Stage Production Notes
Based on the award winning short story collection Tales of the South Pacific, South Pacific was a ground breaking musical exploring racism against the backdrop of war. Following on from Oklahoma!, Carousel, and Allegro, the show marked the fourth collaboration of dynamo musical theatre composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
South Pacific premiered at the Majestic Theatre in New York on April 7, 1949, featuring opera star Ezio Pinza and Broadway star Mary Martin.
The production was an immense hit, winning ten Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It ran for almost five years, playing 1925 performances. When it closed in 1954, it was the second longest running show in Broadway history (behind Oklahoma). It is currently 34th on the list of longest running shows on Broadway.
South Pacific opened on the West End in November 1951 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and ran for 802 performances.
A film version directed by Joshua Logan, and starring Rossano Brazi and Mitzi Gaynor, was released by Fox in 1958.
A made-for-television version starring Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jr. was released in 2001.
A concert version was staged at Carnegie Hall starring Reba McEntire, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Alec Baldwin. It was later performed again at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. South Pacific in Concert from Carnegie Hall is available on DVD.
South Pacific, described by many as one of the greatest American musicals, continues to be performed around the world, both at amateur and professional levels.
Based on the award winning short story collection Tales of the South Pacific, South Pacific was a ground breaking musical exploring racism against the backdrop of war. Following on from Oklahoma!, Carousel, and Allegro, the show marked the fourth collaboration of dynamo musical theatre composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
South Pacific premiered at the Majestic Theatre in New York on April 7, 1949, featuring opera star Ezio Pinza and Broadway star Mary Martin.
The production was an immense hit, winning ten Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It ran for almost five years, playing 1925 performances. When it closed in 1954, it was the second longest running show in Broadway history (behind Oklahoma). It is currently 34th on the list of longest running shows on Broadway.
South Pacific opened on the West End in November 1951 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and ran for 802 performances.
A film version directed by Joshua Logan, and starring Rossano Brazi and Mitzi Gaynor, was released by Fox in 1958.
A made-for-television version starring Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jr. was released in 2001.
A concert version was staged at Carnegie Hall starring Reba McEntire, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Alec Baldwin. It was later performed again at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. South Pacific in Concert from Carnegie Hall is available on DVD.
South Pacific, described by many as one of the greatest American musicals, continues to be performed around the world, both at amateur and professional levels.
Filmed Production Notes
In January 2006, Lincoln Center announced it would be bringing a revival of South Pacific to Broadway under the direction of Bartlett Sher. The production was to be the first Broadway revival of the show, and was scheduled to have a limited run.
Six months later, in January 2008, the cast was announced. The cast included two-time Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara, opera singer Paulo Szot (making his Broadway debut), Matthew Morrison, and Danny Burstein, and was set to feature a 30 piece orchestra.
The Lincoln Center production opened on March 1, 2008, and became an instant smash. New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley described the show as “rapturous” and claimed that Bartlett Sher and Christopher Gattelli had “reinvigorated the concept of the organic musical.”
Critics praised Bartlett Sher’s direction, and the performances of the cast, notably Kelli O’Hara and Paulo Szot.
Among its many accolades, the show won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, and after 996 performances became the longest running revival of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical on Broadway.
In April 2008, it was announced that the limited engagement had been extended into an open-ended run.
A national tour of the production launched in September 2009 and closed in March 2011.
The production also transferred to the West End, with Paulo Szot and Loretta Ables Sayre being the only original cast members, where it received lukewarm reviews.
In June 2010, Lincoln Center advertised that the production would be filmed for the PBS program Live from Lincoln Center. The episode was aired on August 18, four days before the shows’ closing.
Both Paulo Szot and Kelli O’Hara had left the production for various intervals — Szot to perform with the Metropolitan Opera and O’Hara for maternity leave. They returned for the final weeks of the run, and to appear in the recording.
The broadcast included a delightful interview with Alan Alda and Mary Rodgers Guettel and Alice Hammerstein Mathias, the daughters of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The interview is available on the Rodgers and Hammerstein official website.
The broadcast received mixed reviews. Blogger Victor Lana claimed the capture was “as good as it gets in terms of theater coming to television,” while Chris Caggiano was left unmoved by the screening.
While a preview of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific is available at PBS, the full production is not currently available to view.
In January 2006, Lincoln Center announced it would be bringing a revival of South Pacific to Broadway under the direction of Bartlett Sher. The production was to be the first Broadway revival of the show, and was scheduled to have a limited run.
Six months later, in January 2008, the cast was announced. The cast included two-time Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara, opera singer Paulo Szot (making his Broadway debut), Matthew Morrison, and Danny Burstein, and was set to feature a 30 piece orchestra.
The Lincoln Center production opened on March 1, 2008, and became an instant smash. New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley described the show as “rapturous” and claimed that Bartlett Sher and Christopher Gattelli had “reinvigorated the concept of the organic musical.”
Critics praised Bartlett Sher’s direction, and the performances of the cast, notably Kelli O’Hara and Paulo Szot.
Among its many accolades, the show won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, and after 996 performances became the longest running revival of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical on Broadway.
In April 2008, it was announced that the limited engagement had been extended into an open-ended run.
A national tour of the production launched in September 2009 and closed in March 2011.
The production also transferred to the West End, with Paulo Szot and Loretta Ables Sayre being the only original cast members, where it received lukewarm reviews.
In June 2010, Lincoln Center advertised that the production would be filmed for the PBS program Live from Lincoln Center. The episode was aired on August 18, four days before the shows’ closing.
Both Paulo Szot and Kelli O’Hara had left the production for various intervals — Szot to perform with the Metropolitan Opera and O’Hara for maternity leave. They returned for the final weeks of the run, and to appear in the recording.
The broadcast included a delightful interview with Alan Alda and Mary Rodgers Guettel and Alice Hammerstein Mathias, the daughters of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The interview is available on the Rodgers and Hammerstein official website.
The broadcast received mixed reviews. Blogger Victor Lana claimed the capture was “as good as it gets in terms of theater coming to television,” while Chris Caggiano was left unmoved by the screening.
While a preview of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific is available at PBS, the full production is not currently available to view.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Beaumont Theatre, Lincoln Center
Producer: Lincoln Center, John Goberman
Book: Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Director: Bartlett Sher, film: John Goberman
Musical Director: Ted Sperling
Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennett
Dance arrangements and incidental music: Trude Rittmann
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli
Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Sound Design: Scott Lehrer
Cast:
Kelli O’Hara (Nellie Forbush), Paulo Szot (Emile de Becque), Andrew Samonsky (Lt. Joseph Cable), Danny Burstein (Luther Billis), Loretta Ables Sayre (Bloody Mary)
The following cast members appeared in the opening night credits:
Sean Cullen (Cmdr. William Harbison), Victor Hawks (Stewpot), Luka Kain (Jerome), Li Jun Li (Liat), Laurissa Romain (Ngana), Skupp Sudduth (Captain George Brackett), Noah Weisberg (Professor), Becca Ayres (Ensign Cora MacRae), Wendi Bergamini (Swing/Dance Captain), Genson Blimline (Seabee Morton Wise), Charlie Brady (Petty Officer Hamilton Steeves), Matt Caplan (Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey), Christian Carter (Sailor Kenneth Johnson), Helmar Augustus Cooper (Henry), Jeremy Davis (Seabee Johnny Noonan), Margot de La Barre (Ensign Connie Walewska), Christian Delcroix (Yeoman Herbert Quale), Laura Marie Duncan (Ensign Dinah Murphy), Mike Evariste (Seaman Tom O’Brien), Laura Griffith (Ensign Janet MacGregor), Lisa Howard (Lt. Genevieve Marshall), MaryAnn Hu (Bloody Mary’s Assistant), Zachary James (Seaman Thomas Hassinger), Robert Lenzi (Seabee Billy Whitmore), Garrett Long (Ensign Sue Yaeger), Nick Mayo (Seabee Richard West), George Merrick (Lt. Buzz Adams), Kimber Monroe (Bloody Mary’s Assistant), Emily Morales (Bloody Mary’s Assistant) Andrew Samonsky (Lieutenant Eustis Carmichael), Jerold E. Solomon (Seaman James Hayes)
Theatre: Beaumont Theatre, Lincoln Center
Producer: Lincoln Center, John Goberman
Book: Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Director: Bartlett Sher, film: John Goberman
Musical Director: Ted Sperling
Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennett
Dance arrangements and incidental music: Trude Rittmann
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli
Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Sound Design: Scott Lehrer
Cast:
Kelli O’Hara (Nellie Forbush), Paulo Szot (Emile de Becque), Andrew Samonsky (Lt. Joseph Cable), Danny Burstein (Luther Billis), Loretta Ables Sayre (Bloody Mary)
The following cast members appeared in the opening night credits:
Sean Cullen (Cmdr. William Harbison), Victor Hawks (Stewpot), Luka Kain (Jerome), Li Jun Li (Liat), Laurissa Romain (Ngana), Skupp Sudduth (Captain George Brackett), Noah Weisberg (Professor), Becca Ayres (Ensign Cora MacRae), Wendi Bergamini (Swing/Dance Captain), Genson Blimline (Seabee Morton Wise), Charlie Brady (Petty Officer Hamilton Steeves), Matt Caplan (Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey), Christian Carter (Sailor Kenneth Johnson), Helmar Augustus Cooper (Henry), Jeremy Davis (Seabee Johnny Noonan), Margot de La Barre (Ensign Connie Walewska), Christian Delcroix (Yeoman Herbert Quale), Laura Marie Duncan (Ensign Dinah Murphy), Mike Evariste (Seaman Tom O’Brien), Laura Griffith (Ensign Janet MacGregor), Lisa Howard (Lt. Genevieve Marshall), MaryAnn Hu (Bloody Mary’s Assistant), Zachary James (Seaman Thomas Hassinger), Robert Lenzi (Seabee Billy Whitmore), Garrett Long (Ensign Sue Yaeger), Nick Mayo (Seabee Richard West), George Merrick (Lt. Buzz Adams), Kimber Monroe (Bloody Mary’s Assistant), Emily Morales (Bloody Mary’s Assistant) Andrew Samonsky (Lieutenant Eustis Carmichael), Jerold E. Solomon (Seaman James Hayes)
Sources
- Michael Billington, “South Pacific – review,” The Guardian (August 23, 2011)
- BWW News Desk, “'Live From Lincoln Center' Presents TV Premiere of SOUTH PACIFIC, 8/18,” BroadwayWorld (Aug 18, 2010)
- Chris Caggiano, “Review - South Pacific on PBS,” Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals (Aug 26, 2010)
- Andrew Gans and Adam Hetrick, “Casting Complete for South Pacific Revival,” Playbill (Jan 13, 2008)
- Adam Hetrick, “Lincoln Center Theater Announces Dates for South Pacific,” Playbill (July 10, 2007)
- Adam Hetrick, “O'Hara Will Return to South Pacific in Time for "Live from Lincoln Center" PBS Broadcast,” Playbill (June 1, 2010)
- Adam Hetrick, “Kelli O'Hara Returns to South Pacific for Musical's Final Weeks Aug. 10,” Playbill (Aug 1, 2010)
- Victor Lana, “TV Review: South Pacific Live from Lincoln Center on PBS,” Blog Critics (August 19, 2010)
- Andy Propst, “Paulo Szot Returns to South Pacific March 31; Additional Scheduled Absences Announced” TheaterMania (March 30, 2010)
- David Rooney, “Review: ‘South Pacific’,” Variety (April 3, 2008)
- Brian Scott Lipton, “LCT's South Pacific Becomes Open-Ended Run,” TheaterMania (April 4, 2008)
- Robert Simonson, “South Pacific to Wash Ashore at Lincoln Center Theatre in 2007-08,” Playbill (Jan 16, 2006)
- Bob Verini, “Review: ‘South Pacific’” Variety (August 5, 2007)
Websites
- American Film Institute, “Catalogue of Feature Films: South Pacific,” Accessed via: http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=52741
- Brendan Lemon, “South Pacific,” Lincoln Center Theater Blog, (Aug 6, 2010) Accessed via: http://www.lct.org/explore/blog/sp-live-lincoln-center/
- Lincoln Center Theater, “South Pacific: Who’s Who” Accessed via: http://www.lct.org/shows/rodgers-hammersteins-south-pacific/whos-who/
- Rodgers and Hammerstein, “South Pacific: Show History” Accessed via: http://www.rnh.com/show/97/South-Pacific#shows-history
- Wikipedia, “List of longest-running Broadway shows” Accessed via: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_longest-running_Broadway_shows
Written by Luisa Lyons (February, 2017)