Broadway Musical Home

A classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical based on James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book "Tales of the South Pacific."

Story:

Nellie, a nurse on a Pacific Island during WWII, falls in love with de Becque, a local planter. However, when she learns he is a widower with two half-caste children, she cannot accept the situation. Meanwhile, Cable falls in love with a Polynesian girl named Liat. Cable and de Bacque go off together on a spy mission and the two women wait in hope of their return.

: Composer
Richard Rodgers

: Lyricist and Librettist
Oscar Hammerstein II

Broadway Premiere

Theatre: Majestic Theatre, Broadway Theatre

Opening Night: Apr 7, 1949

Total Performances: 1,925

Original Cast: Mary Martin, Ezio Pinza, Juanita Hall, Myron McCormick, Betta St. John, Harvey Stephens, William Tabbert, Martin Wolfson, Mardi Bayne, Evelyn Colby, Sandra Deel, Bill Dwyer, Dickinson Eastham, Don Fellows, Jacqueline Fisher, Jack Fontan, Alan Gilbert, Thomas Gleason, Jim Hawthorne, Richard Loo, Roslynd Lowe, Barbara Luna, Biff McGuire, Gloria Meli, Henry Michel, Pat Northrop, Fred Sadoff, Bernice Saunders, Archie Savage, Helena Schurgot, Richard Silvera, Henry Slate, Beau Tilden, Musa Williams

Director: Joshua Logan

Choreographer: Joshua Logan

Producer: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

Musical Director: Salvatore Dell'Isola

Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennett

Scenic Design: Jo Mielziner

Costume Design: Motley

Lighting Design: Jo Mielziner

1955 Broadway Revival

Theatre: City Center

Opening Night: May 4, 1955

Total Performances: 15

Original Cast: Richard Armbruster, Helen Baisley, Herb Banke, Emy Boselli, Warren J. Brown, Richard Collett, Sandra Deel, Clifford Fearl, Don Fellows, Nick Gentile, Edith Lane, Carol Lawrence, Howard Lear, Theresa Mari, Frank Maxwell, Eileen Moran, Antonio Obregon, Balentin Obregon, Louise Pearl, Michelle Reiner, Seth Riggs, J. J. Riley, Bob Rippy, Gene Saks, Janice Samarie, Richard Silvera, Henry Slate, Margaret Sokal, Elaine Spaulding, Sylvia Syms, Evans Thornton, Murray Vines, Ralph Vucci, Julie Winston, Martin Wolfson

Director: Charles Atkin

Producer: New York City Center Light Opera Company

Musical Director: Frederick Dvonch

Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennett

Scenic Design: Jo Mielziner

Costume Design: Motley

Lighting Design: Jo Mielziner

2008 Broadway Revival

Theatre: Vivian Beaumont Theatre

Opening Night: Apr 3, 2008

Total Performances: 996

Original Cast: Kelli O'Hara, Paulo Szot, Loretta Ables Sayre, Danny Burstein, Sean Cullen, Victor W. Hawks, Luka Kain, Li Jun Li, Matthew Morrison, Laurissa Romain, Skipp Sudduth, Noah Weisberg, Becca Ayers, Genson Blimline, Charlie Brady, Matt Caplan, Christian Carter, Helmar Augustus Cooper, Jeremy Davis, Margot de la Barre, Christian Delcroix, Laura Marie Duncan, Mike Evariste, Laura Griffith, Lisa Howard, MaryAnn Hu, Zachary James, Robert Lenzi, Garrett Long, Nick Mayo, George Merrick, Kimber Monroe, Emily Morales, Andrew Samonsky, Jerold E. Solomon

Director: Bartlett Sher

Choreographer: Christopher Gattelli

Producer: Lincoln Center Theater

Musical Director: Ted Sperling

Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennett

Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan

Costume Design: Catherine Zuber

Lighting Design: Donald Holder

1958 Film Version

Movie Name: South Pacific

Type: Hollywood Musical

Director: Joshua Logan

Screenplay: Paul Osborn

Starring: Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr

2001 TV Version

Movie Name: South Pacific

Type: Made for TV Musical

Director: Richard Pearce

Screenplay: Lawrence D. Cohen

Starring: Glenn Close, Harry Connick Jr., Rade Serbedzija

Musical Numbers

A Cockeyed Optimist

Some Enchanted Evening

Bloody Mary

There is Nothin' Like a Dame

Bali Ha'i

I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair

A Wonderful Guy

Younger Than Springtime

Happy Talk

Honey Bun

You've Got to Be Carefully Taught

This Nearly Was Mine

Click on a song name to listen/purchase it on

CDs

: Original Broadway Cast Album

: 2008 Broadway Revival Cast Album

: Carnegie Hall Concert Album

: 2001 London Cast Album

: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

: 2001 TV Version Soundtrack

Vinyl

: Original Broadway Cast Recording

Sheetmusic

: Vocal Selections

: Vocal Score

Videos

: Original Hollywood Version DVD

: Original Hollywood Version Blu-Ray

: 2001 TV Version DVD

: Carnegie Hall Concert DVD

Books

: South Pacific: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical (Applause Libretto Library)

: Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener

Other

1950 Tony Award Nominations

Best Musical
Best Libretto
Best Original Score
Best Actor in a Musical - Ezio Pinza
Best Actress in a Musical - Mary Martin
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Myron McCormick
Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Juanita Hall
Best Producer (Musical)
Best Director
Best Scenic Design

1950 Pulitzer Nominations

Pulitzer Prize for Drama

2008 Tony Award Nominations

Best Revival of a Musical
Best Actor in a Musical - Paulo Szot
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Best Actress in a Musical - Kelli O'Hara
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Danny Burstein
Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Loretta Ables Sayre
Best Choreography

2008 Theatre World Award Nominations

Loretta Ables Sayre
Paulo Szot

2008 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Paulo Szot
Outstanding Sound Design
Outstanding Set Design of a Musical
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Kelli O'Hara
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Danny Burstein
Outstanding Lighting Design