Magical and uplifting! When Jane and Michael, the ill-mannered children of the wealthy and uptight Banks family of London, are faced with the prospect of a new nanny, they are pleasantly surprised by the arrival of Mary Poppins. Confident and decisive, she uses common sense, whimsical imagination and a bit of magic to teach this family to value each other again by embarking on a series of fantastical adventures with her Cockney friend, Bert.
Director: Brandon Box-Higdem
Music Director: Jim Boggess
Choreographer: Michelle Garrity
Production Information
Rehearsal Dates: April 12 – May 28, 2026
Production Dates: May 29 – June 28, 2026
Volunteer Stipend: $825.00
Audition Dates
Saturday, February 21
Children 10 a.m – 1 p.m.
Adults 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, February 22
Children 6 – 7 p.m.
Adults 7 – 10 p.m.
Monday, February 23
Children 6 – 7 p.m.
Adults 7 – 10 p.m.
Saturday, February 28
Callbacks (by invitation) 1 p.m.
What to Prepare
Music
Auditionees should prepare one piece of music [about 30-45 seconds in length] that demonstrates vocal range. If your selection is longer than that, we may need to stop you mid-song in order to stay on track with vocal appointments.
o Vocal selection may be a ballad, slow or an up-tempo song from a musical. (If called back, you will likely be asked to sing specific musical cut(s) from the show.) Please do not sing from Mary Poppins, but perhaps another Broadway show like it.
o Please bring sheet music for the accompanist in a 3-ring binder, marked neatly with intro, start and stop points. No prerecorded tracks, and no singing a cappella.
Dance
Please come prepared to move.
o Bring character or jazz shoes. If you do not own dance shoes, please bring a hard-sole, closed-heel, and closed-toe shoe for dance auditions.
o There will be a tap audition section immediately following the general
dance audition so bring your tap shoes as well.
o There will be time allotted to change clothes and shoes before the dance audition begins.
Readings
Cold readings from the script.
o Most readings will occur at the callback audition (by invitation).
Please note: Age ranges are a suggestion; please audition for any role you would like to be considered for.
Character Breakdown
Bert: The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent and is a song-and-dance man. Gender: male Age: 25 to 45 Vocal range top: F#4 Vocal range bottom: B2
**Must have dance abilities and not be afraid of heights.
George Banks: The father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding “precision and order” in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn’t have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary. Gender: male Age: 30 to 40 Vocal range top: Eb4 Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Winifred Banks: George’s wife and Jane and Michael’s mother. A former actress, she is loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband’s desire to only associate with “the best people” as well as be the model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she’s not up to the job of “being Mrs. Banks,” yet, she is, and more. She has great warmth and simplicity to her tone. Gender: female Age: 30 to 40 Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Jane: The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness. Gender: female Age: 9 to 12 Vocal range top: F#5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Michael: The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents. Gender: male Age: 7 to 11 Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Katie Nanna: Jane and Michael’s nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children. Gender: female Age: 30 to 60
Policeman: A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat. Gender: male Age: 30 to Any
Miss Lark: The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if her were a child. Gender: female Age: 30 to Any
Admiral Boom: A retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed. If Admiral Bloom doubles as the Banks Chairman, he can be a baritone. Gender: male Age: 50 to 75
Mrs. Brill: The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she’s always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn’t have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer. Gender: female Age: 50-65 Vocal range top: D#5 Vocal range bottom: F#3
Robertson Ay: The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. He doesn’t do a lot of singing, but his “Spoonful” solo can be a fun surprise. Gender: male Age: 20 to 30 Vocal range top: G#4 Vocal range bottom: F3
Mary Poppins: Jane and Michael Banks’s new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is the key. Gender: female Age: 20 to 35 Vocal range top: C6 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
**Must have some dance ability and not be afraid of heights.
Park Keeper: Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood. Gender: male Age: Any
Bank Chairman: The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary. Gender: male Age: 50 to Any
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Miss Smythe: The Bank Chairman’s humorless secretary. Gender: female Age: Any
Von Hussler: A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent. Gender: male Age: Any
John Northbrook: An honest business man seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England. Gender: male Age: Any
Bird Woman: Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, and her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn’t exist. Sings “Feed the Birds.” There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life. Gender: female Age: 30 to Any Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Mrs. Corry: Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age…magical Gender: female Age: 30 to Any
Miss Andrew: George’s overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things – her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range. Gender: female Age: 40 to Any Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Ensemble: Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Parkgoers, Customers, Neleus, Queen Victoria
** Strong dancers & singers…ability to play multiple characters preferred.
Video Auditions
If you are unable to attend in person, you may submit a video audition. Fill out the audition form and select ‘Video Audition.’ Please include a slate with your name, and character(s) you’re interested in being considered for. Send a link to your private video on any popular video sharing platform to epotter@omahaplayhouse.com. The deadline for submitting video auditions is Sunday, February 22nd at 5:00pm.
Audition Accommodations
We recognize that every artist brings unique strengths and needs to the room. If you require specific accommodation to participate fully in the audition process, we’re here to support you. If you’d like to request an accommodation, please feel free to reach out to DeAnna Williams at dwilliams@omahaplayhouse.com.
Deadline
The sign-up list will close at 5:00 PM the day prior to the audition. Requests to join the waitlist after that time may be emailed to epotter@omahaplayhouse.com, but availability cannot be guaranteed.
To sign up for an audition time, please complete the audition form:
Through upholding high ethical standards, demonstrating respect for all and consciously working to provide diverse representation, OCP is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment in which all community members feel a sense of belonging and does not discriminate in casting practices on the basis of an individual’s ethnicity, age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, country of origin or other factors. Omaha Community Playhouse is committed to diverse and inclusive casting.
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