South Pacific 1951 - Articles Page 3

Opened: November 1, 1951

South Pacific - 1951 - West End History , Info & More

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Catherine Street London WC2B 5JB London

Based on "Tales of the South Pacific" by James A. Michener

The plot of South Pacific centers on an American nurse stationed on a South Pacific island during World War II who falls in love with a middle-aged expatriate French plantation owner. This story is intertwined with a secondary romance, between a U.S. lieutenant and a young Tonkinese woman.



The original Broadway production enjoyed immense critical and box-office success and became the second-longest running Broadway musical to that point (behind Rodgers and Hammerstein's earlier Oklahoma!). Because of its exploration of racial and social issues of the day, the show won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950. Several of its songs, including "Bali Ha'i", "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair", "Some Enchanted Evening", "There Is Nothing Like a Dame", "Happy Talk" and Younger Than Springtime" have become popular standards.



The production won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, and it is the only musical production to win Tony Awards in all four acting categories. Its original cast album was the bestselling record of the 1940s, and other recordings of the show have also been popular. The show has enjoyed many successful revivals and tours, spawning a 1958 film and television adaptations. The 2008 Broadway revival won seven Tonys, including Best Musical Revival.

South Pacific - 1951 - West End Cast

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South Pacific - 1951 - West End Articles Page 3

BWW Review: Segerstrom Center Welcomes the Gorgeous Lincoln Center Theater Production of THE KING AND I
by Michael Quintos - Mar 1, 2018


Featuring outstanding performances from a cast led by Laura Michelle Kelly and Jose Llana, the beautiful and exquisite national tour production of Lincoln Center Theater's Tony Award-winning revival of the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein classic THE KING AND I leaves audiences utterly spellbound by its sweeping opulence and gorgeous, reverent staging-which notably combines the elegance and grace of the classic musical many of us have known and loved for decades with a knowing sensitivity to modern times that we exist in today. The national tour production continues its two-week run of performances at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa that continues through March 11, 2018.

Musical Theatre West Presents GUYS AND DOLLS
by Stephi Wild - Feb 13, 2018


Gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls, and showgirls turn the gamble of love into a high-energy musical when Musical Theatre West presents five-time Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, February 16 - March 4 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the show tops Entertainment Weekly's list of "The Greatest Musical of all Time." Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856- 1999 ext. 4 or at the Musical Theatre West ticket office. Tickets start at $20.

GUYS AND DOLLS Comes to The Carpenter Performing Arts Center
by Stephi Wild - Jan 27, 2018


Gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls, and showgirls turn the gamble of love into a high-energy musical when Musical Theatre West presents five-time Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, February 16 - March 4 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the show tops Entertainment Weekly's list of "The Greatest Musical of all Time." Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856- 1999 ext. 4 or at the Musical Theatre West ticket office. Tickets start at $20.

David Henry Hwang Explores THE SOUND OF M. BUTTERFLY Today at Rubin Museum
by BWW News Desk - Dec 8, 2017


Sound permeates our daily lives and shapes our existence. From 'ear yoga' to Buddhist-inspired opera, talks and programs this fall build on themes in Rubin Museum's newest exhibition, The World Is Sound. For more about the exhibition, visit RubinMuseum.org/Wavelength, and scroll down for related talks, films and experiences, including a panel with David Henry Hwang about Broadway's M. Butterfly!

Starry ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH Panto Lands Tonight at Laguna Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - Dec 7, 2017


Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham, Executive Director Ellen Richard and Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP) have announced final casting for Lythgoe Family Panto's ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH.

LGBT Drama IN LOVE WITH THE ARROW COLLAR MAN Begins Tonight at Theatre 80
by BWW News Desk - Nov 8, 2017


A bold new drama about pioneering 20th-century gay illustrator J.C. Leyendecker will have its world premiere at the famed Theatre 80 St Marks in the East Village in November.

David Henry Hwang to Explore THE SOUND OF M. BUTTERFLY at Rubin Museum
by BWW News Desk - Nov 6, 2017


Sound permeates our daily lives and shapes our existence. From 'ear yoga' to Buddhist-inspired opera, talks and programs this fall build on themes in Rubin Museum's newest exhibition, The World Is Sound. For more about the exhibition, visit RubinMuseum.org/Wavelength, and scroll down for related talks, films and experiences, including a panel with David Henry Hwang about Broadway's M. Butterfly!

Starlight Theatre Welcomes Shawnee Mission Health as New Broadway Series Sponsor
by BWW News Desk - Nov 2, 2017


Starlight Theatre has announced that Shawnee Mission Health, the only five-star-rated hospital in Kansas City, is the new series sponsor of the theatre's summer Broadway season.

Jason Graae, Jason Earles & Jay Donnell Join ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH Panto at Laguna Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - Oct 26, 2017


Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham, Executive Director Ellen Richard and Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP) have announced final casting for Lythgoe Family Panto's ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH.

LGBT Drama IN LOVE WITH THE ARROW COLLAR MAN to Play Theatre 80
by BWW News Desk - Oct 20, 2017


A bold new drama about pioneering 20th-century gay illustrator J.C. Leyendecker will have its world premiere at the famed Theatre 80 St Marks in the East Village in November.

BWW Review: FROM HERE TO ETERNITY at Ogunquit Playhouse
by Dan Marois - Oct 9, 2017


From Here to Eternity Falls Short in New Musical Version

BWW Feature: THE KING AND I at Fox Theatre
by Justin Cole Adams - Sep 26, 2017


The Fabulous Fox Theatre presents the national tour of the Broadway revival THE KING AND I.

BWW Review: THE KING AND I at the Kennedy Center - It is 'Something Wonderful'
by Charles Shubow - Jul 24, 2017


Oh how delightful it was to hear a spectacular overture before a Broadway musical. When is the last time you heard one? We heard snippets of great music to come such as 'Something Wonderful', Whistle a Happy Tune', 'Shall We Dance' and 'Hello Young Lovers' all played by the talented orchestra (the massive 15 pieces) under the baton of Gerard Steichen.

Terence Archie, J. Bernard Calloway, Audrey Cardwell and Veronica J. Kuehn to Star in GUYS AND DOLLS at The Old Globe; Cast, Creatives Set!
by BWW News Desk - Jun 16, 2017


The Old Globe today announced the full cast for Guys and Dolls, a musical fable of Broadway.

Starlight Theatre Announces 2017 Blue Star Awards
by Julie Musbach - May 7, 2017


Yesterday, high school theatre students and instructors across metropolitan Kansas City and in neighboring communities received the good news that they had received nominations for the 15th Anniversary Blue Star Awards from Starlight Theatre. Starlight leaders, staff and board members personally delivered 132 nominations to 42 area high schools. On Thursday night, May 25, winners of the 2017 Blue Star Awards will receive their honors in a public ceremony on Starlight Theatre's Cohen Community Stage.

BWW Review: THE KING AND I: Still Something Wonderful
by Nancy Grossman - Apr 14, 2017


The National Tour of the Tony Award-winning Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE KING AND I brings its parade of adorable children, a pair of star-crossed lovers, an imperial ruler, and a strong-willed, warm-hearted educator to the Boston Opera House through April 23rd. One of the grande dames of the 1950s, THE KING AND I retains its exalted place in the R & H pantheon, thanks to the artistry of Director Bartlett Sher, a songbird by the name of Laura Michelle Kelly, and a flawed King of Siam for our times, Jose Llana.

San Francisco Ballet Announces 2017-18 Season
by Christina Mancuso - Apr 13, 2017


San Francisco Ballet, long recognized for pushing boundaries in dance, has announced its 2017-18 Season program and schedule. This summer, SF Ballet will return to Festival Napa Valley for one performance only on Friday, July 21, 2017, accompanied by members of the SF Ballet Orchestra. In addition, this October, the Company will once again participate in World Ballet Day LIVE, a day-long streaming event (details to be announced).

Juilliard Dances Repertory To Show Three Masterworks In March, 3/22-27
by Molly Tracy - Mar 1, 2017


Juilliard Dance, under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, continues its season with Juilliard Dances Repertory featuring Richard Alston's Sheer Bravado; Nacho Duato'sPor Vos Muero; and Mark Morris's V. 

New Wave of Classics to Be Released from Fox Cinema Archives
by Caryn Robbins - Feb 14, 2017


Bring home the newest wave of classics from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment's Cinema Archives vault, available for purchase on DVD now!

3-D Theatricals' ONCE ON THIS ISLAND to Sail to Redondo Beach and Cerritos PAC
by BWW News Desk - Feb 10, 2017


From the creators of Broadway's RAGTIME and SEUSSICAL, 3-D Theatricals will present the eight-time Tony nominated ONCE ON THIS ISLAND.

3-D Theatricals' ONCE ON THIS ISLAND to Sail to Redondo Beach and Cerritos PAC
by BWW News Desk - Jan 16, 2017


From the creators of Broadway's RAGTIME and SEUSSICAL, 3-D Theatricals will present the eight-time Tony nominated ONCE ON THIS ISLAND.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I Adapted for Young Performers
by BWW News Desk - Dec 1, 2016


On the heels of the national tour of Lincoln Center's Tony Award-winning Broadway revival sweeping the country now, educators and students will be whistling a happy tune when R&H Theatricals, a division of Rodgers & Hammerstein, an Imagem Company, releases Getting To Know... The King and I; it was announced today by Rodgers & Hammerstein president Ted Chapin and iTheatrics founder and CEO Timothy Allen McDonald.

Zimmerli Art Museum Examines American Art Circa 1966
by Molly Tracy - Oct 6, 2016


When the Zimmerli's curators first devised two complementary exhibitions of American art titled Circa 1966 - one focusing on prints, the other on paintings and sculpture - the intention was to commemorate the museum's golden anniversary by spotlighting key works created around the time of its founding. But in addition to spotlighting revolutionary movements that now have an established presence in art history, the subjects of many of the works focus on social and political discussions from the era that have prominently re-emerged across the United States.

New Drama and Musical to Headline New York New Works Theatre Festival This Fall
by BWW News Desk - Aug 24, 2016


Two distinctive pieces of theater - a drama about pioneering gay illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, and a musical comedy version of the Greek classic Electra - will be featured in this year's New York New Works Theatre Festival, August 29 through September 14.

BWW Review: Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre and St. Paul's Ordway Center Bring Us a Reinvigorated PAINT YOUR WAGON About the Diverse Cultures that Built the American West
by Jill Schafer - Aug 19, 2016


I had never even heard of the 1951 Lerner and Loewe musical PAINT YOUR WAGON when the Ordway announced it as part of their season. I guess that's not too surprising; it ran for less than a year on Broadway and has never been revived. The story was significantly rewritten for the 1969 movie adaptation starring Clint Eastwood, which also included a few new songs. Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre scrapped both the original and revised book (they're a little bit racist, and sexist) to write a new story set in the Gold Rush era of California, making it more reflective of the many diverse cultures that came together to build the great American West. This production has moved to the Ordway for two weeks, with a few local additions to the cast. This thrilling story of the beginnings of the American West with a beautifully diverse cast has rescued this gorgeous Western and Mexican influenced score from the place where problematic old musicals go to die.

Other Productions of South Pacific

1949   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
1950   US Tour National Tour
US Tour
1951   West End London Production
West End
1955   Broadway Unknown
Broadway
1967   Off-Broadway Lincoln Center Revival
Off-Broadway
1988   West End London Revival
West End
1994   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
2001   West End Royal National Theatre Production
West End
2005   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Concert
Off-Broadway
2008   Broadway Lincoln Center Revival
Broadway
2011   West End Lincoln Center Revival [West End]
West End
2022   US Tour Non Equity Tour
US Tour
2022   West End
West End

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