Theater News

Loretta Ables Sayre, Paulo Szot, Samantha Womack, et al. Set for South Pacific in London

Paolo Szot in South Pacific
(© Joan Marcus)
Paolo Szot in South Pacific
(© Joan Marcus)

Paolo Szot will recreate his Tony Award-winning performance as Emile de Becque in the Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific when the musical plays the Barbican Centre in London, August 15-October 1, with an opening night on August 23.

Szot will be sharing the role of Emile with Welsh National Opera star Jason Howard. Joining them will be Samantha Womack as Nellie Forbush, Daniel Koek as Lt Joe Cable, Alex Ferns as Luther Billis, and Loretta Ables Sayre reprising her Tony-nominated performance as Bloody Mary.

Bartlett Sher has directed this musical, based on James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific, and featuring music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. 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.

Featuring a cast of 40 and an orchestra of 25, the production also features musical staging by Christopher Gattelli, sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Scott Lehrer, musical direction by Ted Sperling and original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett.

The production 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.

Following the London engagement, the show will embark upon a nationwide tour with scheduled sotps at the Milton Keynes Theatre (October 12-22); Palace Theatre, Manchester (October 25-November 5); Theatre Royal, Glasgow (November 8-19); Bristol Hippodrome (November 22-December 3); New Theatre Oxford (December 6-31); and The Mayflower, Southhampton (January 17-February 4). Additional stops will be announced at a later date.

For tickets and more information on the London run, click here.

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South Pacific

Closed: October 1, 2011