CheekyChicago

Ashley Brown, who originated the role of Mary Poppins on Broadway, is a practically perfect performer. I was lucky enough to catch her quirky, memorable, campy, lovely rendition of the umbrella-toting, child-rearing Disney character last week at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. As a self-proclaimed fan of the umpteenth degree of the incomparable Julie Andrews, Ms. Ashley Brown lived up to my expectations and then some. Cheeky asked how she prepared for, rehearsed and, ultimately, produced the cheekiest, quirkiest, most charming Mary Poppins this side of 1964 has ever seen.

Cheeky: Tell us a little bit about your training and how you arrived on Broadway?

Ashley Brown: Long story short, I grew up in Florida and was in drama and musicals in my hometown and high school. I then went to college at the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and got a BFA in Musical Theatre. Then I moved to New York, did a showcase and auditioned for On the Record, which was a Disney revue. They then asked me to audition for Belle [in Beauty and the Beast] and while I was doing that show, I auditioned for Mary Poppins. I had to audition nine times in four months!

Cheeky: What is the best part/favorite part you’ve ever had?

AB: Of course, my two Disney roles, Belle and Mary Poppins. I also played Marian the Librarian in The Music Man and Cunegonda in Candide in college. Oh, and Maria in Westside Story.

Cheeky: How was it originating and bringing to life one of the most iconic characters of our generation?

AB: It’s definitely a bit more pressure to play such an iconic part, but I grew up watching the movies so many times – it was a dream come true. I love it because you have audiences already coming in loving the story and my job is to make sure they leave feeling the same way. But, I also need to bring myself to the role. With roles like Belle and Mary Poppins, the characters are in fantastical situations: I fall in love with a beast when I’m Belle and when I’m Mary Poppins, I fly. [Because of the fantasy that’s already there], I actually have to approach these roles from an even more real place. My job is to make the audience come in and forget everything going on outside and invest in what they’re seeing.

Cheeky: What kind of research did you do while preparing for this part?

AB: Before I auditioned, I didn’t watch the movie again because I didn’t want to copy and I didn’t want to recreate – even if you don’t try to copy and you watch the movie, you’re going to imitate it in some way. So, I read the book instead because I heard it was a huge part of the new musical and it gave me an insight into the character – it is so different in the book than in the movie. And then I put myself into the role. I’m not Julie Andrews, so I’m not going to be able to do that and I didn’t want to do that. And there’s so much new material in the musical so I was really able to make it my own. I added a quirkiness to her. I also did lots of reading about that time period. And the costumes definitely help.

Cheeky: How does it feel playing Mary Poppins on Broadway in New York versus in Chicago?

AB: Creating the role on Broadway was amazing – it was a lot of pressure and getting it all together was so exciting. I was learning so much as I was going just trying to take it all in. Roles like this come around so few in your life. I have so much fun playing Mary Poppins – it’s the role of a lifetime. I get to do so many things – dancing, singing, flying. I just wasn’t ready to leave it yet and I was so excited to bring the role on tour for all those people who couldn’t see it in New York. I wasn’t ready to give it up either.

Cheeky: Are you afraid of heights? Your flying scenes are just stunning!

AB: Not anymore! I thought I would be more scared going into it, but they didn’t fly me until three weeks before previews in New York and it felt so much safer and different than I thought it would feel. The brace feels kind of like a seat.

Cheeky: How do you actually prepare for each performance? Are you one of those actors who has a ritual or a secret lucky charm?

AB: I do. I always randomly put my left shoe on first. It’s really weird, I don’t know why. Even during my quick changes. I also say a special prayer every time I go on stage, even if it’s a concert or just one song. It just kind of happened and it’s strange.

Cheeky: Now some Cheeky questions for you. What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago?

AB: I have to say, one of the favorite things I’ve done is, I rented bikes a couple of times and rode around the aquarium and went to Navy Pier and rode the Ferris wheel. That was my favorite day – I got to spend it outside because I’m usually stuck in the theatre.

Cheeky: What’s the best restaurant you’ve been to?

AB: I love Vermilion on Hubbard – I’ve been there a couple of times. It’s really unique and I love it. We also go to Rockit a lot.

Cheeky: What do you like to do to unwind after a show?

AB: It changes – I kind of have to live in a pretty disciplined fashion – I do eight shows a week so I have to pace myself. But sometimes I’ll watch a movie with friends or go out for a little while, but most of the time, I kind of have to be a little boring. I definitely have a good time, but every decision I make – whether what I do during the day or at night – is based on having to do the show every night at 8 pm.

Cheeky: What is one thing you have to do before you leave Chicago?

AB: Go to the Field Museum.

Cheeky: Have you been to a Cubs game?

AB: Yes, three! I love baseball!

There ya have it! An actress who loves baseball. It doesn’t get more practically perfect than that. Catch Ashley Brown at the Cadillac Palace Theatre now through July 12th before she takes that famous umbrella and flies away!