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SALT LAKE CITY -- A summer road trip has been no vacation for one young Utahn. 12-year-old Talon Ackerman is a cast member of the National touring company of "Mary Poppins" and has now come home to perform.
He has quite the resume for someone so young. But Ackerman lights up when he talks about performing for family and friends. Away from home for two years, he hopes to take fellow cast members into the mountains and make audiences laugh as the little boy who comes to love his nanny,"Mary Poppins".
The iconic music and dance of one of Disney's biggest hits comes from Broadway to Salt Lake City. Acherman, from Utah, performs in the starring role of Michael Banks.
"Michael and Jane are onstage more than Mary and Bert, so, it's actually a very big role," Ackerman said. "And also he's pretty bratty and you don't really ever get to play bratty when you're at home, so, it's fun to be bratty onstage."
At age 12, he has played many characters in plays including "Young Tarzan" and "Cats", both at Tuacahn, as well as in "The Secret Garden" and "Our Town." He has even performed for film and television.
At age 12, he has played many characters in plays including "Young Tarzan" and "Cats", both at Tuacahn, as well as in "The Secret Garden" and "Our Town." He has even performed for film and television.
He started at age 4 watching his older brother on stage. "I always wanted to be like my older brother, so I told my mom I wanted to try acting and I loved it."
The producers liked Ackerman so much that they asked him to leave two shows in Utah to begin rehearsals for 'Mary Poppins.'
I closed on 'Tarzan' and I'd fly a red eye to Washington, D.C. and then I had my first rehearsal that next day. So, it was pretty, done, done, done."
Ackerman has set his sights on an acting career. He, his mom, brother and sister are moving to NYC, hoping to make that dream come true.
"I love entertaining people and making them laugh on stage. I just get a kick out of it. It's just something I'd like to do for the rest of my life."
The Broadway touring company of "Mary Poppins" opens at the Capitol Theatre this Thursday, Sept. 1st and runs through the 25th.
Email: [cmikita@ksl.com](<mailto: cmikita@ksl.com>)
