Good Evening and Welcome to the 2021 North Schuylkill Theatre Arts production of Mary Poppins. Thank you for tuning in and joining us virtually for this event. This has been a challenging season with snow days, covid 19 quarantines, and following many safety protocols. Even so, our hard working students will certainly dazzle you.
This is what I hope will be the first of many directors notes I will be blessed to write as the North Schuylkill Theater Arts Musical Director. I would be remiss if I did not first thank my predecessor, Harry Lucas, for laying the groundwork that has helped to lead to our successful production year.
Our Spartan Students and I are incredibly lucky to have the help, expertise, and support of a dedicated and hard working production team!
Paula Hornberger is new to the program and she has been learning the ins and outs of being the assistant director. She has been a friend and sounding board to me. She helped to design and plan costumes as well as assist during every rehearsal. She is the ad queen as she reached out to many businesses and worked to put together a beautiful ad section of our playbill.
Our music director, William Lennox, has worked on vocals with our cast all season. Since we can't have a pit band this year he is running our sound board and working with students to run lights and the digital music. Thank you Billy for always being there to lend me and our students a hand!
Our set designer and builder has spent endless hours hashing out every detail of Mary Poppins with me. Jason Kline is a key component to our production. He has an uncanny ability to bring my vision to life as he adds his own twist and design elements. He is happy to swing a hammer as long as there are no lines for him to memorize. Thank you for helping me bring this production to life with all of your hard work both at NS and at home. I love you!
North Schuylkill Theater Productions are known for their show stopping dance numbers, this year will follow in that long standing tradition. Our students and I can't thank Miss. Erin Umphrey, owner of Artists in Motion Performing Arts enough. She and her team which consists of Miss Brianna Ryan and Miss Lauren Tidmore will have your toes tapping and your heart leaping. I personally sing your praise every chance I get!
A friend who has been helping the theater program for many years, Zack Chernewski, has taken on a new role this year. He is our stage manager and he is helping our cast and crew all work together to create this amazing show filled with magic. His production assistants are faces we have seen around for many years on the NS stage. I am beyond thankful that my dear friend Lynn Minalda (my right hand woman each and every day of the school year) is here to keep our stage crew ready for action and in tip top shape. Also, John Cuthie, is willing to lend a hand. He has been answering my questions and helping me through my first year as the director. I am thrilled that he is here with us during our tech week and filming day. How lucky NS is to have this crew backstage!
Sarah Barket is a NS theater alumni who has come back to us to take on the role of wardrobe mistress. She has found amazing costumes in our closets and beyond. She would come to rehearsal with creations she found and made with an assist from her mom and my friend Ann Marie Barket. She had help each week from our seamstress Donna Spotts who not only repaired and altered costumes but created a doll and even fixed our ripped "big blue."
We are thankful for our makeup and hair manager Alyssa Colangecco. She makes certain the students are in tip top shape before she sends them out on stage. When she isn't checking their hair and makeup she is busy making sure big blue is following the right track!
I want to personally thank my children, Jacob and Eliza Kline, who have been a wonderful support system at home while mom and dad have been giving so much to our NS family! Jake, I am thrilled you are lending us a hand and working our music track. All my love and thanks to you both.
Finally, thank you to the cast, crew, and families for all you have done to help bring my vision to the stage. This cast has been a true pleasure to spend my time teaching. They bring so many ideas and more importantly joy to the NS stage. I hope you enjoy every second you can up there in the lights
Sit back, relax, and enjoy #MaryPoppins2021
