Hannah Beth Baker and Emily Farmer-Smith have a friendship that is super … califragilisticexpialidocious.
Like many best friends, Baker and Farmer-Smith share a love for many things, most notably theatre. It's what brought them together as classmates at Weatherford High School and continued through their time at Weatherford College.
In fact, Baker was maid of honor when her best friend married Austin Smith in June.
Now, they are reunited and sharing one of the most iconic roles in entertainment history. They are both playing the title character in the Granbury Theatre Company's upcoming production of “Mary Poppins,” which runs Aug. 7 through Sept. 6 at the Historic Granbury Opera House.
"I always enjoy being double cast because it gives you a built-in-friend at rehearsals and it's interesting to see another person's take on the character so close up," Farmer-Smith said. "I've especially enjoyed being doubled with Hannah Beth because we're already great friends so we just have a great time; we're always giggling together!"
While their theatre careers have taken them to plenty of places, some together, some not, this is the first time they've played the same role. So, ironically, while they are cast together, they are not in the same cast and won't be together onstage as before.
But it's still a blast to be performing in the same show at the same venue, one of America's most legendary in small towns.
"We have way too much fun at rehearsals," Baker said. "I’d say we work very similarly and understand each other very well, so communicating during rehearsals is a breeze.
"There’s not much collaboration between doubles in this type of production, but we are similarly minded when collaboration is necessary. I love seeing the differences in our characters because it shows the differences in our own personalities."
Among their great roles were Baker as the Scarecrow and Farmer-Smith as the Tin Man in the Weatherford High School production of “The Wizard of Oz.” The show received three nominations at the 2023 Broadway Dallas Awards, including Best Ensemble, Best Choreography and Baker as Lead Performer.
Farmer-Smith played lead character Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde Jr.” while Baker was Emmett Forrest; and, Baker was Jo March and Farmer-Smith was her sister Meg in the Weatherford College production of “Little Women.”
Micky Shearon, Granbury Theatre Company president, said having two such talented young actresses sharing the role of Mary Poppins is a director’s dream.
“Both young ladies are consummate stage professionals, and their talent is surpassed only by the quality of the people they are,” he said. “The fact that these two ladies grew up together in Weatherford, have performed together numerous times over the years, and are basically best friends makes them even stronger in tackling the role of Mary Poppins. The chemistry and bond Hannah and Emily share is immediately obvious as you watch them during rehearsals, bouncing ideas off each other and comparing notes.”
Shearon remembered the first time he met Baker nearly 10 years ago when her mother, Elizabeth Baker -- a Weatherford theatre legend in her own right and creator of the Second Star Theatre Company -- brought her to see a production of “Hello Dolly!”
“I gave them a quick backstage tour, and Hannah’s eyes were literally as big as silver dollars. It was just later that year that Hannah auditioned for her first show at the Granbury Opera House, and she was cast in our Christmas production of ‘Meet Me in St Louis,’” he said. “From there, Hannah became one of our core performers in both our theatre academy productions and our mainstage productions.
“While Emily hasn’t been involved with Granbury Theatre Company quite as long as Hannah, her impact has been just as significant,” Shearon said.
Farmer-Smith has also appeared in numerous Granbury Theatre Academy productions as well as several mainstage productions, including the female lead in the mainstage production of “Oklahoma” a couple of summers ago.
“What makes both young ladies so impressive is that they are uber-talented, but they are also two of the best human beings you would ever hope to meet,” Shearon said. “As artists, both Hannah and Emily are so good about being stage mentors and positive role models to the younger artists they work with.”
While the role made famous by Julie Andrews, which won her an Academy Award in 1965, was something Baker grew up with in her household, Farmer-Smith didn't learn about the character until grade school. Her initial reaction wasn't what you might have thought.
"I remember the first time I watched Mary Poppins was in music class in elementary school, and I thought it was quite boring because we never even got to supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" she said. "I didn't know what I was missing out on.
"Once I got older and watched it on my own I was obsessed with Mary, Michael, Jane, and Bert (played by another Hollywood legend, Dick Van Dyke) jumping into Bert's painting because I thought it was so colorful and fun, and the 2D against the 3D is so cool. A lot of the time I would start the movie and skip straight to that part.
"I love Mary Poppins' story of family connection and imagination. To me the musical and movie highlight the importance of the bond between parents and their children and finding the fun in everyday situations,” she said.
Baker, on the other hand...
"The movie was a staple in our house even before I was born, and I ended up being a part of some version of the musical five times, including this production," Baker said. "Mary Poppins taught me the importance of parents’ role in their children's lives, that you’re never too old to have fun, and that you should never settle."
Now, they are each bringing that character to life for other children to enjoy, learn from and have in their own memories as they grow into adulthood.
"I'm so excited to bring this character to life, especially since the role was originated by Julie Andrews, who I very much look up to as an actress and singer," Farmer-Smith said. "It can be a little intimidating to play super iconic characters, but something I've learned from my previous experience with these types of roles is that as long as you stay true to the material, genuinely love the character yourself, and respect the original work and what it means to people, audiences will enjoy and respect your performance as well.
"I try to bring forward her playfulness and joy while also being very straightforward and embodying her 'no-nonsense' way. The most challenging, but fun, part about playing her is finding that balance between a firm but caring hand," Farmer-Smith said.
Baker noted, "I believe everyone wants to be Mary Poppins, at least a little bit. It’s an honor and a joy to get to embody not only an iconic character, but one that was originated by an equally iconic actress, Julie Andrews."
Baker is finishing up her bachelor’s degree in theatre from Oklahoma City University and is planning a career in theatre. Her dream is to perform under the brightest spotlight of all.
"I am planning on moving to New York City after graduation to allow me to audition for more professional opportunities -- a Broadway audition is a dream," she said. "Ultimately, my biggest goal is making a living off of performing and having a family."
Farmer-Smith is finishing up her bachelor’s degree from WC with plans to become an elementary school teacher.
"I'm still trying to figure out how big of a role acting and singing is going to play in my life, and although I'm not planning on pursuing something such as Broadway, I always try to take opportunities when they are presented to me, and I never want to stop performing," she said.
"I'm so grateful and blessed to be able to share the talents God gave me on the stage, and I never would have imagined I could come this far. But as Mary Poppins says, "Anything can happen if you let it."
For tickets to Mary Poppins, visit www.granburytheatrecompany.org.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here