Reviewed by: Patience Itson
See “Mary Poppins” at Red Mountain Theatre through June 30—with stage magic, flying dancers + more
Reading time: 4 minutes
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Get ready to sing along to your favorite songs, be amazed by flying dancers and marvel at stage magic at this family-friendly extravaganza.
Mary Poppins runs from May 31-June 30, and Bham Now readers can save $7 off tickets—just enter discount code NOWINSIDER at checkout.
Know before you go: Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins
- When: May 31-June 30
- Tuesday-Saturday | 7:30PM
- Wednesday, Saturday + Sunday Matinees | 2PM
- Sensory-Friendly Performance | Wednesday, June 5 | 2PM | $24
- ASL + Audio Description Performance | Saturday, June 8 | 7:30PM | $43+
- Where: Red Mountain Theatre, 1600 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233
- Cost: $39+ | Discounts for children ages 2-12, college students + more
- Tickets: Use discount code NOWINSIDER to save $7 on each adult ticket in Price Level 1, 2, 3 or Table Level. (Children’s tickets are already discounted.)
Meet Alex Hayden Miller, aka “Bert”
Alex Hayden Miller stars as Bert in the show. Meeting him was a real treat, and I have zero doubt that watching him work his magic on stage will be even better.
The Oklahoma native started tap dancing when he was five, went to school for musical theatre and loves when he gets to blend these two passions.
At age 10, he met Roy Lightner on a show both were in at Oklahoma State University. Back then, Lightner was a college student, but now he’s Red Mountain Theatre’s Singh Artistic Director, and at the helm of Mary Poppins.
Over the years, the two have kept in touch, and now, 20 years later, they are thrilled to be working together professionally.
“I think it’s a testament to ‘when the time is right, it’s really right.’ This role is a beautiful thing to come together with Roy and Sarah Brians, (the show’s award-winning, NYC-based choreographer) to do.”
Alex Hayden Miller, “Bert” in Mary Poppins at Red Mountain Theatre
About the show’s choreography
As someone who’s steeped in both tap and musical theatre worlds, Alex is incredibly enthusiastic about Brians’ choreography:
“This is easily the hardest musical theater tap choreography I’ve ever done. Sarah’s choreography rides the line between rhythm tap and musical theater in a way that no other musical theater show I’ve ever done does.
Sarah is so well versed in all the different styles while making the tap difficult and flashy for audiences that anyone from any artistic background or no artistic background at all is going to love it.”
Alex Hayden Miller, Bert in Mary Poppins at Red Mountain Theatre
Flying dancers, stage magic + more
Intrigued by the thought of flying dancers, I asked Alex what audiences could expect:
“We’re doing exactly what the original Broadway company did with the walk up the proscenium, flipping upside down and tapping on the ceiling.
And, we’re adding a little something extra—it isn’t part of what you can find online from the original production, but it’s really fun.”
Alex Hayden Miller, Bert in Mary Poppins at Red Mountain Theatre
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what they’ve cooked up.
Next, I wanted to learn about the stage magic in the show:
“In addition to the flying, we have the big reveal of Jolly Holiday just like the movie where it goes from very drab to very colorful.
We have a lot of different elements in the show that feel like magic.”
Alex Hayden Miller, Bert in Mary Poppins at Red Mountain Theatre
Get your tickets to see Alex + others in Mary Poppins today. While you’re at it, check out Red Mountain Theatre’s summer camps.
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