[Press Release] Riverside Center for the Performing Arts Announces Cast and Creative Team for South Pacific
Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is excited to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize-winning South Pacific with its new production in Fredericksburg, VA. The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic – which premiered in 1949 – did not have a revival until the 2008 Lincoln Center production (which, like its predecessor, won multiple Tony Awards®). Several of its songs, including “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “There is Nothing Like a Dame,” “Happy Talk,” and “I’m In Love with a Wonderful Guy” have become popular standards.
Producing Artistic Director Patrick A’Hearn is pleased to announce a stellar cast, led by world renowned opera singer Branch Fields as Emile De Becque and Kate Marshall as Ensign Nellie Forbush. Fields, who has sung with multiple opera companies, made his Broadway debut in South Pacific, understudying the role of Emile de Becque in the Lincoln Center Theater production. Marshall is reprising the role of Ensign Nellie Forbush, which she played at the Arizona Broadway Theater in 2018. The cast also includes Riverside favorite Kadejah Oné (Bloody Mary), Joey Birchler (Lt. Cable), Alan Hoffman (Luther Billis), local favorite Robert John Biedermann (Captain Brackett), Sally Roehl (Liat), Ian Lane (Cd. Harbison), Raina Chan (Ngana) and Silas Iem (Jerome). The ensemble includes Adelyne Anderson, Elizabeth C. Butler, Kevin Cleary, Cody Hall, Andrea Kahane, Shana Lambert, Colby LeRoy, Katie Little, Erica Morchower, Wilson Pezzuto, Andrew Prowant, C. Alexander Smith, Theron Smith, and Stephanie Wood.
The creative team is led by director and choreographer Penny Ayn Maas, and the show is Music Directed by Angela Donadio. The scenic design is by Frank Foster, the lighting design is by Michael Jarett, and the costumes are designed by Kyna Chilcot. Sound design is by Billy Timms, and the properties master & set dresser is Bridgid K. Burge. The production stage manager is Jessica Dotson.
South Pacific opens Wednesday, July 24th and runs until Sunday, September 15th. For tickets, contact the Box Office at (540) 370-4300 or go online at riversidedt.com. Regular price tickets are $48-$72. Discounted senior and group rates are available, as well as student rush tickets (with valid student ID). Evening performances start at 7:30pm (with dinner service beginning at 5:30pm) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Matinee performances start at 1:30pm (with dinner service beginning at 11:30am) on Wednesday, and 3:00pm on Sunday (with dinner service beginning at 1:00pm).