June 3, 2015
Poppins People Post
Lucas Bohannon
"Michael Banks"

The first thing I remember about the Market House is watching my dad, Tony Bohannon, play the beast in Beauty and the Beast in 2007. In 2010, my dad persuaded me to be in my first Market House Theatre production, Cinderella Enchanted. At the time, I didn't realize how much my life would change in the MHT family. In the summer of 2012, I once again shared the stage with my dad, in the production of Les Misérables.

Now don't get me wrong, I loved Les Mis, but honestly, it was not NEARLY as challenging as Mary Poppins. I love being in Mary Poppins! It has brought out a side of me that I didn't even know I had. Playing Michael Banks has been a blast! I thought this role would be hard, since I'm not a little British boy, but it turns out that I'm able to relate to Michael Banks a lot. I love the character and the way he acts. For example, Michael is a "noisy, mischievous, troublesome, little boy!"... AND SO AM I!  

Mary Poppins has been so challenging for many reasons. First of all, Hope and I are in every single scene except three, which means we have had to come to rehearsal almost every night! Fortunately I don't have many costume changes, but there is ONE where I have to do a quick change in "Jolly Holiday." I have about one minute to get into it but only about 15-30 seconds to get out of it. That will be challenging but I know I'll make it work. There are so many cues I have to remember as well. But in the end, I know that it will all come together and there will be nothing to worry about.

I can honestly say that I am amazed with people such as Michael Cochran, Emi Hensel, and Cindy Miller. Let's start with Michael. Every single show I have been in with him, he blows my mind! The things he thinks about and what he envisions are some things that I would never have thought to do. Emi has been so amazing! I would like to thank her for the hours she has put in choreographing some of the dance numbers. Cindy has also made this fun for me. She is so nice and helps people if they have any questions about the music, and on top of that, she has to direct an entire orchestra pit! Mary Poppins will definitely be an experience I will miss, but never forget! 

~Lucas Bohannon (aka "Michael Banks)