South Pacific rehearsals commence

There ain’t nothin like a revival!

The Australian cast of South Pacific will come together for the first time today as rehearsals commence in Sydney.

South Pacific is recognised as one of the world’s most popular musicals and this brand new production is set for a grand opening at the Sydney Opera House on August 11.

Starring Lisa McCune as Nellie Forbush, Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Emile de Becque, Eddie Perfect as Billis and Kate Ceberano as Bloody Mary, the show will play for one month at the Opera House as part of Opera Australia’s Sydney Winter season before transferring to the Princess Theatre Melbourne on September 13.

The Australian production will be based on the recent Lincoln Centre revival directed by Bartlett Sher, winner of the 2008 Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award. Sher will be directing the Aussie production, and told AussieTheatre recently that although it will be based on the New York production, it won’t be a blow-by-blow replica.

“I try to learn about that group and I shape the piece to the group. It’s not the other way round, I’m not forcing an interpretation on them”, Sher said.

“I make adjustments towards how [the actors] see the piece.”

Similarly, the set for the Australian production has been slightly altered from the original design to accommodate the theatres in Sydney and Melbourne. Benjamin Neutze took time out to chat with Michael Yeargan about his Tony Award Winning design.

For more information about South Pacific, full cast details, sound bites and more, visit the official website southpacificmusical.com.au