Wolf River Home Schoolers bring Mary Poppins to Clintonville stage

CLINTONVILLE — The magic of P.L. Travers’ beloved stories is coming to the Wolf River valley this month in a big way. The Wolf River Home Schoolers have announced their upcoming production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, running March 19 through March 22 at the Clintonville High School Auditorium.
While the group typically draws an average of 1,100 attendees annually, this year’s production features a spectacular technical upgrade.
Thanks to some very generous sponsors, the production will feature characters who actually fly during the performance, bringing the iconic “nanny who floated down from the sky” to life in vivid detail.
“This year is looking to be especially spectacular,” noted Publicity Coordinator Dawn Byars. “We have obtained the funds allowing us to have some of our characters actually fly!”
The cast is currently preparing for the arrival of the specialized equipment.

“The cast actually hasn’t had the chance to work with the flying apparatus just yet,” Byars said. “It is being installed next Friday, followed by two intense days of training for our ‘fliers’ and the dads who will be responsible for making the magic happen behind the scenes.”

A new chapter
This production marks a significant milestone for the Wolf River Home Schoolers, an association of Christian home-educating families in Northeast Wisconsin.
After 20 years under its founding leadership, the program is transitioning to a new directorial team consisting of Julia Herro and Mackenzie Wojta.
For the students—some of whom, like Annika Jannusch (playing the title role of Mary Poppins), have been performing with the group since age six—the musical is a cornerstone of their education.

“Through the experience of bringing something to life that was merely an idea in a book back in October, the kids are learning teamwork, perseverance, and bravery,” Byars said. “They are gaining family, because that is exactly what we all become. These shows are our opportunity to glorify God through the talents He’s blessed us with and to spread joy to our community.”

Performance schedule
Thursday, March 19: 7:00 pm
Friday, March 20: 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 21: 6:00 pm

Sunday, March 22: 2:00 pm
The musical features original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, a book by Julian Fellowes, and new contributions by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Admission to all performances is free to the public, offering a professional-grade theater experience to the Clintonville, New London, and Waupaca communities. All performances will be held at the Clintonville High School Auditorium.