![]() ![]() I was actually able to watch the first act in the audience since my scenes were not until Act 2. ![]() I arrived 30 minutes before the start of the show on a rainy Friday night. Once I got the hang of it, the moves seemed to come naturally. For "Step in Time," he taught me the choreography for interlocking my arms with another actor, dancing in a circle, running to dance on a desk and then shuffling up the stairs in the house. Geoffrey Goldberg, an associate choreographer, was encouraging as he showed me how to jump onto the set and dance across the roof, hop over the rail and dance off of the stage. ![]() I was also taught to apply my own sweeper makeup so that on the night of the performance, I could quickly make the transformation.įinally, the morning of the show, I learned and rehearsed the choreography for the two scenes I was in and for the curtain call. After all, Mary Poppins is "practically perfect in every way." To my delight, I learned that besides wearing black denim, a newsboy hat, short wig and dark makeup for my chimney sweeper outfit, I would also get fitted Edwardian style - lace gloves, buttoned up shirt, hat, boots, specially made wig, the works- to dress as Mary for fun. Preparation began two weeks before when I was fitted for my costume by a team dedicated to making sure every detail is perfection on every piece of clothing. ("Never need a reason, Never need a rhyme/Kick your knees up, step in time.") The chimney sweeps - the professional actors, that is - tap dance with their long brooms and skitter across the London rooftop set with ease and energy. I found myself sweating as if I had run miles after rehearsing for the "Step in Time" scene. When you first start, it is hard, but the more you train, the easier it gets," he said, noting his professional cast has trained for years for the theater. He told me that being worn out was not at all unexpected for a newcomer. Not surprising, said Anthony Lyn, the show's associate director. But for this "actress," preparing to be on stage was sheer exhaustion. When you're watching a show, you can sit back and, you hope, see an inspiring, entertaining performance. I knew it would be fun, but what I thought would be an easy task was anything but. My time in the spotlight as a chimney sweeper in the Disney musical ended just as quickly as it had begun.įor its fifth anniversary, "Mary Poppins" invited me to be a chimney sweep for a day to experience the inner workings of the production at the New Amsterdam Theatre. I woke up each morning, counting down the days - I could hardly wait for the moment. There was the excitement of costume fittings, the hard work of rehearsals and the anticipation of being on stage at a premier New York theater. NEW YORK - For weeks, I dreamed of my Broadway debut in "Mary Poppins." ![]()
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