Two love stories, threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war on a Pacific island during World War II, come to life on the stage of the Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College when the MTM players presents the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific,”Oct. 10-19.
Based on the experiences of a real-life U.S. Navy commander, “South Pacific” follows two intercultural love stories during the beginning of the allied involvement in the Pacific theater in 1942. Nellie, a spunky Navy nurse from Arkansas, and Lt. Joseph Cable both find themselves struggling to reconcile their own cultural prejudices with their amorous feelings, all while under the dark cloud of a war that is coming ever closer to their island paradise.
Featuring memorable songs that include Some Enchanted Evening, Bali Hai, Nothing Like A Dame, and I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,“South Pacific” premiered on Broadway in 1949 and was an immediate hit, running for 1,925 performances. The plot is based on James A. Michener’s 1947 Pulitzer Prize–winning book, Tales of the South Pacific. The original Broadway production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Libretto, and is the only musical production to win Tony Awards in all four acting categories.
“South Pacific” features Alexis Bellhorn of Brick Twp., N.J., as Nellie Forbush; Joe Zedeny of East Windsor, N.J. as Emile De Becque; Luke Basile of Morristown, N.J., as Lt. Joseph Cable; Jennifer Hsiao of Pennington, N.J., as Bloody Mary; Fiona Wang of Plainsboro, N.J., as Liat; J. Ryan Harmer of Robbinsville, N.J., as Luther Billis; Rick Pine of Yardley, Pa., as Capt. Brackett; Jim Gardner of Titusville, N.J., as Cmdr. Harbison; Rielle Janae Lewis of Chesterfield, N.J., as Ngana; and Noelle Gaunt of Newtown, Pa., as Monique. Special understudy performances on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. will feature Aubrey Malakoff of Skillman, N.J., as Nellie Forbush; Paul Lasky of Hamilton, N.J., as Emile De Becque; Jorden Schonberger of Princeton, N.J., as Luther Billis; and Skarlett Rose Willis of Belle Mead, N.J., as Monique.
Rounding out the ensemble cast: Harrison Alexander of Robbinsville, N.J.; Aaron Bellhorn of Brick Twp., N.J.; Sarah Blasenheim of Manalapan, N.J.; Amanda Blass of Plainsboro, N.J.; Giuseppe, Nicandro and Seraphina D’Argenio of Mullica Hill, N.J.; Madelyn Delbridge of East Windsor, N.J.; John Garvey of Robbinsville, N.J.; Megan Gramlich of Lawrenceville, N.J.; Laney Kenwood of East Windsor, N.J.; Aster Kiesche of Somerset, N.J.; Jordana Kreiger of East Windsor, N.J.; Madelynne Lasky of Hamilton, N.J.; Emeline Mackey of Monroe, N.J.; Juliana Penney of Pennington, N.J.; Val Rajan of Trenton, N.J.; and Travis Weaver of Hamilton,N.J.
The creative team behind “South Pacific” includes NJACT Perry-nominated Director/Producer Rob Michael Lasky and producer Deb Lasky. Other members of the production team are Musical Director Joe Nappi, Choreographer Emily O’Sullivan, Stage Managers Christine Heffron and Rachel Piscopo, Set Designer Shawn Simmons (NJACT Perry Award winner), Lighting Designer Robert Terrano (NJACT Perry Award winner), Lighting Operator Jackson Siegel, Sound Engineer Eric Collins, Sound Tech Aaron Jelinek, Costume Designer Rittzy Productions, and Props Designer Philip Rieschick.
Dates and showtimes for “South Pacific” are Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 2 p.m. at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Tickets are $26 for adults and $24 for for seniors, veterans, active military and students and may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.org or by calling the Kelsey Box Office Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, at (609) 570-3333.
Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking next to the Theatre. For a complete listing of adult and children’s events, visit the Kelsey website or call the box office for a brochure.