art University, San Francisco). He was a 2021 Johnny Mercer Foundation fellow and has released two albums, Good Ol’ and Smoke Machine, available on all streaming platforms. Upcoming: An American in Paris (Cape Playhouse). Barrett is composing original music for the off-Broadway premiere of The Panic of ‘29 (59E59). He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan. Love to Maddie, Mom, Pop, and his little dog Leonard Bernstein.
Darlesia Cearcy
Bird Woman
recently appeared in Next to Normal at Westport Country Playhouse (Diana, Connecticut Critics Circle nominee for Best Actress in a Musical). She was last seen on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of Once on This Island (Erzulie, Goddess of Love). She was an original cast member and understudy to Audra McDonald and performed as Lottie Gee on Broadway in Shuffle Along, The Color Purple (Nettie), Ragtime (Sarah, Helen Hayes nomination) and The Goodbye Girl. She won the Berkshire Critics Association Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical for Nina Simone: Four Women (Berkshire Theatre Group). Television credits include guest stars on High Fidelity, Madam Secretary, FBI, House of Cards, Elementary, Law & Order: SVU and Nurse Jackie. Upcoming: World Premiere of How to Dance in Ohio (Johanna). Catch her on the episodic The Watcher (Netflix).
Debby Lennon
Queen Victoria/Miss Andrew
is thrilled to return to the Muny’s 104th season in Mary Poppins. Previous Muny productions include Chicago (standby Matron “Mama” Morton/Little Mary Sunshine) The Sound of Music, Singin’ in the Rain (Dora Bailey/Miss Dinsmore) Show Boat, Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Annie, Cinderella on Ice and Oliver! (Strawberry Seller, u/s Nancy). Most recently seen in Max and Louie’s critically acclaimed production of Songs for Nobodies. Winner of two St Louis Theater Circle Awards for Grey Gardens (Edith/Little Edie) and Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins. Other favorite roles include Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins (Variety Theatre St. Louis), Next to Normal (Diana, Insight Theatre) and Carousel (Mrs. Mullen, Union Avenue Opera). She is looking forward to joining the ensemble in The Muny’s upcoming production of Sweeney Todd and playing Desiree Armfeldt in Union Avenue Opera’s upcoming production of A Little Night Music. Debby is celebrating 22 years as Adjunct Professor of Voice at Webster University.
Whit Reichert
Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman
is delighted to return to The Muny, where he was last seen in 2019’s Footloose. Muny: A Funny Thing…Forum (Erronius), South Pacific (Stewpot), Annie (Drake) and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Oscar). Locally, he has been seen at Stages, Variety Theatre, The Black Rep, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Insight Theatre, Actors’ Studio and 27 shows at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Regional: Anything Goes (Moonface Martin, Kansas City Starlight), the world premiere of Monk-y Business (Grand 1894 Opera House), The Music Man (Mayor Shinn, Casa Manana), The Fantasticks (Hucklebee, Riverside Theatre), 1776 (Ben Franklin, Arrow Rock Lyceum) and Sunshine Boys (Al Lewis, Arrow Rock Lyceum). Whit resides in St. Louis with his wife, Millie Garvey and has been a proud member of Actors’ Equity since 1975.
Jade Jones
Katie Nanna/Miss Smythe/Mrs. Corry
is a Helen Hayes nominee, performer, rapper and educator. Recently, Jade garnered international attention as Belle in Olney Theatre Center’s critically acclaimed production of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, featured in People Magazine and on MSNBC. Other theatrical credits include Cinco Paul and Bekah Brunstetter’s A.D. 16 (world premiere, directed by Stephen Brackett), The Amen Corner (Shakespeare Theatre Company), School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Round House Theatre) and Into the Woods (Ford’s Theatre). Television credits include Chicago P.D. (Stevie). Jade has performed for Michelle Obama and the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and was most recently seen singing with Grammy winner Charlie Rosen and The 8-Bit Big Band at the legendary Howard Theatre in Washington D.C. Training: Ferrum College-BFA.
Michael James Reed
George Banks Standby
is delighted to return after appearing earlier this season (and last!) in the dazzling Chicago. 12 years of Muny appearances include Gypsy, The Music Man, Disney’s Tarzan, South Pacific and West Side Story. Local audiences have seen him frequently at The Rep including A Christmas Carol and Pride and Prejudice. With St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Michael has appeared in over 10 productions, including Love’s Labors Lost, Romeo and Juliet and The Winter’s Tale. NYC credits: La Bête (Broadway), King Lear (Roundabout), Amphitryon (Classic Stage Co.) and A Forest in Arden (New York Theatre Workshop). Regional: Old Globe, Pasadena Playhouse, Alley Theatre, American Conservatory Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, South Coast Rep. Favorite TV: Numb3rs, 24, Six Feet Under, The Shield, King of Queens, That ‘70s Show; Chicago PD. Michael is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London.
Round out the company
Taylor Marie Daniel, Matthew Davies, Joel Douglas, Francine Espiritu, Duane Martin Foster, Kaitlyn Frank, Anna Gassett, Alyssa Giannetti, Brett-Marco Glauser, Lynn Humphrey, Bryan Thomas Hunt, Abigail Isom, Maggie Kuntz, Ryan Lambert, Devin Neilson, Rich Pisarkiewicz, Michael James Reed, Michael Santomassimo, Dave Schoonover, Kelly Sheehan, Wesley Slade, Nathaniel Washington and Erin Wilson. The company will also be joined by the Muny Kid and Teen youth ensembles.
Muny Umbrella Project
The Muny is proud to present The Umbrella Project!
For the duration of our presentation of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, over 100 umbrellas are on display at the Muny Box Office and the Steward Family Plaza!
We were proud to partner with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Muny Scenic Artists, The Muny Kids and Teens, Grand Center Arts Academy, Artists First, CBC High School, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, Circus Harmony, Muny Young Friends, Professional Dance Center, St. Margaret of Scotland, Webster Theatre Conservatory and the St. Louis Muny Community.
Creative Team
John Tartaglia
Director
For The Muny as Director: Matilda, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Tarzan and Shrek. Muny as a Performer: Aladdin (The Genie), Seussical (The Cat in the Hat), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Hysterium, St. Louis Theater Circle Award). Director: Stephen Schwartz’s The Secret Silk (Princess Cruises, writer/director), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), Claudio Quest (NY Musical Festival, Best of the Fest), Shrek the Halls (DreamWorks Theatricals) and many more. Broadway: Avenue Q (Tony nomination), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Shrek. Film/TV: Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, currently on AppleTV+, The Happytime Murders (STX Films), Johnny and the Sprites (Disney Jr., Emmy nomination), Sesame Street (PBS Kids), Jim Henson’s Word Party and Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix), creator, co-executive producer and star of Jim Henson’s Splash and Bubbles (PBS Kids, Emmy nomination). Instagram/Twitter: Johnnytartags
Patrick O’Neill
Choreographer
The Muny: Guys and Dolls (co-choreographer). As a choreographer: Leonard Bernstein’s Mass (Utah Symphony/Utah Opera), An Evening with Kelli O’Hara and The Boston Pops, musical numbers for Mario Cantone on The View celebrating Barbara Walters. He served as the Associate Choreographer for School of Rock (Broadway, US national tour, Australia and Korea), The Heart of Rock & Roll (Old Globe), Ever After (Alliance), and as an Assistant Choreographer for the Broadway revival of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Harmony (Ahmanson, Alliance), and The Nutty Professor (directed by Jerry Lewis). In 2022, Patrick directs London premiere On The Edge – A New Musical. patrickoneill.me / @itspatrickoneill
Brad Haak
Music Director
Past Muny credits: Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, A Funny Thing…Forum, Fiddler on the Roof, Into the Woods, South Pacific, The King and I. Broadway: An American in Paris, Mary Poppins, Lestat and Il Divo – A Musical Affair. Pianist for The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Phantom of the Opera. National tours: The Lion King, Miss Saigon. Music supervision and orchestrations for Daddy Long Legs (off-Broadway, London, Tokyo, Seoul and 19 US productions) and for director John Caird’s A Knight’s Tale (Tokyo) and Spirited Away (March 2022.) International: Sousatzka (Toronto), An American in Paris (Paris), Honk! (Singapore and Philippines), Jane Eyre (Tokyo). Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Follies (Jeff Award for music direction) and Sunday in the Park with George, Children of Eden at The Kennedy Center. Orchestrator for New York and Boston Pops, National Symphony, LA Philharmonic and Tokyo Philharmonic.