EVERETT — Walt Disney’s favorite song in his “Mary Poppins” movie was “Feed the Birds,” with lyrics that speak of acceptance and charity.
It’s a theme that resonates with the people who started the Ludus youth theater group three years ago. Everybody gets a part. Everyone is accepted, encouraged and loved.
The Lake Stevens-based theater group is staging the Disney and Cameron Mackintosh musical through July 30 at the PUD theater in Everett. The director is 20-year-old Steven Ortiz, whose family and friends run the group.
One of the cast members is Tessa Shevlin, 11, who plays Jane Banks, the little girl in Mary Poppins’ care.
Not long ago Tessa was suffering from a rare autoimmune disease, juvenile dermatomyositis, that caused problems with her muscles, joints and skin. She no longer has skin rashes, but she remains a shy kid, a part of her personality that developed during the most painful days of the disease.
Being involved with Ludus has helped, Tessa said.
“We’re all one big family, no matter what our backgrounds,” she said. “Theater is fun, but it’s really hard work.”
Maleah Haverly, 15, a junior at Monroe High School, plays Mary Poppins, a role she has dreamed about most of her life.
“Tessa does work hard. She knows her stuff. She’s even saved me a few times with a line or two,” Maleah said. “This musical is a challenge, but we are all doing good work.”
Erik Ortiz, 16, a Lake Stevens High School junior, plays Bert and is the director’s brother. Their mother, Cheryl Ortiz, is the producer and father, Mario Ortiz, designs and builds the sets.
“Ludus has really brought our family together on a great project,” Erik said. “And I love playing Bert, with his happy outlook and Cockney accent.”
Fiona Balbirona, 18, a recent graduate of Lake Stevens, plays the Bird Woman. She’s been involved with Ludus since its inception and is good friends with the director, Steven Ortiz.
They got involved with theater at Cavelero Mid High and continued with that interest into high school.
“The original idea was that this group of us would do skits around the community,” Ortiz said. “But then we all wanted to do a musical.”
Among the shows the group has done include the abbreviated musical versions of “Jungle Book,” “Annie,” “Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Shrek” and “Mulan” and the regular version of “Into the Woods.”
“It’s about getting kids involved and building them up,” said Steven Ortiz, who has studied at Everett Community College and plans to study at Cornish College of the Arts. “It’s good for all of us.”
If you go
Ludus Performing Arts’ production of the musical “Mary Poppins” will be performed at 7 p.m. July 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23,28, 29 and 30, and at 2 p.m. July 16, 17, 24 and 30, all at the Snohomish PUD theater, 2320 California St., Everett. For tickets, call 425-239-6627. More at www.ludusyouththeatre.org.
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