South Pacific Returns to Palace, with Thornhill, 13 March

The New York Lincoln Centre production of South Pacific returns to the Palace Theatre following a two week-run in Autumn 2011.

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.  

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.
 
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.”

Bartlett Sher directs the piece which includes new cast members Rebecca Thornhill as Nellie and Matthew Camelle as Emile de Becque with returning favourites Daniel Koek as Lt Joe Cable, Alex Fearns as Luther Billis and original Broadway cast member and Tony Nominee Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary.

Rebecca has played lead roles in productions both in the West End and on tour in the UK. Her West End credits include Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Roxie Hart in Chicago (Adelphi Theatre), Fantine in Les Misérables (Palace Theatre) and Sukie Rougemont in The Witches of Eastwick (Prince of Wales Theatre). Rebecca also played the role of Marnie Nixon, in the UK tour of the one-woman show, Showstopper, and the title role of Annie Oakley in the national tour of Annie Get Your Gun.

Matthew Cammelle has a long list of credits to his name but he is particularly known for playing Phantom and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London and on the UK Tour. He was also recently invited to perform in The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall.

The cast also 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, James Austen-Murray, Chris Bennett, Lawrence Carmichael, Mairi Cowieson, Matthew Crowe, Stephen John Davis, Lisa Dent, 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.

The show is 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 will be 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.

The show is at the Liverpool Empire next week with Samantha Womack in the lead role and returns to the Palace from 13 – 17 March.