SOUTH PACIFIC Tour to Make Final Stops in Woking and Sheffield

Since last October 2011, the most acclaimed production ever of Rodgers and Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC has been thrilling audiences and breaking records in theatres across the UK, playing to well over half a million people, becoming the best-selling show of the Season in venues including Wimbledon and Stoke-on-Trent, and the best-selling two-week musical ever to play in Glasgow and Milton Keynes. This follows a phenomenally successful sold-out Olivier-nominated London season at the Barbican which attracted massive critical praise. The tour has just two more dates left - Woking to 21 July and Sheffield from 24 July - 4 August.

Leading the company and sharing the starring role of Nellie Forbush, both to great critical acclaim, are Samantha Womack and Rebecca Thornhill. As well as her numerous television credits, Samantha has an impressive background in theatre, from Michael Grandage's Guys & Dolls to Sir Peter Hall's Betrayal, and Rebecca has played lead roles in musical theatre productions both in the West End and on tour in the UK to rave reviews. Samantha will perform the role in Woking, with Rebecca appearing in Sheffield. They star opposite former Phantom of the Opera star, Matthew Camelle as Emile de Becque, Alex Ferns as Luther Billis, and American actress Jodi Kimura as Bloody Mary, who played the role in the US. Daniel Koek plays the role of Lt Joe Cable in Woking and James Austen-Murray in Sheffield.

The cast features Elizabeth Chong as Liat, Cameron Jack as Stewpot, Luke Kempner as Seabee/Professor, Dominic Taylor as Commander Harbison and Nigel Williams as Captain Brackett, with Carly Anderson, Jill Armour, Chris Bennett, Lawrence Carmichael, Mairi Cowieson, Matthew Crowe, Stephen John Davis, Lisa Dent, Stephen John Donald, Eddie Elliott, Chris Jenkins, Maria Lawson, Nyron Levy, Dean Maynard, Adam Pritchard, Dominic Smith, Mikel Sylvanus, Jacqueline Tate, Danny Whitehead, Bleu Woodward and Nick Wyschna.

Bartlett Sher's hailed production of SOUTH PACIFIC reinvented the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and played to sold-out houses at the Lincoln Center Theater on Broadway for two years. This was the first Broadway production the Rodgers & Hammerstein Estate had allowed to be staged since the musical originally opened in 1949 and ran for almost five years. Considered one of the finest musicals ever written, the score includes Some Enchanted Evening, I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, Bali Ha'i, I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy, Younger than Springtime, Happy Talk and There is Nothin' Like a Dame.

Set on a tropical island during World War II, this is the sweeping romantic story of two couples, threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. Its portrayal of Americans stationed in an unfamiliar culture in wartime remains as relevant today as when it first thrilled audiences.

Featuring a cast of 40 and live orchestra of 18, this is a ravishing and breathtaking production, which has been brought to the UK by the entire Lincoln Center creative team, led by director Bartlett Sher, with musical staging my Christopher Gattelli, sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Scott Lehrer, musical supervision by Ted Sperling and original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett. Musical direction is by Jae Alexander.

The Lincoln Center Theater production of SOUTH PACIFIC is produced on tour by Bob Boyett, Bob Bartner, Howard Panter for the Ambassador Theatre Group, and Genesius Theatrical Productions in association with Promenade Productions.

For further details, please visit www.southpacificonstage.com.

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