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South Pacific: History
South Pacific became a hit musical after Director Joshua Logan adopted two short stories from James Michener’s Pulitzer Prize winning Tales of the South Pacific. Logan had served in World War II and decided to adopt “Fo’ Dolla’” and “Our Herione” into a stage production. After securing the rights to reproduce the stories, Logan contacted Richard Rodgers to compose the music for the work and Oscar Hammerstein II to write the lyrics and the libretto.
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About South Pacific
The two stories chosen for the South Pacific were very serious, so Michener agreed to write a third that featured a womanizing sailor, Luther Billis, to lighten the overall atmosphere of the production.
The two dominating stories focused on Ensign Nurse Nellie Forbush and her relationship with a French plantation owner, Emile de Becque and Lt. Joseph Cable and his relationship with a native girl, Liat. Forbush and Cable must deal with prejudices they brought from home to the World War II theatre of the South Pacific.
Forbush must learn to accept that her love interest was previously married to an islander and produced two Polynesian children. Cable must wrestle with his feelings for Liat and the possible consequences of marrying her. Not only is there the obvious interracial conflict, but he is also a soldier about to embark on a dangerous secret mission behind enemy lines and may end up widowing the young girl.
The original production ran on Broadway on April 7, 1949. The cast included Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin. South Pacific was a huge hit, commercially and critically. The shows popularity kept the musical going until 1954, which made it then the fifth-longest running show in Broadway history. It also won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Libretto, Best Director, and four acting awards.
Since its inception, South Pacific has become considered to be one of the best musicals ever and has had countless revivals. Its songs-“Some Enchanted Evening”, Bali Ha’I”, and “A Wonderful Guy”- have become classics, regularly chosen by stars and starlets young and old.
The latest revivial of South Pacific stars Paul Szot as Emile de Becque and Kelli O’Hara as Nurse Nellie Forbush. This is the latest revival from director Bartlet Sher, as he brings the cast and crew to Broadway’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre.
South Pacific tickets have already gone fast and show no signs of slowing down. Find your seats with the help of the Ticket Specialists before the show ends it s production run in January 2009.