"Good morning!" is Mary Poppins' first line of the show! And it IS a very good morning. I get to do two shows today at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, PA. It is such a wonderful place to work and all of the people involved are so incredibly talented and kind. I always sleep with my humidifier and my sweet, little penguin, Puffins. There aren't any penguins in the stage show but I might sneak him in anyway! ;-)
Lindsay Bliven
I LOVE TEA.
Lindsay Bliven
Hot tea and honey are how I start my mornings. Mmmm! And of course my lovely neti pot! Haha.
Lindsay Bliven
It is 29 degrees out today! SO COLD. I am all bundled up and ready for my beautiful walk to the theatre.
Lindsay Bliven
I get to walk through the lovely LOVE park everyday. It is all decked out for the holidays! So pretty.
Lindsay Bliven
The LOVE sign. When in doubt, LOVE.
Lindsay Bliven
And the gorgeous City Hall. It is HUGE and made completely out of stone. There is an ice rink on one side! I can't wait to go ice skating!
Lindsay Bliven
First stop, lunch with our Director of Institutional Advancement, Becky Sassi, at Le Pain Quotidien to talk about outreach during our run.
Lindsay Bliven
Yummy!
Lindsay Bliven
Me in front of the theatre. WST is the oldest theatre in America, dating back to 1809.
Lindsay Bliven
MARY POPPINS
Lindsay Bliven
Our amazing cast. We have 16 children in the show and they alternate weekday shows and weekend shows. They do a wonderful job and are super cute.
Lindsay Bliven
Our call board. Lots of information!
Lindsay Bliven
Signing in. I get to the theatre at least an hour before curtain, if not earlier. We usually have a flight call and sometimes notes.
Lindsay Bliven
I run into this amazing group of people on my way to my dressing room: Chris (ensemble), Erin (ensemble), Cat (our wonderful child coordinator), Joey (ensemble), Jenny (ensemble), Jessica (wigs), and Andrew and Megan (also in our ensemble). They are all fantastic people!
Lindsay Bliven
Minami (ensemble) and Kat! So excited for two shows!
Lindsay Bliven
Deborah Jean is getting some hot water for her tea. She plays three roles in this show, Queen Victoria, the Bird Woman and Miss Andrew. She's great!
Lindsay Bliven
My dressing room, dedicated to Helen Hayes. I'm so honored.
Lindsay Bliven
Here we are! This is where the magic happens. Lots of things are involved to transform me into Mary!
Lindsay Bliven
My station. I decorated it with all my lovely opening night cards.
Lindsay Bliven
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!
Lindsay Bliven
Flight call! So much fun!
Lindsay Bliven
Flying is the easiest part of my show, for sure.
Lindsay Bliven
My marvelous dresser, Deb. She rocks!
Lindsay Bliven
Ryan, our sound engineer. He's spot on!
Lindsay Bliven
Jessica, our wig coordinator! She is wonderful!
Lindsay Bliven
I always listen to Bruno Mars before the show. It pumps me up!
Lindsay Bliven
Half hour is when I get my wig. I just love it!
Lindsay Bliven
Rosy cheeks. (Sorry, I had to post this picture. It's just too funny.)
Lindsay Bliven
RED LIPS folks. We're not joking around here.
Lindsay Bliven
Some fun Mary Poppins accessories.
Lindsay Bliven
My earrings. I am in love with these!
Lindsay Bliven
Time to get dressed. I wear three pairs of tights at the beginning of the show. It's a little hot!
Lindsay Bliven
Can you guess what this is? A bum pad. To add a little bump on my rear. All the women in the show wear these. It was the style back then-don't ask me why!
Lindsay Bliven
CORSET TIME! I actually like wearing it. It helps my physicality and posture during the show.
Lindsay Bliven
My sweet friend, Andrew, always comes by and says hello before the show.
Lindsay Bliven
Annnnnnd I'm ready!
Lindsay Bliven
Now I'm just being silly! ;-)
Lindsay Bliven
Going to the stage! Let's do this!
Lindsay Bliven
Jacob, one of our amazing Michael Banks. He is too cute for words.
Lindsay Bliven
Cameron, one of our sweet Jane Banks. She is so fun on stage!
Lindsay Bliven
And we have a LIVE dog as Willoughby, named Bailey. He is so adorable on stage and the chillest. Keri is his owner. They are both the sweetest. And the lovely Ellie, our Miss Lark.
Lindsay Bliven
At places with Debi and David! Our wonderful stage manager and Bert. The two best people.
Lindsay Bliven
Angie, another one of our incredible stage managers. We couldn't do this show without them!
Lindsay Bliven
Jenny, our Katie Nanna. She is fed up with the Banks children!
Lindsay Bliven
Right before my entrance! So exciting!
Lindsay Bliven
Bill, our Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman. Just chilling, reading a book!
Lindsay Bliven
Winifred and Mary. Rebecca is the kindest person and so very talented.
Lindsay Bliven
Andrew being his awesome silly self! :-)
Lindsay Bliven
Jolly Holiday quick change time!
Lindsay Bliven
It's super fast! Around 40 seconds.
Lindsay Bliven
Hat off!
Lindsay Bliven
I couldn't do this change without my dresser, Deb, and our wig coordinator, Jessica!
Lindsay Bliven
GO GO GO!
Lindsay Bliven
Into PINK! Almost there!
Lindsay Bliven
I'M READY! :-)
Lindsay Bliven
Here I go!
Lindsay Bliven
And we're off!
Lindsay Bliven
Intermission, wig touch up! With so many hat changes, I really need it!
Lindsay Bliven
I find some wonderful children in the green room at intermission with Gavin (ensemble). Sophia, Cameron, Jacob, Gavin, Julianna, Gabrielle and Victoria. They are all doing a great job!
Lindsay Bliven
Our amazing cast couple, Jeffrey (Mr. Banks) and Joey (ensemble).
Lindsay Bliven
Angie and Alex (our stage managers). They always stop by to make sure I have everything I need. :-)
Lindsay Bliven
Let's Go Fly A Kite!
Lindsay Bliven
Mary Poppins comes back!
Lindsay Bliven
Cameron, Jacob (Our Jane and Michael), and David (Bert) and I have a special dinner together between shows. They wanted root beer from the Jones restaurant down the street. I am having a strawberry cream soda! Delicious!
Lindsay Bliven
Such a fun break with them! Constant laughing and smiles!
Lindsay Bliven
Signing in again for the 8pm show!
Lindsay Bliven
I run into Jenny and Megan at the call board. Love these girls.
Lindsay Bliven
I run into Nicky (Michael) and Nathan (kids ensemble) on my way to the green room.
Lindsay Bliven
Signing posters for our wonderful sponsors and donors.
Lindsay Bliven
Mindy (ensemble) and Owen (Robertson Ay and ensemble) are awesome!
Lindsay Bliven
Gavin is so ready for the second show!
Lindsay Bliven
I'm the girl that listens to holiday music mid November. I'm sorry that I'm not sorry! :-) Look who came up on my Pandora 'Holiday Songs' station! Dame Julie Andrews. I adore her.
Lindsay Bliven
Bailey, Keri and I are getting ready for the second show! I so enjoy our moments together.
Lindsay Bliven
I absolutely love being on stage with David every night. He is so very talented and professional. Such a natural!
Lindsay Bliven
Let's do the second show!
Lindsay Bliven
Jeffrey (Mr. Banks), Nicky (Michael), Grace (Jane) and Mary (Mrs. Brill)
Lindsay Bliven
Our other set of Jane and Michael-Nicky and Grace. They are superb!
Lindsay Bliven
Family portrait from the matinee!
Lindsay Bliven
Step in Time chimney lift!
Lindsay Bliven
My final flight. Such a magical moment. I am so lucky and honored to be doing this show and be working at the Walnut Street Theatre!
Lindsay Bliven
One final look to the Banks family. Love you all!
Lindsay Bliven
Off I go. It's so bittersweet.
Lindsay Bliven
Buttoning up my coat with David right before bows! Such a fun yet exhausting show. (I'm really grateful I get to do it!)
Lindsay Bliven
Whew! What a magical, fulfilling and wonderful day! Good night and always remember REACH FOR THE STARS!
Lindsay Bliven
*
The piece is directed by Wayne Bryan, current producing artistic director of Music Theatre Wichita, with choreography by Linda Goodrich.
In addition to Bliven and David Elder, the cast also features Jeffrey Coon, Rebecca Robbins, Cameron Flurry, Grace Matwijec, Jacob Wilner, Nicky Torchia, Jenny Piersol, Joey Abramowicz, Ellie Mooney, Bill Van Horn, Mary Martello, Owen Pelesh, Andrew Eckert, Tyler Foy, Deborah Jean Templin, Minami Yusui, Michael Warrell, Christopher Shin, Megan Schmidt, Kerri Rose, Aren Duffy, Nathan Esser, Cameron Scot Slusser, Erin Burgmayer, Mindy Dogherty, Andrew Leggieri, Sophia Henkel, Marco Porras, Victoria Rose, Gabrielle Schoener, Julianna Zannikos, Giuliana Burzzese, Anthony Flamminio, Skylar Raye Noyes, Megan Nutt and Sophia Zalipsky.
Press notes describe the production as follows: "Based on the classic Disney film, Mary Poppins is the story of a mysterious nanny who magically appears at the Banks household in Edwardian London to care for Jane and Michael Banks. Adventure abounds as she whisks them away to meet dancing chimney sweeps, shopkeepers and an array of colorful characters. Featuring an irresistible story and a score including the Academy Award-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Feed the Birds," "Step in Time" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," audiences will discover a world where "Anything Can Happen!”
For more information, please visit
