TWO weeks ago “CityNews” told readers to start memorising the word “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and now it’s official – Free Rain Theatre has bagged the rights to stage “Mary Poppins” at the Canberra Theatre in March 2015.

It’s another coup for director Anne Somes who also won the rights to stage “The Phantom of the Opera” at the Canberra theatre last year over many other local contenders.

It is believed this will be no copycat production and that a completely new set and costumes will be designed, leaving the old Julie Andrews image of the eccentric nanny who saves the Banks family, well in the past.

Free Rain has moved in the last year from being a small local amateur company producing classic stage texts  to a large Pro-Am outfit importing interstate and international stars to do blockbuster musicals. In this way they can avoid the hand to mouth existence of most other companies, bank the profits and use that roll in new enterprises.

Somes has hired interstate talent for the company’s next production, “Legally Blonde the Musical,” and you can be sure there will be more of the same for “Mary Poppins”. As well, with the potential to cast local actors in child and character parts, this is bound to be a hit with the public.