Players Club of Swarthmore Closes Season with SOUTH PACIFIC, Opening 4/22

The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater is gearing up to end its Centennial season with a bang - a big production that's a perennial favorite. Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific will be hitting the PCS stage in April and May - bringing hits like "Some Enchanted Evening", "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" and "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" along with it.

But there's more to this historical musical than catchy tunes. Rogers and Hammerstein paired that great music with tremendous optimism despite terrible wartime challenges. When it was first produced, few musicals delved deeper than surface entertainment - yet South Pacific explored the issue of racial prejudice with both candor and sensitivity. And it's all wrapped up in that wonderful score set to the tropical breezes of Bali Ha'i.

Director Paul Kerrigan of Phoenixville has joined forces with Assistant Director Brian Walsh of Drexel Hill and Choreographer Emma Bradley of Philadelphia to head the production. They put together a talented cast of more than three dozen performers to bring the characters and music to life, including: Allison Gerrard of Media; Paul Weagraff of Wilmington, DE; John Dingle of Philadelphia; Joel Kutner of Drexel Hill; Marie Simons of Swarthmore; Mattie Dunn of Secane; Marci Monaco Vavrick and Aidan Chen of Wallingford, Randino DelRosario of Springfield, Erik Schembs of Ridley Park and Ed Sharples of Berwyn. The show's lighting design comes from Alan Stamford of Swarthmmore and Bill Bloom of Morton. Stamford also worked on lights for The Players Club's previous production of South Pacific, forty years ago! This production has another historical element in that it is a "restored version" of South Pacific, which is true to the 1949 original Broadway production. Historical accuracy is also being supported by Bob Dimond of Media and the props crew, who have worked with local veterans and armed forces groups to gather authentic military gear for the production.

South Pacific runs April 22-24, 28-May 1, May 5, 6, 8 and 12-14. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 8pm and Sunday matinées are at 2pm. The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater is located just minutes from the Blue Route and I-95, on Fairview Road near Route 320 (Chester Road) in Swarthmore. Tickets are $22 for adults, $21 for seniors and $11 for students (18 and under or college students with ID). All tickets and ticket packages are available the day of the performance at the box office, or may be purchased in advance by visiting www.pcstheater.org or calling 1-866-811-4111 (ticket sales through TheaterMania). For Info or Group Sales: 610-328-4271.

It's fitting that The Players Club of Swarthmore should choose such a historically significant show - since it marks the end of the club's 100 season. The organization will be hosting a gala event to commemorate its centennial year right in the middle of the South Pacific run. Due to this special occasion, there will be no performance on May, 7th so that those involved in the production can attend. It's sure to be a joyous evening, appropriate for such a momentous milestone. All are welcome to join in the celebration! Patrons interested in attending the gala should visit the web site (www.pcstheater.org ) and click on the "100 Year Gala" tab near the top of the page for more
information.

The Players Club of Swarthmore is celebrating its 100 season of live theater in Delaware County. The theater, with a comfortable 300-seat Mainstage space and a "black box" Second Stage, is located at 614 Fairview Road, just off of Route 320 (Chester Road). It's only minutes from I-95 and Route 476, with the Swarthmore stop of the
R3 Regional Rail line less than a mile away, at the edge of the Swarthmore College Campus. And buses run down Route 320 from Springfield Mall. The Players Club Main stage is fully handicapped accessible. Assisted listening devices are available at no charge. The theater also offers plenty of free off-street parking.

 

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