About South Pacific
Director Joshua Logan, a World War II vet, adapted the original Broadway production of South Pacific from the book Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener in 1949. He and producer Leland Hayward were able to snag Oscar Hammerstein II to write lyrics and Richard Rogers to compose the score. Hammerstein and Rogers had already reached success with theater hits Oklahoma! and Carousel. They would, however, reach unforeseen fortunes in this project. Hammerstein and Rodgers combined short stories “Fo’ Dolla” and “Our Heroine” from the book into a single script-“South Pacific.” Due to the seriousness of the piece, author James A. Michener wrote an accompanying story about the gigolo-sailor Luther Billis. The original cast included Italian opera star Ezio Pinza as Emile and Tony Award winner Mary Martin as Nellie.
South Pacific is considered to be one of the most successful musicals of all time with a good portion of the score being adapted by popular artists such as Frank Sinatra. The script itself was a large risk at the time receiving some flak for its interracial overtones and gritty war commentary. The show opened on April 7th 1949 on Broadway and the production won nine Tony Awards including best musical and best director.
The Washington Post proclaims that the 2008 Broadway revival of South Pacific “is staking a claim as the best revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein in a generation.” Director Bartlett Sher brings the play to the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln center for the first time since its 1949 New York City Debut. Sher has been heralded for trusting the original material of South Pacific and leaving it unscathed.
The cast includes A Light in the Piazza’s Kelly O’Hara as Nellie, Opera star Paul Szot as Emele, Matthew Morrison as Lt. Cable and Li Jun Li as Liat. According to the New York Times South Pacific, “In making the past feel unconditionally present, this production restores a glorious gallery of genuine people who were only waiting to be resurrected.”
