Sarah Litzsinger and More Star in SOUTH PACIFIC at Delaware Theatre, Beg. Tonight

Directed by Executive Director Bud Martin, SOUTH PACIFIC marks DTC's first production of a large-scale classic musical, with a cast of 26, including 5 local children, and a full14 piece orchestra. Not only is this the first cast of this size in recent DTC history, but the show also promises one of the most stunning and clever set designs by Scenic Designer Dirk Durosette, incorporating both a functional jeep and the recreation of a World War II plane.

Creative Team includes Choreographer and Vocal Director Sonny Leo, Music Director/Conductor Johanna Schloss, Costume Designer Millie Hiibel, Sound Designer Carl Casella, and Lighting Designer David Todaro. The cast boasts a large number of Philadelphia-based actors, with regional talent performing alongside Broadway veterans.

According to Director Bud Martin, "This is perhaps the most beautiful score of any Broadway show, yet it's so important to focus on the story itself. We cast wonderful actors in this play who happen to sing beautifully, too, so my primary focus will be on characterization and then the stunning music."

SOUTH PACIFIC includes music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. Based on James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, the musical draws from multiple story elements in the text. The original Broadway production opened in April of 1947, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950 and gathering ten Tony Awards. The 2008 Broadway revival at Lincoln Center followed in these footsteps, winning seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival.

About the Show: Set in an island paradise during World War II, two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with a mature French planter, Emile. Nellie learns that the mother of his children was an island native and, unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, refuses Emile's proposal of marriage. Meanwhile, the strapping Lt. Joe Cable denies himself the fulfillment of a future with an innocent Tonkinese girl with whom he's fallen in love out of the same fears that haunt Nellie. When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe's life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, thus confronting and conquering her prejudices. This deeply-felt drama remains as relevant today as it was in 1949, featuring such timeless favorites as "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," "This Nearly Was Mine," and "There is Nothin' Like a Dame."

Sarah Litzsinger (Nellie Forbush) holds the distinction of being Broadway's longest running Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Other Broadway credits: Marilyn, An American Fable (Bway debut), Oliver! (Bet) Starring Ron Moody and Patti LuPone, Les Miserables (Eponine/Cosette), and she originated the role of Madeleine in Michel Legrand's Amour. Sarah played Eva Peron in the 25th Anniversary tour of Evita directed by Hal Prince and Larry Fuller and played The Narrator opposite Donny Osmond in Joseph and the...Dreamcoat. Other theater: Next to Normal (Diana Goodman), Assassins (Squeaky Fromme) Milwaukee Rep, Peter Pan (Peter) ASF, A Year With Frog and Toad (Bird/ Mouse) Minneapolis Children's Theater, Tick, Tick...Boom! (Susan), Falsettos (Cordelia), The Last Five Years (Cathy) George Street Playhouse. In 2007, Sarah won the Breakout Award (HBO Aspen Comedy Festival) for her musical comedy duo in which she performed and co-created. In 2012, she was selected to be a fellow in the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship program with Master teacher Joel Grey.

Michael Sharon (Emile de Becque) is thrilled to be making his DTC debut. Credits include The Most Happy Fella (NYCity Opera), The Winter's Tale (GBS Theatre, London), The Sound of Music (Broadway World and Carbonell Award nom's), Anna Karenina (Portland Center Stage), Shenandoah (Goodspeed Opera House), Antony & Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Twelfth Night (Shakespeare Theatre Company; Helen Hayes nom), The Fantasticks (Long Wharf), title roles in Macbeth (Los Angeles Theatre Center), Pericles (CT Rep), Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Bristol Riverside Theatre), and multiple seasons at the Utah, Alabama, and Oregon Shakespeare Festivals. Film/TV: Identical (LAAFF Winner); "In Between Men" (Indie Soap nom). Training: USC; RADA, London.

CHRISTOPER DEPROPHETIS (Lt. Joseph Cable) is making his DTC Debut! National Tours: South Pacific (Lincoln Center Revival/ 1st National), Rent (10th Anniversary), and Miss Saigon. Favorite Regional: Frankie in Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings (Walnut Street), Emmett in Legally Blonde (Westchester B'way), Shaw in The Secret Garden (Stages St Louis), Pierre in Bright Lights, Big City (Prince Music Theater), and Chris in Miss Saigon (bunch of places). Christopher is a graduate of the Guildford School of Acting in England.

Amy Jo Phillips (Bloody Mary) is "trilled" to be here at DTC working with this amazing company. She was last seen in the workshop of Dogboy & Justine, where she created the role of Betty. Broadway: Show

Boat (Queenie), Tom Sawyer. National Tours: South Pacific (Bloody Mary), Tap Dance Kid (Emma), The Me Nobody Knows and Porgy & Bess. Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors and Pretty Faces. Other Credits include: Ain't Misbehavin', Man of LaMancha, Godspell, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Nunsense and Jesus Christ Superstar. Amy can be seen, and or heard on commercials for Levis, Mobile and McDonalds and the soundtracks for Show Boat, Tom Sawyer, St. Louis Woman, and Pretty Faces. Amy wishes to thank all who have been there along the way especially her parents and God because He is truly amazing.

John Plumpis (Luther Billis) This past fall John was seen as confidant and prompter to Christopher Plummer in the two-actor film BARRYMORE. National Companies: The Lion King; Barrymore; Laughter on the 23rd Floor. New York: The Actors Company Theatre (member 19 productions); Primary Stages; The Mint; Roundabout; Playwrights Horizons; The Lark. He has played from Maine to Oregon - and many places in between - appearing in a variety of roles from Shakespeare to musicals. He is a frequent guest teacher at universities and Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festivals. MFA, University of Delaware. Some of his thoughts on Theatre have even been published.

Single tickets for SOUTH PACIFIC range from $35 to $49 are on sale now by calling the Delaware Theatre Company Box Office at (302) 594-1100 or by visiting http://tickets.delawaretheatre.org. Group, senior, student, and military discounts are available. For more information, visit www.delawaretheatre.org.