Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s ‘Mary Poppins JR.’

Presented by Olympic Peninsula Academy

In conjunction with Music Theatre International

Showtimes: 7 p.m. Friday, June 1,

1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 2

Dress rehearsal: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 31

Tickets: by donation prior to each show with proceeds supporting next year’s show.

Information: call Sequim School District at 360-582-3260 or OPA at 360-582-3403

Whether you prefer flying a kite, “A Spoonful of Sugar,” or funny wordplay, such as “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” Olympic Peninsula Academy’s drama class has you covered.

For three shows, its 31 performers bring Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s “Mary Poppins JR.” to the Sequim High School Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.

Shows are set for 7 p.m. Friday, June 1, and 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 2, with a dress rehearsal also open to the public at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 31. Tickets are all by donation with proceeds supporting the class’ 2019 show.

Co-Director Dee Dee Nielsen, an instructional coach at OPA, said this year’s production is set to be the school’s biggest.

Traditionally, the class in the alternative learning experience program through Sequim School District, offers smaller dramas but this is their first Broadway play, she said.

“(Students) are hoping to see so many people attend that we have to open up the balcony,” Nielsen said.

She and Co-Director Michele Canepa and Musical Director Jenny Holtkamp have worked with students since October meeting every Wednesday for the drama class working on songs and choreography.

Ninth grader Rebekah Parker, 15, plays Mary Poppins and said it’s a role she’s wanted because she liked how Julie Andrews portrayed her in the film.

“It’s been exciting to reenact,” she said.

Rebekah has performed in OPA plays since fourth grade, she said, and “Mary Poppins JR” is based on the popular movie with a few different songs but “it’s still a lot of fun.”

The show follows the troubled Banks family in England in 1910 with Mary Poppins arriving to help not only the children Jane and Michael (Alyssa Alcaraz and Ari Skov) but also their parents George and Winifred (Abram Yeater and Emily Nielsen).

Mary Poppins and her old pal Bert (Eli Gish) help the Banks using magic and common sense on how to value one another once again.

Nielsen said the show gives some insight into why the father is so stern, too.

Sets begin going up this week following the high school operetta’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” ended its successful three-week run.

To make their anticipated show its biggest yet, students held fundraisers for their costumes, Nielsen said.

The show features: Jill Adolphsen, Alyssa Alcaraz, Melanie Byrne, Christina Caples, Vince Carrizosa, Mia Coffman, Makayla Colton, Grace Fahey, Sydney Frymyer, Kadin Gilliam, Eli Gish, Katherine Gould, Gianna Halo, Angelina Himmelberger, Jonathan Holtkamp, Payton Johnson, Kloe Kozelisky, Keith Lake, Jenna Mason, Emily Nielsen, Austin Parker, Rebekah Parker, Cadence Puhrmann, Dean Rynearson, Ari Skov, Adin Underwood, Renee Varner, Abram Yeater, Nick Mamula, and Surayah Dennis.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Mary Poppins (Rebekah Parker), on right, greets the Banks family, from left, George and Winifred (Abram Yeater and Emily Nielsen) and Michael and Jane (Ari Skov and Alyssa Alcaraz) in a rehearsal for Olympic Peninsula Academy’s production of “Mary Poppins JR” set for June 1-2 with a dress rehearsal on May 31. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash