GORHAM, ME (December 30, 2022) — Gorham High School has always had a reputation for its annual musical. The Gorham Musical has a long standing history of turning out top quality productions that the whole community can support.  Countless students from GHS have left the theater program and gone onto Broadway and other regional theaters. This year GHS may be swallowing a bigger ‘spoon full of sugar’ than they expected. 

In the beginning of 2022, Joshua Hurd (the musicals director) announced the 2023 musical would be Disney’s Mary Poppins, and that “yes, Mary is going to fly!” Since that time the production team for the high school musical has been working tirelessly to raise the funds needed to pay for Flying By Foy to come to the school and install the flying system that will allow Mary Poppins soar above Cherry Tree Lane.  Flying By Foy is a professional stage flying company out of Las Vegas that has flown celebrities and stage productions all over the world. When they first announced the production they also announced a very ambitious fundraising goal of $15,000.  That amount was only to help cover the cost of the flying.  “It’s not just the system itself that you pay for.  It’s the cost of someone to install it, the travel and lodging and then the shipping.  We’ve been coordinating with Foy since summer started” said Jocelyn Miller the show’s Production Manager and Producer. 

The production is less than a month from opening, and still falling short of their goal.  “Ultimately we wanted to keep ticket costs low, but we have had to consider raising the price to help with the expenses this year” said Hurd.  The team behind the the musical has been fundraising most of the year.  They partnered with The Desert of Maine in Freeport and hosted a Mini Golf Tournament that they hope to make an annual event. They have been reaching out to ask for donations from local businesses and so far have raised about $10,000.  Major contributors have been Lisa Lists Maine, Ryan Senatore Architecture, Jordan’s Furniture, MK Kitchen,  Casco Federal Credit Union, and Hannford.  Hillside Lumber is also donating the material to build the massive set for the show. 

The production itself is such a challenge to produce that many local theaters will not take it on.  There have even been a few local community theaters that announced they would do the show, and then canceled due to production support.  There are over 40 students involved with show, both on stage and behind the senes this year.  The orchestra has 12 performers, there are over 100 costumes, over 100 props, over 20 songs that include Jolly Holiday, Let’s Go Fly a Kite, Step In Time, Spoon Full of Sugar, Feed the Birds and yes Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious which also is being performed to the original broadway choreography. “It’s a massive undertaking of a show.  We are so excited to perform it and learn all the songs” said junior Nick Tinkham who plays George Banks. 

“We couldn’t be more excited this year.  The whole district is working so hard to make this happen.  We want the whole community to come and enjoy the show” Said Hurd. 

Tickets can be purchased this year in advance online at eventbrite.com.  All tickets are the same price for all performance and all seats this year.  All seats are first come first serve general seating. 

Abby Fieore (Nelius), Maddie Downey (Mary Poppins, and Patrick Delaney (Bert). Photo by Molly Breton of Molly Breton & Company. www.mollybretonandco.com