PCRT’s “South Pacific” Opens Saturday at the Firehouse Arts Center, Through Nov 22

Pleasanton, CA — The Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre‘s first production of the 2015-16 season, “South Pacific”, opens this Saturday Nov. 7 and runs through Nov. 22 at the Firehouse Arts Center in downtown Pleasanton. The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is set against the dramatic background of an idyllic South Pacific island during WWII and intertwines the themes of romance, duty, and prejudice to create a story that is all at once hilarious, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking. The musical features memorable Broadway musical numbers including “Younger Than Springtime,” “Some Enchanted Evening” and “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame.”

Based on the anecdotes of a real-life U.S. Navy commander who was stationed on an island, the musical follows two intercultural love stories: Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with Emile, a French plantation owner on the island who has two children from his late Polynesian wife; at the same time, U.S. Lieutenant Cable falls for a beautiful island native named Liat. Both Americans find themselves struggling to reconcile their own cultural prejudices with their amorous feelings, all the while under the dark cloud of a war that is coming ever closer to their island paradise.

Director and choreographer Joy Sherratt: “What draws me as a director to this musical is that the story being told is layered with a real moral conflict that audiences can relate to today. To fall in love completely challenges and changes the way one thinks and this struggle is what breaks hearts and binds true love.”

“South Pacific” runs November 7, 2015 through November 22, 2015: Fridays at 8pm and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. There will be an additional matinee performance on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 2pm. All performances will take place at Firehouse Arts Center, located at 4444 Railroad Avenue located in Pleasanton, CA. Tickets are $17-$38 each, and are available at the Firehouse Arts Center Box Office, by phone at (925) 931-4848, or online at http://www.pcrtproductions.org or http://www.firehousearts.org

The original Broadway production enjoyed immense critical and box-office success, became the second-longest running Broadway musical to that point (behind Rodgers and Hammerstein’s earlier Oklahoma!), and has remained popular ever since. The production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Libretto, and it is the only musical production to win Tony Awards in all four acting categories. Its original cast album was the bestselling record of the 1940s, and other recordings of the show have also been popular. The show has enjoyed many successful revivals and tours, spawning a 1958 film and television adaptations. The 2008 Broadway revival was a critical success, ran for 996 performances and won seven Tonys, including Best Musical Revival.

Starring in the leading roles of “Emile de Becque” and “Nellie Forbush” are professional actors Joshua Hollister (AEA) and Brandy Collazo. Hollister has studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music with honors in Opera Performance, and has performed a wide range of opera and musical theatre roles throughout North America and Europe. Collazo was last seen on the PCRT stage as Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain. Having performed leading roles throughout the greater Bay Area, her other credits include Shellie Award winning roles as “Peter” in Peter Pan and “Millie Dillmount” in Thoroughly Modern Millie. A very talented group of professional and regional actors complete cast and ensemble.

South Pacific is Directed and Choreographed by Joy Sherratt, Musical Direction by Rachel Robinson, Scenic Designs by Pat Brandon, Lighting Design by Mike Oesch and Costumes by Margaret daSilva.

During the run of the show, theatre lovers can also enjoy a special opportunity to interact with the actors: a free Inside the Show discussion with the actors and director will take place after the Sunday Matinee performance on November 8, 2015.

The Firehouse Arts Center is located at 4444 Railroad Avenue located in Pleasanton, California. Tickets are $17-$38 and Season Subscriptions are available. A 10% discount is available to groups of 10 or more. Contact the box office directly at (925) 931-4848 or online at www.pcrtproductions.org.