The story of "Mary Poppins" is full of messages of hope and growth and wonder - the kinds of life lessons kids can get from extracurricular activities like theater.

Lititz Christian School's theater arts department will present its interpretation of the classic musical tale "Mary Poppins" at Warwick Middle School, 401 Maple St., Lititz, on Friday, March 31, at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, April 1, at 6:30 p.m. Both family-friendly performances will feature an all-grades cast and crew.

"If you break it down, the musical is about a disjointed family that needs to come back together," said Jennifer Balmer, LCS' director of "Mary Poppins." "Mary Poppins empowers the other characters to fix the problems themselves. There are certainly elements of magic to it. Mary Poppins lives to serve, which fits into our school's mission. She's a really cool character, and she's tough."

More than 50 students in kindergarten through 12th grade are involved in the production, as actors or stage crew members. Balmer estimated that the theater arts group as a whole has invested about 150 man hours of time in pulling it off.

Open auditions for the play were conducted during the first week of January, and the cast and crew has been conducting four or five rehearsals every week since. The performance features about 20 songs and musical numbers.

"A lot of the lead roles are handled by seniors, but some of the students are brand new to theater," said Balmer. "They're wonderful individuals who are hard-working and enjoy learning the theater. They really put themselves out there. They come with willing spirits."

Starring in the lead role of Mary Poppins is senior Kyla Mason, while fellow 12th-grader Brennan Lyon is tackling the role of Bert. The Banks children, Michael and Jane, are being portrayed by fifth-graders Hayden Martin and Sierra McCracken, respectively. Senior Tyler Velkly plays the role of George Banks, while senior Wynne Coolbeth holds down the role of Winifred Banks.

Balmer is assisted by music director Lisa Huber and senior stage manager Grace Gerard.

"There are a lot of logistics, a lot of planning, a lot of patience that goes into it," said Balmer. "Initially, I really want the students to understand the plot, and it takes a lot of hours to learn the songs. When you put that many hours into it, you better like it. If the attitude of the show is upbeat, it permeates into your personality. I wanted it to be a family show. I wanted a show that could bring people together."

Typically, the Lititz Christian theater arts department produces one play every school year, usually in the spring. LCS' past shows have included "The Importance of Being Earnest"; "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"; and "Annie."

"Theater builds community, and I'm all about community," said Balmer. "So much cross-curriculum happens in the arts, but especially on stage. There are just so many potential applications that can be applied to the performing arts - group work, working with a partner, teamwork, project-based learning."

Tickets for Lititz Christian School's "Mary Poppins" can be purchased at http://www.lititzchristian.net or at the door the night of the performance.