Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Academy of Arts students fly toward big dreams

Mary and Bert are going to fly.

Fort Smith teens Gabrielle Gore and Cameron Law are landing onstage tonight after just four hours of training, says Rosilee Russell, founder and executive director of the Academy of the Arts.

FAQ

Mary Poppins

WHEN — 7 p.m. today and Saturday

WHERE — ArcBest Performing Arts Center at 55 S. 7th St. in Fort Smith

COST — $5-$12

INFO — 788-7300

"We're trying to make this production as authentic as possible, and since Mary and Bert fly, we're going to have our teens fly," she says. Gore and Law will be tethered to wires via harnesses, literally elevating the scene to one worthy of the Broadway stage.

The flyers are part of Xtreme Teens, a theater company for students in grades six through 12. Alongside 20 members of the Children's Ensemble, 30 teens are taking part in this spring's production of "Mary Poppins" happening this weekend.

The cast auditioned for the roles in "Mary Poppins" only three short months ago. A few rehearsals began in late December, followed by regular, nine-hour-a-week practices since January. It's a short schedule, but most of the cast are used to it.

Blake Bulger and Kelsey Vickery -- Mr. and Mrs. Banks -- are veterans of the Academy's stage and are hoping to make a big impression on audiences this time around. And that's a task that should be easy.

Bulger is the 2014 winner of the National Youth Arts Awards Best Lead Actor for his role as Donkey in last year's production of "Shrek." Vickery was nominated for Best Featured Actress for her role as Dragon.

And Russell hopes they'll do it again this year. Lindsey Bliven, who played Mary in the 2004 version of the Broadway production, was recently on hand to guide the cast, which Russell says gives the students an extra edge.

"Of course, we think we have a great cast," she says. "We'll definitely be sending video clips in again this year. And hopefully win. These kids are just so talented. We're really excited about the show."

-- Allison Carter

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NAN What's Up on 03/20/2015

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