A magical nanny is swooping into Over-the-Rhine this month, as The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati opens its 107th season with Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins JR. at the Emery Theater. The family-friendly musical runs through October 25, with tickets starting at just $12.
According to WKRC, the 70-minute production follows the magical nanny as she brings new perspective and adventure to the Banks family, and it's recommended for audiences ages 4 and older. The show is adapted from P.L. Travers' original stories as well as the beloved Disney film, and per The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, it's directed by the company's artistic director, Roderick Justice.
Fans of the original film will find plenty to sing along to, since the production folds in the Sherman Brothers' most memorable tunes alongside a few newer additions. The theatre's listing credits Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman for the original music and lyrics, with new songs written by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Audiences can expect to hear Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, A Spoonful of Sugar, and Step in Time performed live on stage.
A New Home Gives the Story Fresh Scale
This marks the show's run inside the historic Emery Theater, a venue the theatre company has leaned into since returning there for its 2025–2026 season, as noted in its own production history. TCT President and CEO Kim Kern told CityBeat that the space allows the company to tell this particular story in a bigger way, saying the Emery Theater gives us the opportunity to tell it with an entirely new sense of scale and wonder, according to CityBeat.
CityBeat's report describes the production as an all-ages show built around colorful characters, an irresistible score, high-flying theatrical effects, and the Emery Theater's immersive stage technology. The outlet also notes that this Mary Poppins JR. staging opens the theatre's 107th season overall, continuing a tradition that stretches back generations in Cincinnati's arts scene.
Accessibility Built Into the Run
Families who need accommodations have an option built into the schedule. An American Sign Language-interpreted and audio-described performance is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, giving deaf, hard-of-hearing, and blind or low-vision patrons a dedicated showing during the run. That accessible format follows a pattern the company established the previous season, when it planned ASL interpretation and audio description for second-Saturday 2 p.m. performances across its full lineup, according to Behind the Curtain Cincy.
The theatre's productions are generally designed for children ages 4 and up and their families, per the same report. Looking ahead, the Emery Theater will remain the backdrop for the company's work beyond this single show — BroadwayWorld reports that the 2026–2027 MainStage season, TCT's 107th overall, will include four MainStage productions staged at the historic venue.
With performances continuing through October 25 and ticket prices starting at $12, the run offers an accessible entry point for Cincinnati families looking to catch a classic story reimagined for a new generation on an Over-the-Rhine stage built for exactly that kind of spectacle.
