Bob Boyett and NETworks Presentations announce casting for the National Tour of The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical SOUTH PACIFIC, directed by Bartlett Sher playing PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland; February 1 - 13, 2011. For more information on the production, please visit www.SouthPacificOnTour.com.
The National Touring Company of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC will be led by David Pittsinger (Emile de Becque) and Carmen Cusack (Nellie Forbush), with Anderson Davis (Lt. Cable), Timothy Gulan (Luther Billis), Jodi Kimura (Bloody Mary), Gerry Becker (Capt. Brackett), Peter Rini (Cmdr. Harbison), Sumie Maeda (Liat), Rusty Ross (Professor), original 2008 Broadway cast member Genson Blimline (Stewpot), Troi Zee (Ngana) and Luka Kain (Jerome).
The ensemble will include Frenie Acoba, Christopher Carl, Christian Carter, Eric L. Christian, Jacqueline Colmer, MaryAnn Hu, Robert Hunt, Rashaan James II, Chad Jennings, Christopher Johnstone, Kristie Kerwin, Julia Osborne, Kate Pazakis, Diane Phelan, John Pinto Jr., Greg Roderick, Bret Shuford, Kristen J. Smith, Matt Stokes, Gregory Williams, Victor J. Wisehart and Amos Wolff.
Critics laud high praise for the National Tour:
· "Electric! This is the South Pacific we've been waiting for." (San Francisco Chronicle)
· "It is a tribute to the sublime beauty of this musical, filled with gorgeous voices and astonishing emotional depth." (Chicago Sun-Times)
· "Bartlett Sher's staging of South Pacific reveals, intensifies and clarifies the work of Rodgers & Hammerstein." (Seattle Times)
· "Superbly sung and powerfully acted, the touring cast of the magnificent Lincoln Center Theater restoration of South Pacific is the equal of the New York team." (Houston Chronicle)
· "One of the theatrical highlights of the year!" (Los Angeles Times)
· "I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with a wonderful show!" (Toronto Star)
Carmen Cusack "is a sublime "knucklehead" Nellie" (Palm Beach Arts) as she "achieves a delicious balance of sweet and smart" (San Francisco Examiner); and "evokes the spirit and style of the original, Mary Martin" (Dallas Morning News).
As Emile de Becque, David Pittsinger (who performed the role on Broadway) is "sincere and vocally thrilling" (Chicago Tribune) with "an easygoing, even delicate charm that makes for an appealing leading man" (Denver Post).
Anderson Davis is "rich in exposed passion" (San Francisco Chronicle) as Lt. Joseph Cable and his "clear tenor has strength and innocence" (Charlotte Observer). Jodi Kimura is "equal parts fierce and haunting" (Cincinnati Enquirer) as Bloody Mary, giving a "hypnotic performance of ‘Bali Ha'i" (Grand Rapids Press).
Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC swept the 2008 Tony Awards®, winning seven honors including Best Musical Revival and Best Director for Bartlett Sher. This breathtaking new production completed a sold out 2 ½ year run at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on Broadway on August 22, 2010 (after playing 1,000 performances) and was recently featured on PBS' ‘Live from Lincoln Center' series.
Based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize winning book Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.
Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples -- US Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque and Navy Airman Joe Cable and a young local native girl Liat -- and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. Considered by many the finest musical ever written, the score's songs include such classics as "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," "Younger Than Springtime," "Bali Ha'i," "There is Nothin' Like A Dame," "This Nearly Was Mine" and "A Wonderful Guy."
The lavish new production features a cast of 34, musical staging by Christopher Gattelli, sets by Michael Yeargan (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), costumes by Catherine Zuber (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), lighting by Donald Holder (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), sound by Scott Lehrer (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®) and music direction by Ted Sperling. A full orchestra of 26 members - the largest orchestra of any touring Broadway production - will perform the original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett (winner of a Special 2008 Tony Award®) and dance and incidental music arranged by Trude Rittmann.
