South Pacific :: Rodgers & Hammerstein :: Show Details
RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S SOUTH PACIFIC read more
Oscar Hammerstein II wrote to book collaborator Josh Logan on their work SOUTH PACIFIC, "Last night, the audience behaved like a large group of people who had all met somewhere else and said, 'Let's all go over to the Majestic Theatre and get drunk.' ?In some way, we have combined all man's emotions into that play so that the reactions are somewhat like the combination of a big football game and a bull fight and grand opera and tragedy and comedy...Now I'm drunk!"""
Did you know? In James Michener?s original novel, ?Tales of the South Pacific,? Nellie comes from fictional town of Otolousa, Arkansas ? rather than Little Rock, Arkansas, as she does in the musical. Either way makes for quite a difference to Marseilles, France, where her love interest Emile de Becque originates.
Did you know? In SOUTH PACIFIC, Joe Cable sings "Younger Than Springtime"" to Liat, his partner in an unexpected romance. Rodgers & Hammerstein made no fewer than three prior attempts at writing this number. The third try, ""Suddenly Lucky,"" contained the lyrics ""Suddenly lucky / Suddenly to be together, / Suddenly owning / Happiness no gold can buy."" Although cut from SOUTH PACIFIC, Richard Rodgers was able to rescue the melody for THE KING AND I, where it became the iconic song ""Getting to Know You."""
In 1955 St. Louis Municipal Opera kicked off a six-week "Rodgers & Hammerstein"" festival featuring a symphony concert and productions of CAROUSEL, ALLEGRO, THE KING AND I, and SOUTH PACIFIC."
In 1954, SOUTH PACIFIC closed on Broadway after five years and 1,925 performances. Original cast member Myron McCormick, who played Luther Billis, lead the final-night crowd in "Auld Lang Syne,"" and in a symbolic gesture the curtain remained unlowered. As of its closing, SOUTH PACIFIC was the second-longest running show in Broadway history, right behind OKLAHOMA!"
In 1988, the first London revival of SOUTH PACIFIC opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Mary Martin, star of the original Broadway and London productions, attended this opening night and afterward told the press: "I have never seen the show before - not even the movie. It was a very special and touching experience."""
In 1957, principal photography for the movie of SOUTH PACIFIC began at Lihue on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
The day chosen by James A. Michener to celebrate his birthday. Author of the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel "Tales of the South Pacific,"" Michener was adopted as a child, thus never certain of his birthdate. Michener grew up to serve during World War II as a navy publications officer on the island of Espiritu Santo. These experiences, which inspired him to write ""Tales of the South Pacific,"" also inspired Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Joshua Logan to adapt the novel into the musical SOUTH PACIFIC. Combined success of the novel and musical allowed Michener to spend the rest of his life writing books."
In 1953, the national tour of SOUTH PACIFIC began a one-week engagement at the Tower Theatre, Atlanta. In response to the anti-racist song "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught,"" members of the Georgia State Legislature issued a vehement protest and introduced a bill to outlaw entertainment works having ""an underlying philosophy inspired by Moscow."""
In 1953 the second Broadway revival of OKLAHOMA! opened at City Center, where it ran for 40 performances before going on tour. It joined SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I, and ME AND JULIET, already running on Broadway, and prompted New York City Mayor Vincent R. Impelliteri to proclaim "Rodgers & Hammerstein Week."""
In 1908, director Joshua Logan was born. He directed and collaborated with Rodgers & Hammerstein on the script for SOUTH PACIFIC, and directed the Broadway premieres of I MARRIED AN ANGEL, BY JUPITER, THIS IS THE ARMY, and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN.
In 1949, the world premiere of SOUTH PACIFIC was presented at the Shubert Theatre, New Haven.
In 1958 Twentieth Century Fox released the movie version of SOUTH PACIFIC starring Rossano Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor.
In 1954 General Foods sponsored a tribute to Rodgers & Hammerstein broadcast on multiple networks. Hosted by Mary Martin and featuring segments from OKLAHOMA!, STATE FAIR, CAROUSEL, ALLEGRO, SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I and ME AND JULIET with many members of the original casts, it also included special appearances from Jack Benny, Groucho Marx, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Ed Sullivan, and Rodgers & Hammerstein.
In 1951, Mary Martin and Wilbur Evans starred in the London premiere of SOUTH PACIFIC, which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and played for 802 performances.
In 1901, Juanita Hall was born in Keyport, New Jersey. She created the roles of Bloody Mary in SOUTH PACIFIC (1949; Tony Award) and Madam Liang in FLOWER DRUM SONG (1958). She then re-created both roles for their film versions (1958 and 1961, respectively).
In 2008 the Lincoln Center Theatre revival of SOUTH PACIFIC opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, where it ran for 996 performances and won 7 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction.
In 1950 at the 4th annual Tony awards, SOUTH PACIFIC won eight, including Best Musical of the Year and a clean sweep of the four acting categories - a feat unparalleled in Tony history.
The birthday of Walter Bobbie, director of FOOTLOOSE (the stage adaptation) and co-author of its book. Bobbie also directed the musical WHITE CHRISTMAS, and the 2005 concert version of SOUTH PACIFIC starring Reba McEntire.
In the second act of SOUTH PACIFIC, Joseph Cable convinces Emile de Becque to go on a reconnaissance mission as part of Operation Alligator, the tactical assault on the Japanese Navy.  Did you know that Operation Alligator is based on real-life Operation Galvanic, the WWII attack on Tawara that began on this day in 1943? Character Joe Cable would have been one of  1,677 U.S. troops to die in action.
Did you know? In SOUTH PACIFIC, Nellie performs ?Honey Bun? for the troops during the Thanksgiving Follies. Imagining this scene, Rodgers & Hammerstein took creative license with history: During Thanksgiving of 1943 the real men and women serving in the area would have been involved with Operation Galvanic as part of the Battle of Tarwara.
In 1950 the national tour of SOUTH PACIFIC opened at the Hanna Theatre, Cleveland, and toured for five years, visiting 118 cities before closing at the Chicago Opera House on March 26th, 1955.
In 1913, Mary Martin was born in Weatherford, Texas. She created the roles of Nellie Forbush in SOUTH PACIFIC and Maria von Trapp in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, winning a Tony Award for each.
In 1950 SOUTH PACIFIC won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
In 1955 SOUTH PACIFIC opened at New York City Center for a limited engagement.
In 1892 Ezio Pinza is born in Rome, Italy.  He created the role of Emile de Becque in SOUTH PACIFIC (1949) and received the Tony Award for his performance.
In 1951, after more than 900 shows, Mary Martin gave her final performance in SOUTH PACIFIC on Broadway.
Hammerstein on his lyrics to "A Wonderful Guy"" in SOUTH PACIFIC: ""The emotion expressed in this song is so simple that it can afford to wear the decorations and embroidery of more ingenious rhyming. There is no subtle philosophy involved. A girl is in love and her heart is sailing. She is sentimental and exuberant and triumphant in the discovery. The job of the lyric is to capture her spirit."""
Did you know? When the original production of SOUTH PACIFIC was being staged, Oscar Hammerstein II taught star Mary Martin a clog dance for the number ?Honey Bun,? which her character Nellie performs at the troops? Thanksgiving Follies.
In 2005 Carnegie Hall hosted a live concert of SOUTH PACIFIC, starring Reba McEntire as Nellie, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Emile, and Alec Baldwin as Luthur.
Did you know? In a 1987 studio cast recording of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, opera stars sang the leads, with Eileen Farrell as the Mother Abbess, and H�kan Hageg�rd as the Captain. The role of Maria was sung by Frederica Von Stade (b. 1945) an American opera singer highly lauded for her mezzo-soprano voice, and known for performing The Barber Of Seville, The Merry Widow, Pelleas Et Melisande and . This recording was part of a trend to create ?cross-over? albums featuring opera singers performing traditionally musical theatre roles.  SHOW BOAT, SOUTH PACIFIC and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN were among the shows to receive this treatment.
Did you know? Ezio Pinza was known for his operatic voice. After 22 seasons at the Met, Pinza retired and signed a contract with producer Edwin Lester for $25,000.  Lester however had no show, but Rodgers and Hammerstein did ? SOUTH PACIFIC ? and when Pinza expressed enthusiasm in participating, the team took over his contract.
Did you know? When SOUTH PACIFIC premiered in 1949, World War II was very much engraved in the public memory. Even some of the original Broadway castmembers playing servicemen had fought in the war.  When Oscar Hammerstein had trouble writing for military voices, he turned to his oldest son William (who served as a boatswain in the South Pacific) and to director Josh Logan (who spent 4 years in the Army).
SOUTH PACIFIC opens with lovers Emile and Nellie enjoying the view on a tropical plantation. Yet did you know that originally, Act One, Scene 1 began with satirical lyrics that pitted Joe Cable's brave army lieutenant against Commodore Bill Harbison's oblivious company man? "We have other important men / But nobody counts as much / As the modern executive type / With the organizational touch!"""
Did you know? In James Michener?s original novel, ?Tales of the South Pacific,? the tale of Ensign Nellie Forbush and her love interest Emile de Becque (?Our Heroine?) is only one of the many stories, but Rodgers, Hammerstein and Logan decided to make this story central to the musical. They incorporated other stories as subplots, including ?Fo? Dolla,? ?A Boar?s Tooth? and ?Operation Alligator.?
Did you know? When Mary Martin learned she would play opposite the opera star Ezio Pinza in SOUTH PACIFIC she was surprised: ?Good Lord!  What will you do with two bassos??
January 01, 1958 — 3 Nominations for Best Sound, Color Cinematography, and Best Music (Scoring)
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards (United States)
November 30, 1948 — Best Musical
Donaldson Awards (United States)
January 01, 1950 — 9 Awards including Best Musical, Book, Lyrics and Score
Theatre World Awards (United States)
November 30, 2007 — Loretta Ables Sayre
November 30, 2007 — Paulo Szot
Pulitzer Prize (United States)
Drama Desk Awards (United States)
November 30, 2008 — Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Paulo Szot
November 30, 2008 — Outstanding Revival of a Musical
November 30, 2008 — Outstanding Director of a Musical - Bartlett Sher
November 30, 2008 — Outstanding Set Design - Michael Yeargan
November 30, 2008 — Outstanding Sound Design in a Play - Scott Lehrer
November 30, 2008 — Nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Kelli O'Hara
November 30, 2008 — Nominated for Outstanding Featured Actor - Danny Burstein
November 30, 2008 — Nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design - Donald Holder
Laurence Olivier Awards (London) (United States)
November 30, 2002 — Nominated for The Hilton Award for Outstanding Musical Production
November 30, 2002 — Best Actor in a Musical or Entertainment - Philip Quast
Outer Critics Circle Awards (United States)
November 30, 2007 — Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Paulo Szot
November 30, 2007 — Nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Kelli O'Hara
November 30, 2007 — Nominated for Outstanding Choreography - Christopher Gattelli
November 30, 2007 — Nominated for Outstanding Costume Design - Catherine Zuber
November 30, 2007 — Outstanding Director of a Musical - Bartlett Sher
November 30, 2007 — Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Danny Burstein
November 30, 2007 — Outstanding Revival of a Musical
November 30, 2007 — Nominated for Outstanding Set Design - Michael Yeargan
Tony Awards (United States)
November 30, 1949 — Best Scenic Designer - Jo Mielziner
November 30, 1950 — Best Actor (Musical) - Ezio Pinza
November 30, 1950 — Best Actor, Supporting or Featured (Musical) - Myron McCormick
November 30, 1950 — Best Actress (Musical) - Mary Martin
November 30, 1950 — Best Actress, Supporting or Featured (Musical) - Juanita Hall
November 30, 1950 — Best Director - Joshua Logan
November 30, 1950 — Best Libretto - Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
November 30, 1950 — Best Producers (Musical) - Produced by Leland Hayward, Oscar Hammerstein II, Joshua Logan and Richard Rodgers.
November 30, 1950 — Best Score - Richard Rodgers
November 30, 2008 — Best Revival (Musical) - Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten, Bob Boyett
November 30, 2008 — Best Actor (Musical) - Paulo Szot
November 30, 2008 — Nominated for Best Actress (Musical) - Kelli O'Hara
November 30, 2008 — Nominated for Best Actor (Featured Role--Musical) - Danny Burstein
November 30, 2008 — Nominated for Actress (Featured Role--Musical) - Loretta Ables Sayre
November 30, 1950 — Best Musical - Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. Produced by Leland Hayward, Oscar Hammerstein II, Joshua Logan and Richard Rodgers,
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