Aurora keyboardist making music in popular 'Mary Poppins'

Posted October 12, 2011 11:00 pm

By Jamie Sotonoff

Pianist Brett Rowe, who grew up in Aurora, is playing keyboard in the production of “Mary Poppins.” Courtesy of Broadway in Chicago

Music is a big part of why theatergoers love "Mary Poppins," and Aurora native Brett Rowe is one of the musicians in the orchestra pit who plays the popular songs in the classic Disney play, which returns to Chicago Thursday, Oct. 13, for a four-week run.

Rowe, 28, an alumnus of Marmion Academy in Aurora, is one of three keyboardists on the tour. While trained in classic and jazz piano - he debuted with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in March - Rowe says playing keyboards on a Broadway show is a unique and rewarding experience.

"It's great that every single night, at the end of the night, people are standing and clapping," he said. "The detail of the orchestrations (in the 'Mary Poppins' score) is really nice. To be in Chicago, where the musicians are absolutely top-notch, is really a treat."

It's not an easy job, though, and Rowe said there are a few tricky passages in the song, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

But after substituting for the show's 2009 run, touring for 10 weeks and then joining the cast full time in January, he's got it down.

"Mary Poppins" will be at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago through Sunday, Nov. 6. Tickets range from $25-$90, and are available at MaryPoppins.com or BroadwayInChicago.com.

Rachel Wallace as Mary Poppins, left, Annie Baltic as Jane Banks, Reese Sebastian Diaz as Michael Banks and Nicolas Dromard as Bert, perform the song “Step in Time” from the play “Mary Poppins,” which returns to Chicago this weekend for a short four-week run. courtesy of Joan Marcus/Disney

Rachel Wallace plays Mary Poppins and Nicolas Dromard plays Bert in “Mary Poppins,” which returns to Chicago this weekend for a four-week run. courtesy of Joan Marcus/Disney

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