"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
Many are familiar with this timeless song by the unforgettable Mary Poppins.
Walt Disney's Mary Poppins Broadway musical began on Oct. 14 at Shea's Performing Art Center.
This hit Broadway show, rated four out of four stars by the New York Post, seldom tours and is in Buffalo for a three-week performance.
Shea's Performing Arts Center, a historic venue located in the heart of downtown Buffalo's theater district, is a frequent host to many world-renowned ensembles, from cultural phenomenon The Lion King to the dark fairytale of Wicked.
With its 3,000 red seats, chandeliers, balcony seating and beautifully intricate wall and ceiling molding, Shea's is an untouched century-old building that sets the perfect stage for a production like Mary Poppins.
Shea's brings the same caliber of talent to Buffalo that the New York City Broadway stage is famous for. However, as a not-for-profit organization, it brings those same acts to the public for a reduced price.
Ticket prices vary depending on seats; the most expensive are around $100.
Shea's, in an effort make its shows accessible to all audiences, offers a student price of $25 a seat, available for those who come to the box office with proper ID at least two hours before production.
The story of Mary Poppins originated as a series of eight children's books by P.L. Travers published from 1934 to 1988.
In the books, an enchanted nanny named Mary Poppins blows in by the winds from the east and "pops in" to care for Jane and Michael Banks.
Poppins takes the Banks children on a magical adventure through storybook pictures, under the sea, and down chimney sweeps.
The story was popularized when it was adapted into a Walt Disney Production in 1964, starring English actress Julie Andrews and featuring an unforgettable musical score written by brothers Richard and Robert Sherman.
Although the Disney production was a success, original author P.L. Travers didn't think it represented the sinister attitude of the books.
"P.L. Travers wasn't happy with the way the movie turned out and didn't think it lived up to the series," said Jared Morales, marketing and public relations associate at Shea's. "The movie implied that Mary Poppins may have had a relationship with [chimney sweep character] Bert when [in the book] they were really just friends."
It was Cameron Mackintosh, a powerful British theater producer known for shows such as Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and Cats, took on the story of Mary Poppins and adapted it to a musical in 2004.
In an effort to remain faithful to the writer's original dark version of the story, Mackintosh bought the rights to the books before P.L. Travers died and also purchased the rights to the Walt Disney film.
"[Mackintosh] used certain aspects of the movie, such as [the musical score] to sell the musical," Morales said. "And then [he] added aspects from P.L. Travers' series."
The musical first opened in London in 2004 and received nine nominations at the 2005 Olivier Awards.
Mary Poppins made its U.S. debut on Broadway in 2006 with an added musical score by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and costume designs by the Tony Award-winning Bob Crowley.
The musical is still just as fun and memorable as the movie was with songs such as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "A Spoonful of Sugar," but it also has more new music and never before seen characters.
The musical will show through Sunday at various show times. For more information, visit http://www.sheas.org/
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
