BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Just as Mary Poppins said, in every job, there is an element of fun.
So did the staff at the Pennsylvania Youth Theatre during a recent rehearsal for the musical about the whimsical nanny.
A run-through for the family musical, the nonprofit's spring production, was held inside its new rehearsal space — site of the former Light of Christ Lutheran Church — in preparation for the live show.
Showtimes will be 7 p.m. Friday, May 9-16, 2 p.m. May 10-17 and 2 p.m. May 11-18. Tickets, at $23 and $21 for ages 12 and younger and 65 and older, are available at the Pennsylvania Youth Theater website.Pennsylvania Youth Theater website
The production will be at the Charles A. Smith Ice House, 56 River St.
Showtimes will be 7 p.m. Friday, May 9-16, 2 p.m. May 10-17 and 2 p.m. May 11-18.
Tickets, at $23 and $21 for ages 12 and younger and 65 and older, are available at the PYT website.
Pennsylvania Youth Theatre, or PYT, bought the Lutheran church from Lehigh University last fall for $725,000.
The space, built in 1952, was among three churches that Lehigh bought for $3.75 million last February.
"Mary Poppins" is the group's second production rehearsed in the church, which boasts reverberant acoustics and the group's largest-ever rehearsal studio, the site of the church's nave.
Acoustics, plenty of space
Inside the studio, the pews and Bibles have been replaced with slip-free mats and mirrors.
In the corner rests a piano and prop boxes — currently filled with Poppins' umbrellas, chimney sweep brooms and a stuffed toy dog.
And while there are no prayer songs or communion, the children's laughter fills the hallways as they plop down their book bags and water bottles.
"I love how spacious it is," said Emma Hartzell, who plays Mary Poppins in the production. "In the rehearsal studio, you can hear people a lot better than in our old space.
"There's also not a big pole in the way in the stage area. In the former space, we had this pole, and it would mess up the choreography."
PYT, founded in 1985, raised funds to buy the church through donations.
In 2020, it also got $220,000 from a private estate.
Forging friendships
With the church acquisition, PYT was able to double its cast for the spring production.
Hartzell, 15, is among 80 young actors in "Poppins" and the second actor to play the umbrella-carrying nanny.
Joining her in the lead cast is Malakai Lemmons, 16, as Bert.
He started working with the youth group in 2021.
The young actors take their roles seriously — rehearsals can span over several weeks and last two to three hours each night, often after school.
"It makes me want to focus more on my academics so I can pursue this in the future."Emma Hartzell, drama student at Pennsylvania Youth Theatre
"Sometimes it can be a lot, but most of the time it's fun because you build a relationship with everyone here," Lemmons said.
His love of the theatre has led Lemmons to consider applying to New York University's drama program and recruiting his younger brother to act.
" I didn't coach him through a lot of it, but he saw me doing theater and was super eager to join," Lemmons said. "He said he loved it too."
Hartzell, a member of PYT since the age of 10, said a dedication to drama has helped her grades.
"It's a lot to juggle, definitely, but especially for some reason with my English," she said.
"It makes me want to focus more on my academics so I can pursue this in the future."
'Playful British Warrior'
Lochlan McCarthy, 12, sported a huge grin when he spoke about his portrayal as Michael Banks, one of the mischievous children minded by Ms. Poppins.
In preparation for the role, he watched the classic 1964 film version that starred Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke as Bert.
McCarthy said he also practices his lines at the dinner table or with his pals.
"I feel like a playful little British warrior when I'm Michael."Pennsylvania Youth Theater actor Lochlan McCarthy
"I like how playful he can be," he said of his character. "He reminds me of myself when I'm being silly.
"I feel like a playful little British warrior when I'm Michael."
PYT Artistic Director Jill Dunn Jones said productions will take place at the Charles A. Smith Ice House for the time being until PYT installs lighting and sound systems in its new home.
The site also would need Bethlehem Zoning Hearing board approval as a theatre space .
PYT's summer camp and other classes are held at the rehearsal studio at 2020 Worthington Ave.
To learn more, visit PYT's website.
