‘Mary Poppins’ auditions Dec. 2 at Basin Community Theatre
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year AGO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | November 25, 2024 3:15 AM
MOSES LAKE — Basin Community Theatre will hold auditions Dec. 2 for its upcoming production of “Mary Poppins.”
“We thought that we would do a family show instead of an adult show,” said Toby Black, director of the play and president of BCT. “You know, one that the kids could come in, laugh and giggle, and try to entertain the younger kids. So we … chose Mary Poppins.”
The stage musical is pretty close to the 1964 Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, Black said. The story follows the Banks family – Mr. and Mrs. Banks and their children Jane and Michael – of Victorian London, whose nanny has quit due to the children’s mischievous behavior. The day is saved when Mary Poppins arrives, flying under an umbrella with a bag that’s bigger on the inside than the outside, and takes the children in hand. Through the children’s magical adventures with Mary and her friend Bert the chimney sweep, the Bankses discover the joy of family.
Being a magical show, the play requires a lot of technical work, Black said. One of the most difficult effects to arrange is when Mary arrives and departs by air. BCT’s shows are staged at Moses Lake High School, Black said, so the troupe has to work with the school on the effects.
“If the school OKs it, we’ll be able to fly,” Black said. “We (bring in) a company out of California and they come and train us and build what they call a carriage that they put on Mary and then we’ll be able to fly.”
Bert may also do some flying, he added.
Besides Mary, Bert and the Banks family, there are 16 roles to be cast as well as the ensemble, according to BCT’s website. Auditioners will be asked to sing 18 bars from a Broadway musical, either a cappella or accompanied by recorded music on a Bluetooth-capable device. They should also fill out the participation form found on the website and attach a headshot. All participants must be available with no conflicts from March 31 to April 19.
Besides performers, BCT also needs volunteers for a wide array of backstage and behind-the-scenes roles, Black said.
“We need costume people,” he said. “We need builders. Builders are going to be a big deal because we’ve got to build the Banks house. We’re trying to build a live orchestra pit, so if you play an instrument, there’s that option. We need makeup and hair people. So if anybody’s willing to volunteer some time, they should come and see us on audition day and we’ll put them to work.”
Information and forms are available at www.basincommunitytheatre.com.
‘Mary Poppins’ auditions
Dec. 2
6:30 p.m. for girls 12-14 and boys 10-13
7:30 p.m. for adults
DanceFX Studio
530 W. Valley Road, Moses Lake
Callbacks will follow immediately after auditions
Basin Community Theatre’s production of “Cinderella” in 2022. The troupe’s next musical will be “Mary Poppins.”ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
‘Our favorite time of year’
Shop with a Cop brings smiles to both children and officers
MOSES LAKE — The heavy police presence outside local stores recently wasn’t because of a crime wave. It was police officers engaging in their favorite annual event. “This is one of those times throughout the year that we don't have to go and ask for volunteers to help,” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands. “The first day we put it out, I think we got 20-some people say ‘Yeah, we’re in.’ That's just under half the department right away.“
BASIN EVENTS: Dec. 19-27
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and a lot of people will be spending time at home with their families or at the church of their choice. Still, there are a few things happening around the Basin. Here are some ideas:
Chimney maintenance is essential for safety
MOSES LAKE — With Christmas just around the corner, lots of folks are using their fireplaces for warmth, roasting chestnuts or just a pleasant atmosphere. But before Santa pays your chimney a visit, you should make sure it’s in good working order. Chimney fires are responsible for more than three-fourths of residential building heating fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Regular inspections and cleaning are the best way to prevent that, said Michael Harper, known as The Chimney Guy. “If they’re using (the fireplace) aesthetically – date night, Christmas, New Year’s, show-off times, something in the background here and there, (they should) have it inspected once a year for peace of mind,” Harper said. “If they’re using it two to three days a week religiously through the winter months, they need to have it cleaned once a year.”