Nowhere Is There A More Happier Crew...

I definitely need to talk about the exceptional production staff that is helping steer the giant ship this summer. Since Mary Poppins is the biggest show I’ve ever directed it’s only fitting that I get the biggest crew I’ve ever assembled. This might get split into several posts, depending on how much I brag on them:) 

Our music director is Shawn Degenhart, a gifted musician and director that I’ve known for...wow, almost 25 years?! And yet, this will be the first show we’ve ever done together! Shawn is undoubtedly the perfect person (and uniquely qualified) to direct the vocals and conduct our live orchestra for Mary Poppins. He has directed and conducted numerous productions and musical concerts, including a previous production of Mary Poppins. He knows the ins and outs of this iconic score better than anyone! 

There’s also this: he has a working professional relationship with the Richard and Robert Sherman family. He even got to meet Richard Sherman when he worked directly for them in music preparation on some previously unreleased work by the famous Sherman Brothers! Shawn will be a valuable resource to the show and I’m glad we get to collaborate for the first time on a project we both care so deeply about. 

Mary Poppins has not one but TWO outstanding choreographers. Jennifer Morris has danced and taught for Kim’s Academy in Peoria for 25 years. She is a highly sought after choreographer responsible for the dance and musical staging in numerous area productions including Bye Bye Birdie, Rock of Ages, Grease, and many others. She has also appeared onstage recently as Sheila in A Chorus Line and the ensemble of Catch Me If You Can. Full disclosure, she is also my wife!

Jenny is joined by Sydney Abdnour, who I first got to work with when she played Bebe in A Chorus Line last year. For many years, Jenny talked up Sydney as an outstanding talent and she was right. Sydney has appeared onstage dancing in countless shows and I have always been impressed by her work as a choreographer for Richwoods High School, Corn Stock for Kids and Peoria Players (including the recent hit Matilda).

Jenny was also one of Sydney’s very first dance teachers and they are excited to get to work on this project together. I am eager to see what they create for the show, especially since we will all get to see the famous STEP IN TIME at the Corn Stock tent! This might be the singular thing that excites me most about doing this show.  

And for the first time ever, I will have an assistant director with this show! I have worked with Autumn Vandeven on several shows (including her first in Peoria, Rock of Ages). You may have also seen her turn in excellent performances in shows like Boeing Boeing, Steel Magnolias and Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche. One thing I admire about her as a performer is her range and how she likes to perform in both musical AND non-musical shows. More people should be doing that. 

Right before we announced Mary Poppins, Autumn expressed to me an interest in directing in the future, and asked if I had ever had anyone “job shadow” me while directing. I thought this was a great idea, because I have been trying to find ways to encourage and help others get into directing. Her knowledge and enthusiasm are going to come in very handy to all of us, and she has inspired me to now take on an assistant director for all future shows.

I’ll continue highlighting our backstage crew and sharing a lot more information in future posts! Thanks as always for stopping by.