For the first time, a Warsaw Community High School Drama Department production will feature flying students.

“I think we have a pretty good reputation for doing things as professional as possible, so I thought if we were going to do ‘Mary Poppins,’ we might as well have flying,” Director Dana McAfee said.

The musical, based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, will be on the WCHS Performing Arts Center stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Flying By Foy Inc. is providing the flying effects. McAfee said the kids are really having fun with it, and said a team of parents are working with the flying team to help make it possible.

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Corporate sponsors for the flying are Silveus Insurance and Zimmer Biomet.

Also, during the song “Anything Can Happen” in the show, the students are singing to the stars in the sky. Light-up star wands will be sold before each show for the audience to serve as stars. The wands will be sold for $6 each or two for $10, cash or check only.

In the show, a banker father, named Mr. Banks, and suffragette mother have two impossible children. The kids can only get their father’s attention by causing grief for each new nanny they don’t like. After they write an ad for a new nanny, Mary Poppins appears at their home, arriving from the skies. The children quickly warm to her, and the next day they meet Poppins’ friend Bert. While Poppins gets the children to behave better, Mr. Banks isn’t happy with the fantastic stories his children tell him of their adventures. He takes his kids to his bank, only to end up being fired for a series of disasters. By the end, everything ends on a good note.

Set in London in 1910, the musical features original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, and a book by Julian Fellows. It also incorporates new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. It was co-created by Cameron Mackintosh.

McAfee said audiences will hear some very familiar songs from the movie but also new songs written for the stage production.

Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. Pre-sale tickets are available for reserved seating by contacting the box office at 574-371-5040.

Cast members (in order of appearance) include: William Robison as Bert; Kyle Rickert, George Banks; NaevEnya Moore, Winnifred Banks; Chloe Hoskins, Jane Banks; Nathaniel Utley, Michael Banks; Wakelyn Hudson, Katie Nana; Tyler McClone, policeman/chorus; Eleanor Williamson, Miss Lark; Andrew Hawblitzel, Admiral Boom; Katie Lauck, Mrs. Brill; Brielle Fehlmann, Robertson Ay; Sophia Schlitt, Mary Poppins; Nathaniel Wilcox, park keeper/chorus; Theo Cooke, Neleus/chorus; Danie Miner, Queen Victoria/Miss Smythe; Annalise Harstine and Lauren Housel as statues/chorus; Joshua Fisher, bank chairman/chorus; Patrick Priest, Von Hussler/Teddy Bear/chorus; Kyle Kuhn, Northbrook/chorus; Yvonne Castillo, bird woman/chorus; Olivia James, Mrs. Corry/chorus; Emma Spencer, Fanny/chorus; Katie Jones, Annie/messenger/chorus; Rachel Smith, Valentine/chorus; Lauren Housel, ballerina doll/chorus; Kyleigh Herring, Miss Andrew/chorus; and Ian Peloza as a doorman/chorus.

Also in the chorus are Emmalee Cole, Mel DeBoest, Deanna Folsom, Payton Green, Damian Jordan, Ellie Lewis, Alyssa Madden, Addison Marshall, Desiree Miller, Macy Miller, Emily Oler, Bailey Raulo, Abby Seese, Jasmine Stroup.

Dancers are Alliana Fitzpatrick, Deanna Folsom, Victoria Forschner, Charlotte Grandon, Kyleigh Herring, Dezaray Miller, Tiffany Moore, Heather Samonski, Quinn Smith, Colton Wottring.

Musical director is Thomas Hall.