James Van Treuren & Betsy DiLellio to Lead Surflight Theatre's SOUTH PACIFIC, Begin. 7/10

Surflight Theatre proudly presents Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical South Pacific, directed and choreographed by Norb Joerder, from July 10 through 28. Opening night is July 11 at 8pm.

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 cast features Betsy DiLellio (York Theatre's Enter Laughing) as Nellie Forbush, James Van Treuren (Broadway: The Scarlet Pimpernel and Camelot) as Emile de Beque, Joy Lynn Matthews-Jacobs (Broadway: The Music Man, Marie Christine, Ragtime) as Bloody Mary, Michael Deleget (Goodspeed: Camelot; NYMF Things As They Are) as Lt. Joseph Cable, Kaitlyn Cantoni (Liat),Drew B. James (Luther Billis), Nina Randazzo (Ngana), Vincent Crocilla (Jerome), Peter Kane (Stewpot), Doug Smith as Commander Harbison , James Young (Broadway: My Fair Lady, Crazy for You) as Captain George Brackett, Sarah Joy Kane as Nurse Janet Macgregor, Sarah Beling, Mark Blowers, Rory Connolly, Tom De Michele, Amanda Fannon, Matthew Greenberg, Laura Hunt, Tommy Joscelyn, T.J. Larke, Amelia Millar, ElizaBeth Miller, Ryan PJ Mulholland, and Jeff Sullivan.

Henco Espag is music director. South Pacific is designed by Stephen Cowles (sets), Anna Hillbery (costume), Benjamin Weill (lighting), Mark Keeler (sound). William Gilinsky is production stage manager.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific premiered at the Majestic Theatre on April 7, 1949 and went on to enjoy a five year 1,925 performance run, winning countless awards including nine Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Joshua Logan directed the 1958 film that starred Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi. In 2008 Lincoln Center Theater presented a new production of the musical classic, directed by Bartlett Sher which won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival as well as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award for Best Musical Revival. PBS Great Performances broadcast South Pacific in concert with country star Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell and Live from Lincoln Center broadcast (with Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot) with a performance of the 2008 revival prior to it closing. South Pacific has been presented at Surflight in 1963, 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1991, and 2001.

Surflight Theatre is located at 201 Engleside Avenue in historic Beach Haven, NJ. Performances of South Pacific are Tuesday at 2pm and 8pm; Wednesday at 2pm; Thursday at 2pm and 8pm; Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $45, with Groups (15 or more) $35 dinner packages available. NEW: Surflight is offering military and veteran discounts: 50% off the full ticket price of all Surflight Theatre events for active military and veterans with ID. Call the Surflight Theatre Box Office at 609-492-9477 or purchase online at www.surflight.org.

Next on the Surflight Theatre stage the musical phenomenon Les Miserables (July 31 - August 24), the Peanuts musical You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (August 28 - September 8), the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town (September 25 - October 4), and Irving Berlin's White Christmas (November 29 - December 22).

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