RESERVE — River Parish Community Theatre officials announced this week that their 2019 summer show is going to be “Mary Poppins.”

Community Theatre President John LeBlanc said “Mary Poppins” and the story it tells is a perfect choice for 2019 after the incredible experience in the summer of 2018.

“The lesson that ‘anything can happen if you let it’ is a perfect summary of how the community has embraced RPCT and the hard work we put forth,” LeBlanc said. “For the first time ever in this area, last summer our show (“Beauty and the Beast”) sold out every seat before we opened the curtain. That’s humbling and rewarding all at once.”

River Parish Community Theatre will add another show to the summer run, bringing the total number of shows to eight from their customary six-show run.

“The River Parish community has come to appreciate the quality productions we offer, and last summer we heard lots of pressure to add another show,” LeBlanc said. “We are excited to add another matinee to the run. This means another first in our region. RPCT will offer a two-show day by performing a matinee and an evening show in the same day.”

Show dates for “Mary Poppins” are July 12, 13 (2 shows), 14, 17-20 at St. Peter School in Reserve.

Darryl P. Clement will again be at the helm as director.

“Mary Poppins” is the story of the Banks family who live in a big house in London on Cherry Lane. Things are not going well for the family.

The children, Jane and Michael, are out of control and are in need of a new nanny. Jane and Michael have their own ideas about what sort of caretaker they should have, while their parents — and in particular Mr. Banks — are insistent on someone strict for the job.

When a mysterious young woman named Mary Poppins appears at their doorstep, the family finds that she’s the answer to their prayers, but in the most peculiar way. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones she has a profound effect upon.

Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises “anything can happen if you let it.”

For more information, visit riverparishtheatre.org.