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| Presented on May 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16, 2009 at 7:30PM. A matinee
is presented on May 10, 2009 at 3:00 PM. All performances are held at
the
Civic Center Little Theater.
The box office at the Civic Center opens starting April 20, 2009. Box
office hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and one
hour prior to curtain on show nights. All seats are reserved at $20. |
Overview
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 One of the most celebrated of shows by the most celebrated of musical teams,
Rodgers and Hammerstein, South Pacific is a
story of love, heroism, courage, optimism, and the promise of America. The story
was adapted from two short stories by James Michener. The setting is an island paradise during World War II
where two parallel love affairs are
threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Nellie, a spunky nurse
from Arkansas, falls in love with a mature French planter, Emile. Nellie
learns that the mother of his half-caste children was an island native. Unable to turn
her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, she refuses Emile’s
proposal of marriage. Meanwhile, the strapping Lieutenant Joe Cable
denies himself the fulfillment of a future with an innocent Tonkinese
girl with whom he’s fallen in love for the same reasons that haunt Nellie.
When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission
behind Japanese lines that claims Joe's life, Nellie realizes that
life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, thus confronting
and finally conquering her prejudices.
The genius of South Pacific is
that even though it is set against a backdrop of early twentieth-century events
and social mores, the show feels fresh and timeless even today. Oscar
Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers knew that prejudice was a trait not easily
overcome in any generation and the ideals they present are especially
appropriate for our own turbulent world.
The original Broadway production featured Mary Martin and marked the Broadway debut of
Metropolitan Opera basso Ezio Pinza. It opened at the Majestic Theatre on
April 7, 1949 and ran for 1,925 performances. The show won the Pulitzer
Prize, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and nine Tony Awards. It was the
biggest sensation of post-World War II Broadway, and second only to Oklahoma! as the era’s longest-running musical.
The classic 1958 film version featured Mitzi Gaynor and Rosanno Brazzi. The matchless score features such unforgettable songs as Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna
Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair, There is Nothing Like a Dame, I’m In Love
With A Wonderful Guy, and the haunting Bali Hai.
Long overdue for a return, the show was
previously performed by the Guild in 1991, 1967, and 1960.
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Characters
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Character |
|
Description |
|
Played By |
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Nellie Forbush |
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An optimistic, simple young Navy nurse from Little Rock, Arkansas who falls in
love with Emile. |
|
Marina Jurica |
|
Emile de Becque
|
|
A wealthy, cultured, dignified, and middle-aged French planter who falls in love
with Nellie. |
|
Bill Rainey |
|
Lt. Joe Cable |
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A young, formal, good-looking officer
who falls in love with Liat. |
|
Mark Parsons |
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Bloody Mary |
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A shrewd Tokinese souvenir dealer who
is also trying to find her daughter, Liat, a rich husband. |
|
Janelle Williams |
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Liat |
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Bloody Mary's young and
innocent daughter. |
|
Shakira Martin |
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Luther Billis |
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A mediocre entrepreneur, friend to
all, and a man with a lust for the ladies. |
|
Chris Terpening |
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Stewpot |
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Comic soldier. |
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John Valleau |
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The Professor |
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Sidekick to Luther Billis and
soldier. |
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Bob McCarty |
|
Ngana |
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Daughter of Emile and island
woman. |
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Julia Battle |
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Jerome |
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Son of Emile and island woman. |
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Rainel Lansang |
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Captain Bracket |
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Pompous yet competent officer. |
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Jim Damron |
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Commander Harbison |
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Sidekick to Captain Bracket |
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Horace Emery |
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Bob McCaffrey |
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Radio Operator |
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Chris Williams |
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Herbert Quale |
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Yeoman |
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Rick Fleenor |
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Lt. Buzz Adams |
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Todd Preston |
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Head Nurse Marshall |
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Caroline Chamness Rainey |
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Henry |
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Wesley Armstead |
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Ensemble |
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Sailors, Seabees, Marines, Solidiers,
and Officers |
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Mark Felton
Greg Garner
Jared Morgan
Seth Skiles
Tim Whitener |
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Ensemble |
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Nurses and Islanders |
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Alina Cuadra
Lindsey Duvall
Anne Marie Haddy
Debbie Holstein
Toni Pilato |
Musical Numbers
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Dites-Moi
A Cockeyed Optimist
Twin Soliloquies
Some Enchanted Evening
Bloody Mary
There Is Nothin' Like a Dame
Bali Ha'i
I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair
A Wonderful Guy
Younger Than Springtime
Happy Talk
Honey Bun
You've Got to Be Carefully Taught
This Nearly Was Mine
Dites-Moi (reprise)
Click
here for sheet music information.
(This
link will transfer you to a web site that is external to this Guild site and
should not be construed as an endorsement of any kind by the Guild).
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Production
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Original Broadway Production:
Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Book by Oscar
Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.
For the Guild: Directed by Nina Denton
Pasinetti; Technical Direction by Tom Pasinetti; Musical Direction by John
Marshall; Piano Accompaniment by John Ellison.
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