Talented young actors from around Monmouth County will showcase their skills in a production that some people might consider to be “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
Members of the Rising Stars Youth Program, in association with the Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park, will present the Disney musical “Mary Poppins” at 7 p.m. April 30 and 2 p.m. May 3 and 10. Tickets are $18. For tickets, call 732-858-8106 or visit www.axelrodartscenter.com.
Prior to the May 10 performance, the cast will host a Mother’s Day tea party. Tickets for the tea party are $24 and include admission to the show.
Lisa Goldfarb, the director and choreographer of “Mary Poppins” and the Rising Stars Youth Program, said she is excited about putting on the show.
“I am thrilled to be the first performing arts center in the county to produce this Disney favorite,” she said.
The youth program at the performing arts center includes 46 performers who range in age from 7 to 17.
The cast includes Carlie Goldfarb of Howell as Mary Poppins, Joseph Grisanzio of Howell as Bert, Hannah Cohen of Fair Haven as Jane Banks, Jaiden Klein of Manalapan as Michael Banks, Ariel Jacobs of Ocean Township as Winifred Banks, Matthew Tobio of Marlboro as George Banks, Mikayla Long of Howell as Mrs. Brill, and Max Hanan of Ocean Township as Robertson Ay.
“Rehearsals with this group have been so exciting. In the seven years I have been working with the Rising Stars program, we have never had such enthusiasm for a show,” Goldfarb said.
“The parents love this show as much as the kids do, and we can’t wait to share all this sugar-coated fun with our audiences. About a year ago, the rights to the Broadway production of the show were sold, and I jumped at the opportunity. It is just a great story.”
Goldfarb said the children’s commitment to the show is outstanding.
“The kids are really serious about theater. … We practice three times a week, including Sunday. The children get involved a lot of the time through word-of-mouth from others and when they come to the theater to see a show,” she said.
“Mary Poppins” arrived on Broadway in 2006 and played more than 2,600 performances during its six-year run, according to Andrew DePrisco, development director at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center.