Ben Stoner knew two things about this year’s spring musical at Crystal Lake South High School. It was going to be “Mary Poppins.” And she was going to fly.

He knew this at a time when the school – along with high schools throughout the country – didn’t have the rights to the production.

Determined, he pursued and waited. A week before rehearsals were slated to begin, within a week from having to change the show, he earned the rights.

“It was kind of a leap of faith in a way,” said Stoner, the production’s director and an 18-year theater director at the school, where he’s taught full time for the past 15 years.

“I really kind of knew deep down it was the right show this year, and it was worth the risk for me,” he said. “I’ve got a tremendous group of students right now, many of whom are seniors.”

With “Disney’s Mary Poppins” opening Feb. 27 at the school, Crystal Lake will become one of the first high schools to put it on. Sterling High School opens with a production of “Mary Poppins” on the same night. On the tails of both schools is Richmond-Burton Community High School, which presents its “Mary Poppins” March 6-8.

Interest in the productions has been overwhelming, say those involved.

“It’s just one of those titles that is magnetic,” Stoner said. “People love ‘Mary Poppins’ even more than I thought they did. Students love the material. Their parents love it. Their grandparents love it. Our staff’s children love it. Everyone seems to adore this one.

“I feel such a responsibility because this is such a beloved, iconic character and such a beloved story.”

Though the film “Mary Poppins” premiered in 1964, the Broadway musical didn’t open until 2005.

It takes years for Broadway shows to be available to regional and then amateur theater companies, Stoner said. Shows such as “Wicked,” for instance, one of the longest running shows on Broadway, likely won’t be available for quite a while, he said.

“You have to wait patiently for the global product to close, the national tours to come to a close, before they prepare materials for regional productions and then amateur productions,” he said.

When Stoner saw that Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire earned the rights to perform “Mary Poppins” last season, he set out to bring it to Crystal Lake.

He had one condition.

“I made it very clear to my colleagues and administrators I wasn’t interested in a Mary Poppins that couldn’t fly,” he said.

She’ll definitely fly.

Among a cast of about 60, Poppins, played by senior Cassidy Skorija, and five crew members underwent three full days of training to accomplish the flying spectacle. Stoner didn’t want to give anything away, but said the audience can expect a surprise.

Besides the technical aspects, the show includes 262 costumes and massive musical numbers. Stoner is dedicating the production to retiring Crystal Lake South band director Chris Keyes, who’s directed for 31 years at the school.

“I really wanted to make this special for him,” Stoner said. “I don’t think he’s been as excited about a show in a long time. He’s assembled a really talented group of students. It’s kind of become his swan song.”

Crystal Lake South's production of "Mary Poppins" is scheduled for Feb. 27 through March 7. Tickets cost $10 a person. For a complete schedule and ticket information, call 815-893-5199 or visit www.d155.org/cls.

To raise money for the school’s theater department, a silent auction will take place in the cafeteria before and after the show as well as during intermission. A 50/50 raffle will be drawn at inermission of the final show March 7. Among at least 140 auction items donated by theater families are framed and autographed photos of Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Adam Levin, Johnny Depp and others, autographed Stanley Cup pucks, White Sox tickets, golf outings, Chicago Bulls tickets and more.

Richmond-Burton Community High School’s “Mary Poppins” will be at 7 p.m. March 6 and 7 and 2 p.m. March 8, with tickets costing $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Weekend passes for all three shows cost $20 for adults and $14 for students and seniors. Call Diane Kane at 815-678-4525 or emaile dkane@rbchs.com for information.