Bushnell Plans Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Block Party

Case Dillard as Bert, Rachel Wallace as Mary Poppins and the Company of Mary Poppins

Photo: Deen Van Meer

The Bushnell will celebrate the imminent arrival of everyone’s favorite magical nanny, Mary Poppins, with a free family Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 11 am to 3 pm.  The event precedes The Bushnell’s Sept. 14 – 23 engagement of Mary Poppins.

Taking cues from both the Mary Poppins film and Broadway musical, featuring memorable numbers like “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” “It’s a Jolly Holiday,” and “Step in Time,” Block Party activities will include:

Let’s Go Fly A Kite
Using a free kite kit provided by The Bushnell, kids can assemble & decorate their own flying creations. Weather permitting they can stroll down to Bushnell Park and “send them soaring!”  Also, the first 100 families to arrive will receive a freeMary Poppins logo kite.
Disney Cabaret
From the Great Hall balcony, Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellows will give free recitals of Disney music.
Step In Time
Kids of all ages can gather in the courtyard, learn a little choreography, and then dance along to a famous Mary Poppins song.
Chalk Drawings
Professional chalk muralist Tracy Lee Stum will create a spectacular 3D mural at the entrance to the Bushnell courtyard.  The mural will depict famous Broadway characters - including Mary Poppins - enjoying Bushnell Park as it might look like in years to come, thanks to the iQuilt Plan (www.theiQuiltPlan.org).  Kids and parents alike will then be able to step into the mural and take pictures in the Bushnell Park of tomorrow.

Families will have an opportunity to sketch their own chalk drawings on the Capitol Avenue sidewalk in front of The Bushnell.

Sing-Along Film Screening – Families can gather in The Bushnell’s Belding Theatre and sing along to a free screening of the film version of Mary Poppins – complete with on-screen lyrics.  Tickets are required, and are free!

Bushnell Park Carousel and Memorial Arch will open for business and tours.
And much moreA living statue artist, dressed as Mary Poppins, will engage and entertain the crowd
Face painters
Caricature artists
Balloon animal artists
Foam core cut-outs of Mary Poppins characters for family photos
Button making activities
Food carts will set up along Capitol Avenue for the purchase of refreshments.  Café tables & chairs will be available on the veranda outside the box office.

All Block Party activities are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.  Tickets for the show are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.bushnell.org or by calling The Bushnell box office at 860-987-5900. "Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present Mary Poppins" kicks off the 2012-2013 Broadway Series season, sponsored by Travelers and Webster Bank.