Mary Poppins Went Flying With The Culture House - The Magic & Mechanics of Stage Flight!
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
At The Culture House, our recent production of Mary Poppins The Musical featured something special: flying. But what does “Mary Poppins went flying” actually mean? Is it just theatrical spectacle—or something deeper? In this article we’ll take you behind the scenes: the rich history of flying actors on stage, how modern rigs make it safe and seamless, and why it matters for storytelling.
“From Ancient Greece to Broadway: The Evolution of Stage Flying”
The concept of flying actors on stage is nearly as old as theater itself, dating back to ancient Greece around 425 B.C. Where a mechanism called the mekhane (a derrick or crane) was used to literally lower actors costumed as gods onto the stage. This is the origin of the dramatic device known as deus ex machina. Which is when a seemingly impossible or unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the unexpected intervention of a new character, object, or event.
“Inside the Fly System: How Actors Take to the Air”
Modern stage flight, which focuses on safe, natural, and highly choreographed movement, was revolutionized by the legendary Peter Foy starting in the mid-20th century. Foy’s innovations, such as the Inter-Related Pendulum system, defined the iconic "free flight" seen in the original 1954 Broadway production of Peter Pan starring Mary Martin, launching a new era of theatrical spectacle. This is perhaps the most famous example of flight in theatre, where the ability to fly symbolizes youthful freedom and imagination.
Foy's company, Flying by Foy (and others, including "On The Fly" - the company TCH worked with to fly Mary Poppins!), continues to specialize in creating these flying illusions--using sophisticated rigging, counterbalance weights, and advanced fully automated systems to achieve everything from gentle ascents to complex aerial action.
“Why Flying Matters: Storytelling, Spectacle & Emotion”
Whether used for practical travel like the hot air balloon flight in The Wizard of Oz or for deeper metaphorical effect, stage flying makes the impossible seem real. In the musical Billy Elliot, for example, the protagonist’s dream sequence often involves him flying, using the literal act of flight as a powerful metaphor for the liberation and joy he finds in dance. Even in more recent, technically ambitious shows (anyone seen Aladdin's magic carpet ride on Broadway?), the essential goals remain the same: to amaze audiences and to further immerse viewers in these mesmerizing live performances.
“Our Mary Poppins Flying Experience”
In The Culture House's recent production of Mary Poppins The Musical, we had a fantastic time performing Mary’s magnificent ascents and descents with her trademark umbrella, kite, and carpet bag. Our crew of six volunteer parents trained extensively with On The Fly, and then used an intricate rope and pulley system to fly Mary three times in each performance, to a spectacular response from the audiences. Thus following in this grand Broadway musical tradition of making a character's unbelievable abilities seem real, while also creating joyful moments of awe for our audiences.
If you follow our social media accounts--you can see more fun pics of our many vibrant recent and upcoming productions...
We had a blast sharing these magical flying moments with our audiences. At The Culture House, we don’t just put on shows — we invite you to believe in flight, wonder, music, movement, and everything else that's possible through the powerful positivity of the arts.
We look forward to seeing you soon around the House! -The TCH Team