ENCORE is a South Bay educational theater group founded by Summer Dey Cacciagioni to pursue her dream at age 15 of building community and transforming the lives of children and adults by creating high quality theater productions through intensive music and theater training produced. I admire her emphasis not only on traditional acting, singing and dancing, and all the technical aspects of live theater (kudos to the group’s great sets, lighting and costumes), but also for making it a priority in developing respectful, thoughtful, reflective, honest and conscious people who feel comfortable helping others as a positive part of the theater community.

These ambitions are reflected in ENCORE’s production of Disney’s MARY POPPINS, Director: Ms. Cacciagioni, with choreography by Jorie Janeway, vocal direction by Daniel Nakawatase and a wonderfully talented orchestra under the direction of Matthew David Viskwith, with Flying By Foy and special effects by Stage Monkey. Every single one on the stage, from the youngest to the oldest in a cast of over 70 actors who obviously took care of each other and entertained the grateful audience with joy from start to finish.

Based on the books by PL Travers and the classic Disney movie, MARY POPPINS delighted audiences of all ages, even if the 3-hour running time may be a bit too short Challenge for very young children. It tells the story of everyone’s favorite nanny who arrives on the doorstep of the Banks House on London’s Cherry Tree Lane and takes Jane, Michael, and their entire family on a magical, musical adventure that will ultimately reveal the value of family and all that experience can happen if you allow it. The musical contains popular songs from the classic film, including “Step in Time”, a “Spoonful of Sugar”, “Feed the Birds”, “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” and the ever-popular “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” which got the audience clapping along and sing along to the incredible production number.

Many of the roles are double cast, and I’m sure whichever actors you see will be just as remarkable as the ones I mention in this review. The most important role on the show, of course, is that of Mary Poppins, the lovable and wise nanny who was perfectly played for the third time in her career by Leah Morales. Morales obviously knows this woman from the depths of her soul, and even the slight tilt of her head or the flipping of her apron says so much more than what her words express. Your working-class compatriot, Bert the Chimney Sweep, is played for the second time by the energetic Jed Sura, whose wife and daughter also appear in the cast. Surah is fun to watch as he not only walked the chimney sweeps through their production number, but also a large group of very young penguins who were perhaps the most adorable group of kids on the production line!

Members of the Banks family, who the story revolves around as they learn to accept the wisdom of Mary Poppins and the importance of family rather than money, include Rich D’Anna as Patriarch George, Jennifer Werfelmann as his wife, and Winnifred their outspoken children Jane (Grace Liakos) and Michael (Henry Deane), who are thoroughly entertaining as the often quarreling siblings. Kudos also go to other outstanding actors including Lizzy Sheck as “Feed the Birds” woman, Renee Sura at the bank’s housekeeper, Mrs. Brill, the intoxicating and colorful “Supercali …” ensemble number, led by Danielle Jordan as Mrs. Corrie and Tara Fermanian as her daughter Fanny Corrie, Chantelle Jordan as the nightmarish substitute nanny Ms. Andrew, Nathan Byrnes as bank president Mr. Dawes, Brian Werfelmann as a bank loan customer Mr. Northbrook, Alan Sanborn, whose park ranger takes great pleasure in flying kites, and the lithe dancing park statues of Gabriella Gordon, Ashley Lopresto, Amelia Paulson and Cameron Taylor.

Enjoy an irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular flying experiences in the family-friendly ENCORE production by MARY POPPINS at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. on January 6th and 12th at 7.30pm and January 6th, 7th and 13th at 2pm. Reserved seat tickets range from $ 44 to $ 60. Use discount code PRESS17 to get $ 10 off each ticket when you purchase 2 or more tickets. For tickets and more information, call (310) 376-3500 or visit www.EncoreSouthBay.org/tickets. And if you miss this one, you should definitely experience your next musical spectacle. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME from June 29th to July 8th 2018.

Photo credit: Myles Regan

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Plans to convert an old movie theater into a sprawling housing estate have received rave reviews from South San Francisco officials.

The South San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously voted for a proposal to build 338 homes in three buildings over 5 acres at 410 Noor Ave.

The decision advances a vision of building new homes near the Tanforan shops along El Camino Real in the former Century Plaza 10 cinema.

Commission chairman Alan Wong gave two thumbs up for the project plans during a meeting on Thursday 17th September.

“I thought you guys designed this project really well. I think it’s the perfect place for that. There are many units in one place that is currently underutilized. I think this is a homemade project for the city so I definitely support it, ”he said.

Commissioner JulieAnn Murphy also admired the proposal.

“I think it’s an excellent place for a housing project and it will have a huge impact on how we achieve our housing goals,” she said.

The plan is to distribute apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units across three buildings with three to five floors. Ten percent of the units will be provided at affordable prices and the project will include 466 parking spaces in an underground car park.

With the proposed project a short distance from the BART station in San Bruno, lawyers and housing officials praised the possibility of building new homes close to public transportation.

“We need every house we can get and this is a great place,” said Alex Melendrez, of the county’s Housing Leadership Council.

The project is not without its complications, however, as the proposal to build homes within the solid corridor of the San Francisco International Airport requires approval from the airport’s local land use committee.

Under the Land Use Policy, the government’s municipal / county council must approve the construction of new homes in an area likely to be flooded by aircraft noise. Such approval must be given before the project can go through the regular city planning process.

Officials said these committee approvals are difficult to come by, however, and the more likely outcome is that the project will be rejected. In such a scenario, the applicant can appeal to the South San Francisco City Council, which could override the committee’s decision and, if approved, assume all liability for the project.

Commissioner Robert Bernardo said he was professionally familiar with the challenges of getting permission to build homes near airports and raised concerns that South San Francisco could become embroiled in delicate legal issues.

However, Bernardo looked forward to the discussion among council members about the noise exemption and said he could support the apartment proposal.

For his part, Commissioner Norm Faria backed the proposal to rejuvenate a site that has been largely empty and ignored since the curtains were closed on the theater in 2008.

“It will be nice to have this building demolished and put up some nice new buildings,” he said.

In other business areas, the Commission also approved the construction of a new 95-room hotel at 840 El Camino Real. The Fairfield Inn and Suites is expected to be built on the former Arby’s property.

Given the project’s proximity to a residential neighborhood, officials urged the hotel developer to be aware of how the hotel could affect the quality of life of local residents.

With the builder’s commitment to respect the neighborhood, the officials expressed their support for the project.

“It will improve the area,” said Commissioner Sam Shihadeh.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105

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