Grammy-winning OU alum Adrianna Hicks flies back to Oklahoma to star in 'Mary Poppins'

Brandy McDonnell, The Oklahoman

Her character's signature umbrella held aloft, Adrianna Hicks let out a series of high-pitched squeals recently as she soared all the way up into the lighting grid above the Civic Center stage.

"This time, maybe go as high as you feel comfortable and can go," instructed Lyric Theatre's Executive Producer Ashley Wells.

After drifting gently back down, Hicks landed with her feet perfectly pointed in her sneakers, her bent knees and tightly strapped harness concealed under her long red coat. The Grammy-winning performer swapped places with her understudy, Mica Martinez-Harkey, then eagerly peered at a crew member's phone to watch video clips of her first theatrical flight practice.

"Woo. That's so much fun. It's an adjustment, but it's great. It's just really cool," she enthused to The Oklahoman. "You gotta have it (the harness) in the right spot, or it will hurt. But it's lovely. It's going to be really great.

"It's just the magic of it all."

OU alumnus and Broadway star Adrianna Hicks, who is playing the title role in Lyric Theatre’s “Mary Poppins” June 25-30 at the Civic Center, learns how to fly at the June 18 rehearsal.
OU alumnus and Broadway star Adrianna Hicks, who is playing the title role in Lyric Theatre’s “Mary Poppins” June 25-30 at the Civic Center, learns how to fly at the June 18 rehearsal.

A University of Oklahoma alumnus who has starred in celebrated Broadway productions of "Some Like It Hot," "Six" and "The Color Purple," Hicks is back in the Sooner State to take on the title role in Lyric Theatre's summer season opener, "Mary Poppins."

"Oklahoma is like my home ... and coming back here, it's just all of the wonderful feelings," Hicks said.

Lyric will launch its 2024 "Summer at the Civic" three-show season June 25-30 with a “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” comeback for "Mary Poppins," after its 2015 production proved one of the most successful shows in the nonprofit professional theater's six-decade history.

"She's like Audra McDonald or Kelli O'Hara. She's the next big star from Oklahoma," said Lyric Producing Artistic Director Michael Baron. "It's a fresh look at a show that everyone loves, and it has all the songs and amazing dancing."

Who is Grammy-winning OU graduate Adrianna Hicks?

Strolling into the Civic Center's Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre to prepare for her first flying rehearsal, Hicks, 35, came to a sudden stop when she spotted the giant silhouette of her own profile dominating the backdrop.

"I love this theater so much — oh, that's my face! Oh, there it is," Hicks said with a squeal. "Wow."

Her titular turn in "Mary Poppins" is bringing back fond memories of the summer of 2011, when she performed in Lyric Theatre's productions of "Ragtime," "Hairspray," and "Oliver."

"I had just graduated college. ... That summer was probably one of the best summers of my life, really," she recalled. "To be in the space again, it's just truly a trip down memory lane."

After earning her bachelor's degree in Oklahoma, Hicks began her professional theater career with Stage Entertainment in Germany after OU musical theater professor Paul Christman helped get her an audition. After moving to Europe, she performed in “Dirty Dancing — The Classic Story on Stage” and “Sister Act” in Germany and “Legally Blonde” in Austria.

The McKinney, Texas, native made her Broadway debut in 2015 in the Tony-winning revival of "The Color Purple" and starred in the show's national tour, which played Oklahoma City in 2017, marking her Sooner State return.

Hicks also performed on Broadway in 2017 in the ensemble of the Disney musical adaptation "Aladdin."

She went on to originate the role of Catherine of Aragon on Broadway in the smash musical "Six," an innovative remix of the historical stories of the six ill-fated Tudor queens who married Henry VIII.

Flying Director Daniel Stover adjusts the harness for OU alumnus and Broadway star Adrianna Hicks, who is playing the title role in Lyric Theatre’s “Mary Poppins” June 25-30 at the Civic Center learns how to fly at the June 18 rehearsal.
Flying Director Daniel Stover adjusts the harness for OU alumnus and Broadway star Adrianna Hicks, who is playing the title role in Lyric Theatre’s “Mary Poppins” June 25-30 at the Civic Center learns how to fly at the June 18 rehearsal.

In 2022, Hicks left "Six" to join the cast of "Some Like It Hot," a new musical based on the Oscar-winning 1959 film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. She originated the role of Sugar, the part played by Monroe, in the musical, which won four Tony Awards as well as the Grammy for best musical theater album.

One of the principal vocalists on the original cast recording of the Broadway musical "Some Like It Hot," Hicks is now a Grammy winner for her work on the show.

"That was something I never thought was gonna happen in my life, but here we are. ... A lot of people don't know this, but my journey on 'Some Like It Hot' started over five years ago. So, it was a long, extensive cultivation that blossomed into something really, really great. And I'm so proud of it," Hicks said.

Flying Director Daniel Stover works with OU alumnus and Broadway star Adrianna Hicks, who is playing the title role in Lyric Theatre's "Mary Poppins" June 25-30 at the Civic Center learns how to fly at rehearsal on June 18.
Flying Director Daniel Stover works with OU alumnus and Broadway star Adrianna Hicks, who is playing the title role in Lyric Theatre's "Mary Poppins" June 25-30 at the Civic Center learns how to fly at rehearsal on June 18.

How is the rising Broadway star preparing to play Mary Poppins?

As she wiggled her hips to adjust her harness and practiced bending her knees and bringing her heels together, Hicks couldn't help but slip into her British accent as she declared that she had everything "practically perfect" and ready for a second run through the various flights she will be making as the famously enchanted nanny.

"First of all, I've always been a Disney fan. So, getting to create Disney magic in some sort of way and playing the lead character, I am so excited about that. I can't wait to fly. I've never flown before in the theater," she said. "It's just another thing in my book that I'm like, 'OK, we did that.' Let's go."

Jeffery Meek, Costume Director, holds the outfit for OU alumnus and Broadway star Adrianna Hicks, who is playing the title role in Lyric Theatre’s “Mary Poppins” June 25-30 at the Civic Center learns how to fly at rehearsal on June 18.
Jeffery Meek, Costume Director, holds the outfit for OU alumnus and Broadway star Adrianna Hicks, who is playing the title role in Lyric Theatre’s “Mary Poppins” June 25-30 at the Civic Center learns how to fly at rehearsal on June 18.

With its script by Oscar winner Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park"), the Tony Award-winning musical is based on the groundbreaking 1964 Disney film as well as P.L. Travers' beloved book series. It includes iconic songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar," “Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Step in Time."

Choreographed by Vincent Sandoval, the production is directed by Lyn Cramer, a dance professor at OU who taught Hicks tap.

"She also cast me in my very first production at OU, which was 'Anything Goes.' And she cast me as Mrs. Harcourt, which, again, is non-traditional casting. ... But she saw that I had the talent, I was enough for the part, and she just placed me there. So, now it's kind of the same thing," Hicks said. "It's monumental in so many ways."

As a Black performer, Hicks said she's thrilled to be working in a time and place where she is able to take on roles like Mary Poppins that probably wouldn't have been offered to her in the past.

"I love her heart and how she's very direct and very much stands in her power. (She) is very comfortable in her own skin and knows what she has to offer. And, listen, being a Black woman and being able to represent ... this iconic character tied to Julie Andrews, I'm definitely excited about that," Hicks said.

"It's been amazing to be a part of the musical theater canon that has expanded that spectrum for all women to play."

'Mary Poppins'

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Behind the scenes as OU alumnus Adrianna Hicks flies as Mary Poppins

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