Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘South Pacific’

Playing The Muny  July 6-12

   Sweeping  American classic set in WWII returns

The Muny production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific returns for the first time since 2013 to the James S. McDonnell Stage in Forest Park. One of Broadway’s most enduring works, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific runs July 6-12 and is presented by the Centene Foundation.

“With its beautiful music, sweeping romance and powerful message, South Pacific continues to move audiences of any generation,” said Muny Artistic Director & Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “If there is anyone in your family who has not yet seen South Pacific in their lifetime, I hope they’ll visit this American classic. You will be completely knocked out by this production and cast.”

Joining previously announced principals Paulo Szot, Taylor Louderman, Joan Almedilla, Michael Canu, Bobby Conte, Michaela Marfori, Robert Crenshaw, John El-Jor, Michael James Reed, Jeff Cummings, Grace Moore and Josiah Paik are Julia Aguinaldo, Tre’ Booker, Jessica Carmona, Chloe Chamberlin, Aaron Patrick Craven, Arielle Ploy Dettmer, Alex Benitez Evans, Rachel Fairbanks, Hannah Florence, Garrick Macatangay, Jake Mendes, Caylie Rose Newcom, Julian Ramos, John Ray Jr., Hayden Rivas, David Rowen, Connor Schwantes, Gordon Semeatu, Francisco Thurston and Nicholas A. Wilkinson.

The company will be joined by the Muny Teens Youth Ensemble Theproduction is led by William Carlos Angulo (director), Karla Puno Garcia (choreographer) and Roberto Sinha (music director/conductor).

The design team for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific includes Connor Schwantes (associate choreographer); Arnel Sancianco (scenic designer); Raquel Adorno (costume designer, with some costumes originally designed by Catherine Zuber); John Lasiter (lighting designer); Joshua Hummel (sound designer); Yee Eun Nam (video designer); Ashley Rae Callahan (wig designer); Ralph Stan Lee (production stage manager); and The Telsey Office/Rachel Hoffman, CSA (casting).

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     Principal Cast Bios

PAULO SZOT (Emile de Becque) received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards for his Broadway debut in South Pacific at the Lincoln Center Theater and an Olivier nomination for the same production at the Barbican, London. He was born in São Paulo and studied at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. Other work in musical theatre: My Fair Lady, Candide, Chicago (Sao Paulo); Evita (Sydney, Melbourne, The Muny); Chicago, & Juliet and Hadestown (Broadway); Here We Are at Royal National Theatre (London). Opera: 10 seasons with the Metropolitan Opera; collaborations with La Scala, Paris Opera, Teatro Real (Madrid), Bayerische Staatsoper, Canadian Opera, Washington Opera, San Francisco Opera,

TAYLOR LOUDERMAN (Ensign Nellie Forbush) is a Tony-nominated actress, educator and philanthropist, best known for originating the role of Regina George in Broadway’s Mean Girls. She made her Broadway debut leading Bring It On: The Musical and went on to star as Wendy in Peter Pan Live! (NBC) and Lauren in Kinky Boots on Broadway. Favorite Muny credits include Chess (Svetlana Sergievskaya), Aida (Amneris), Grease (Sandy), Hairspray (Amber), Kinky Boots (Lauren) and Muny Teens. Her TV credits include series regulars on NBC’s Kenan and Nick Jr.’s Sunny Day, as well as roles on The Good Fight (CBS), Evil (CBS), The Loudest Voice (Showtime) and High Maintenance (HBO).

JOAN ALMEDILLA (Bloody Mary) is a Filipina American Broadway artist, returning to The Muny. Most recently, she collaborated with director William Carlos Angulo on CTG’s LA premiere of Here Lies Love as Aurora Aquino; she debuted as Imelda Marcos at Carnegie Hall. Best known for her Broadway debut as Kim in the original production of Miss Saigon , Joan was the first AAPI actress to play Fantine on the national tour of Les Misérables and starred as Lady Thiang in The King and I, directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher. Additional credits include Master Class, Mamma Mia!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Passing Through, Chess, Songs for a New World and Assassins

MICHAEL CANU (Lt. Joseph Cable) makes his Muny debut. Most recently: Romeo in the first national tour of & Juliet. Graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

BOBBY CONTE (Luther Billis) Previous Muny: Frozen (Hans), Paint Your Wagon (William), 1776 (Edward Rutledge), Jersey Boys (Bob Gaudio), Les Misérables (Enjolras). Broadway: The Who’s Tommy (directed by Des McAnuff), Company (directed by Marianne Elliott), A Bronx Tale (directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks). NY theatre: My Fair Lady (directed by Michael Arden); Starting Here, Starting Now (directed by Richard Maltby Jr.). Regional: Kennedy Center, Goodman Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Two River Theater, McCarter Theatre Center, Cleveland Play House, Paper Mill Playhouse.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s sweeping American classic returns for its first Muny production since 2013. On a lush island during World War II, Navy nurse Nellie Forbush falls for charismatic French planter Emile de Becque — only to question her own assumptions when she meets his children. S

South Pacific is a galvanizing story with powerful themes and some of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s greatest songs, including “Some Enchanted Evening,” “There Is Nothing Like a Dame” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.” Discover the joy, heart and timeless melodies of this legendary masterpiece.

Performances of South Pacific begin at 8:15 p.m. nightly, July 6-12.

Single-performance tickets start at $20 and are on sale online at muny.org, by phone at (314) 534-1111 and in person at the Muny Box Office, located at 1 Theatre Drive in Forest Park (9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily).

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