NORWICH – This year The Norwich High School music department’s spring production will be the Disney and Cameron MacKintosh musical Mary Poppins. In contrast with other popular musicals that have been done 1000s of times, Norwich is proud to be one of the first schools is the world to stage a production of this iconic story.

Longtime director Mark Sands has let it be known that Mary Poppins will be his last as director for Norwich High School. He said that after 22 years it’s time to let someone else take over. He wants to go out with a bang and Mary Poppins fits the bill. “It will be the most challenging production we have staged since Phantom of the Opera. If all goes according to plan, audiences will witness something never seen before on the NHS stage. Both Mary Poppins and Bert the Chimney Sweep will fly. While Mary Poppins flies in and out of several scenes, Bert will dance around the stage proscenium opening, upside down. To help, Sands said they have contracted with ZFX Flying Effects out of Louisville, Kentucky to recreate the Broadway flying effects.

Although the stage production does not exactly mirror the 1964 Disney movie it does include many of the movies classic songs, Chim Chim Cher-ee, Jolly Holiday, A Spoonful of Sugar, Step in Time and the fun and tongue twisting Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Mary Poppins is truly a fun show for the entire family, not one to be missed.

The production will take place in the Norwich High School auditorium on Midland Drive. Show dates are Friday and Saturday April 10 & 11, 2015 at 7:30 pm and Sunday April 12, 2015 at 2:30 pm. General admission tickets are $5.00 each. Tickets can be purchased at all four of the district’s school building offices and Service Pharmacy in Norwich. For advance ticket sales please call (607)334-4307. Tickets will also be available at the door before each performance.