Belleville Theatre Guild

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Press Release
May 12, 2010

The Belleville Theatre Guild
256 Pinnacle Street, Belleville
(613) 967-1442

Pack Your Bags For The South Pacific

Cast members, South Pacific, Left to Right: Rebecca Gramlich, Louise Manning, Jason Wryghte

Selected Scenes

Cast Members (Photo 1): Brandon Bridgewater, Joseph Pockaj, Chad Bain, John Ross Parks, Chris Bauer, Miles Forrester
Cast Members (Photo 2): Jamie-Krystal Lott, Sandra Hickman, Sherrie Tipper, Stephanie Royle, Jessica Alexander, Joanne Savage
Cast Members (Photo 3): Madeline Budding, John O’Connor, Mary Smit, Regan Girard, Priya Aduvala
Cast Members (Photo 4): John O'Connor, Sherrie Tipper
Cast Members (Photo 5): Marvin Tucker, Bill Dauphinee

Belleville: It is considered to be one of the greatest musicals in history. And it will be playing at the Pinnacle Playhouse for three weeks in June. South Pacific is a 1949 musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan.

It’s World War 11 on two islands in the South Pacific and two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of racial prejudice and war.

Director David Kidd is back at the helm after a 15 year hiatus. The last show he directed was City of Angels in 1995. He will also be doing double duty, playing second trumpet in the BTG “pit”. John McFarlane is the orchestra leader.

The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning, 1948 novel, Tales of the South Pacific where love blooms between a young nurse and a secretive Frenchman who's being courted for a dangerous military mission.

Songs include Bali Ha'i, I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair, Some Enchanted Evening, and Happy Talk.

The Broadway production was nominated for ten Tony Awards and won all of them, including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Libretto. It was the only musical production ever to win all four Tony Awards for acting.
Kidd has assembled a first rate cast including Jason Wryghte, a teacher at Trenton Christian School who is performing for the first time on our stage. He plays Lt. Joseph Cable is also doing double duty, acting as the show’s alternate rehearsal pianist.

Also featured in the cast is local jeweler, John O'Connor in the role of Emile de Beuque, teacher Sherrie Tipper playing Nellie Forbush and Louise Manning playing Bloody Mary. The role of Bloody Mary's daughter, Liat, is played by high school international student from Germany, Rebecca Gramlich.

Like most musicals, this is a large cast of 20 or more. The children’s roles are duplicated, so you will see different actors in the roles during different performances.

A terrific set was designed by Liz Marshall and Yvon Menard is working his magic with set décor. Costumes are in the capable hands of Linda Serres. Women’s choreography is by Lianne Ireland. Stage manager Denyce Nielsen is at the helm running the show from the booth.

Visit South Pacific between June 3 to June 19. There are two Sunday matinee performances and tickets are only $22.00. Contact your travel agent through the Belleville Theatre Guild box office at 613-967-1442 and book your passage to the South Pacific, or visit our web site at www.bellevilletheatreguild.ca

Submitted by
Debra Tosh